Boxing, ladyboys and a sad farewell

Our last destination on the official six month tour of Asia - Ko Samui. We found a basic, cheap, but nice resort on a quiet beach and set up camp here for the last five nights (or three in Sarah's case) of our trip. Sob sob!

There is not much to report from the days that we spent here. Tam and Sarah found a very fancy resort just down the beach one day, whilst I was trying to sleep off a cold (a cold in this heat?! Not fair!)! It is blatantly a five star place but as it was virtually empty they have let us use their pool for two days, provided we buy some of their hugely overpriced food and drink (Diet Coke to share, anyone?). Score! Otherwise we've been at the beach, just chilling out at the beach bar in our own place, or having some very relaxing, and cheap, massages! Heaven!

The dogs at the resort appear to have adopted us over all the other guests and beg most nights to be allowed into our room after an evening of sleeping at our feet! Our two favourites are a pair of gender confused retreievers that we've named Suzie (male) and Hank (female) (we named them before we knew their sex, but they both seem pretty happy with their new names!)! Suzie is particularly protective of us, walking us all the way to the fancy resort one day, and refusing to believe in our safety until he had escorted us into the pool! All very funny, although I doubt the fancy resort staff thought so! After being herded out of the place by a very sad Tam, Suzie waited on the beach for the remainder of the day until he could escort us home. How could you not love a guy like that?!

The evenings have been more eventful, as we ventured into the main tourist trap to take in some very cheap street cocktails, fake designer purses, Thai Boxing and a ladyboy cabaret show - how could we say no?! The boxing was pretty brutal and we found ourselves really cheering contestants on, much to our surprise. Sarah also found the pre-match spiritual blessings a tad odd (obviously Tam and I have been on this continent too long, as it was nothing new to us!). For Sarah's last night we headed back to the main strip for some last minute shopping, a manicure/pedicure, and the ladyboy cabaret performance at the local Moulin Rouge! AMAZING! Those ladies can really lipsync (most of the time!!). It was a very, very entertaining evening!

Yesterday lunchtime our little group began to disband as Sarah started on her long journey home. Tomorow morning the six month partnership that has survived many toils and much staring, will finally come to an end as I head off to Ko Samui airport, leaving Tam behind here at the beach.

Jo xxx