I feel so spoiled being here

I seriously do. You should be jealous, too. Haha.

It was so relieving to finally arrive to Ko Phangan (one of 3 tropical islands east of the mainland) after riding uncomfortable buses and waiting for extended hours over the past 2 days. The 12 hour stop-over in Bangkok was a little bit of a blur now that I think about it. We got dropped off at 6 a.m. on Khaosan Rd, a.k.a. Westerner central (this place is unidentifiable once the shops opened and the street was closed off, Westerners blanketed this road, completely. Oh and p.s. one of our first sights to see on Khaosan Rd. was a sleepyhead white guy, with his shirt off, possibly comatose from a night of heavy drinking laying on the street using the sidewalk as a humble little pillow for his comfort-- or lack of). I was disappointed that the travel agency provided little information as to what time we were allowed to pick up our tickets for the next bus ride to Surat Thania (the next destination that would bring us closer to Koh Phangan) because once we were woken up and forced to unload the bus, we were all LOST SHEEP. "Khaosan Rd. Get off!!" was the alarm we awoke to at 6 a.m. I mean, it's not exactly the eloquent wake up call I was asking for, but oh well.

So we waited. For 12 hours.

Lara and I waited for the travel agency to open and in the mean time we found ourselves chatting with the German girls we shared tickets with and then later napping at a hotel lobby/internet cafe next door for an hour or two. At around 4, we discovered a free wi-fi hot spot and set up shop. I updated this blog and edited a few more photos. Ugh, waiting for the next bus took ages.

After finally getting onto the bus (which we were led through a maze by our driver, for example: muay-thai boxing practice studio- dodgy alleyways-restaurants back area-someone's house maybe- hotel courtyard- guest house to another guest house- final pick-up area) and another 12 hours later, we find ourselves in Surat Thani where we then waited again for another hour to get picked up by another bus to get onto the ferry. Not over folks, then... we got onto the ferry, endured 2 hrs of this until we dropped off people at Ko Samui and another hour later, to Ko Phangan. Then when we finally got off, welcomed by the rabid Thai tuk-tuk drivers and resort reps shouting to get prospective customers. Approximate waiting and traveling time from Bangkok to Ko Phangan: 30+. My head hurts thinking about this. Luckily, we booked ours in advance and just had to find our resort rep. Once we found him, we were on our way.

Departure point from Surat Thani. You could see the islands in the distance!

This is me in the back of the resort's truck (with no backing) and in the middle of everyone's heavy-ass baggage that nearly crushed my lovely camera lenses.

But in hindsight, I AM THANKFUL TO BE HERE.
So really, I don't feel spoiled at all once I finally got to the island and into our resort. When I say resort, don't associate this with Western ideals. We live in a bungalow, this one to be exact:

After 2 hours being in Ko Phangen, we decided to hit the beach. The beach is literally a few feet away from our bungalow. Another reason to feel spoiled about being here!

As I was getting situated into our bungalow, I looked through my bags and found a strange object in my bag that was never there before:

Someone's My Sister's Keeper book.

We were warned by the travel agency before we got onto the bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani that there have been several cases of theft over the past few years. I actually was not a victim, instead possibly the thief myself. I have someone's book! & I have an unsettling feeling that someone was going through my belongings. Creeps!

Dear MSK book owner,
I'm sorry that I have your book. The thief probably thought my bag looked like yours. I will read this book and gain windom that you may have sought when purchasing it. I will channel my knowledge to you. Sorry about that though. =/ I hope nothing of value was stolen.

-- Ana

Besides that, look where I'm at!!!

We've spent yesterday and today lounging on the beach, working on our tans (yes, I know we have a natural one and often mistaken for a local, but we love our skin tone and appreciate melanin. Plus, being brown looks healthy! So, sorry Mom & Dad... you are too far away from me to nag and hide me from the sun) and just enjoying the sound of the waves as they dissolve into the sand.

I love it here!

Tomorrow, Lara and I will be taking pictures for our holiday postcards! Tehe!