Koh Samui

While David enjoyed the sights of Bangkok, Helen flew off directly to Koh Samui with some of the other Oz-Bussers. It was an odd feeling leaving the comfort of the group and initially weird to be a group of only 5! The mini-group arrived in Samui at 10pm, got picked up as organised and were soon enjoying a beer or 2 at Harrys Bungalows (now a group of only Helen, Bev and Donna as 2 went off elsewhere). For the next few days, the weather wasn't great but lunchtime cocktails, relaxing by the pool, massages and enjoying the local night life made up for that. On the 2nd night in Samui, Jaime flys up from Bangkok. The best Samui night out involved....roast dinner at the Irish bar, feet being nibbled at Dr. Fish (its meant to remove dry skin but to be honest as much as it was actually enjoyable – the feet weren't really any better!), drinks in the Oz bar (with free vodka jelly shots), a very funny ladyboy show and then more drinks and lots and lots of laughs. Being in one location for more than a couple nights on the trip is a real luxury, as is unpacking properly and having clothes in the wardrobe - a simple pleasure! So much so that even the thought of moving to the main Oz-Bussers accommodation down the road seems like too much effort, and after checking it out – Helen and the new mini-group decide to all stay where they are...

Meanwhile when the main group arrives at Koh Samui there is brief confusion over where the collection coach is, but 3 separate minibusses and a utility vehicle (ute) for luggage have been sent to collect everyone. Although the drivers know they are all going to the same resort, why oh why do they have the desire to overtake each other on the way there?
Upon arrival Helen, Jaime, Donna and Bev are there to welcome everyone. Michelle is also at the resort having returned from his separate excursion. It later transpires that Liv is stuck on another island, which becomes an issue over the next few stormy days.
As we are now staying at Harry's Bungalows we go back there for dinner with the those of us who are staying there.
During David's first night on the island we can hear rain pouring down as well as the thunder and see the lightning light up the room. The rain continues pretty much into the next day coupled with a power cut that pretty much restricts us to our room for the morning. In the afternoon we go to the shore and see how ferocious the storm is and wander inland to the main resort. After a couple of hours we wade almost up to our knees back to our resort and take a taxi ride down to Fishermans Wharf, but this ends up being a questionable thing to do as our ute has to drive through some significant flood waters on the way there. We have a quick meal and return to the resort via another taxi ute. It continues to rain overnight and when we wake up the following day, the road between the two resorts that we waded through on the previous night is now up to waist height and water is now pouring out of the Mercure resort at a significant torrent. The resort is losing it's fish and there are several staff standing in the street trying to recapture them as they flow downstream in the new 'river'. The day sees us once again stranded in our hotel but we realise that we are in a good place, as our next destination is underwater between 1 and 2 metres.
At our resort Bev has developed a nasty rash on her feet and hands, which seems to be giving her some discomfort.
The following day, our last full day on the island the rain appears to have stopped its continual downpour overnight and we are in two minds whether to hire a moped. We enquire and the guy doesn't seem to think there's a problem so we go ahead armed with two of the most fetching helmets he has. We ride through patches of flood water, but do manage to make progress and get out to see The Big Bhudda, take a look around Fishermans Wharf and have a shop for supplies at Tesco's before making our way back to hand the moped in. Although we've got a little wet from the sprinkling of rain today and the splash back from the flood waters we are relatively dry until a jeep flies past us with about a mile to go and completely soaks us with spray. That final evening we celebrate Michele's Birthday and fireworks are set off in the sky to mark the occasion.