Koh Samui, Thailand

A week has gently slipped away as we have become more relaxed here by the sea.  We left Laos and enjoyed an easy flight back to Chiang Mai on a brand new jet which replaced the old turbo prop.  Fourty-five minutes later we were back in the hustle and bustle of the city at our new hotel, the BB Mantra.  Small and new, we had a very comfortable room and a pool.  Set in the most interesting area of Moon Muang, on Soi 7, there were endless small restaurants and very hip coffee shops, street stalls and food markets.  We ate plates of homemade rice noodles cooked in woks on flaming carts, sipped delicious fresh cappachino, and sat in a lovely garden next door to our hotel that was so Japanese in nature I thought the owners were Japanese.  Each cup and saucer were individually made and unique, the coffee beans ground by order, the berry jam exquisite.  We went there every morning for breakfast.  Service was so slow it allowed us to watch a bird stealing moss for his nest, and the dog of the house named Lukan always made an appearance for a pet or two.  It was difficult to leave after only two nights, and I discovered I was missing by one day the annual Chiang Mai flower festival.  Flowers are a way of life here and normally the markets are full of masses of brilliant colored orchids, orange marigolds, tiny white jasmine blossoms, and so many other varieties ...To think I wouldn't be here for the huge festival was a small disappointment, but next time I will plan better.  Our flight was scheduled for the early afternoon, which meant checking out at 11 am, taking a taxi for the airport and waiting around for a couple of hours.  Flight time was under two hours and we landed at the small Samui airport under bright blue skies with fantastic views of the island below.  As we disembarked and got on the minibus that's takes you into the open air terminal, we saw a "Firefly Air" turbo prop land from Penang, and there were our two friends Allan and Isaac whom we met in Bali our last trip and have keep in touch with.  We could not have planned our rendezvous better.  We laughed at the magic of travel, shared a van to our resorts and our month in southern Thailand began.  Our rooms are about a ten minute walk apart on quiet Maenam beach.  Ron and I usually stay front row to the ocean but this time we couldn't get front row even when I tried to reserve a year in advance.  So many people return year after year usually for two months as the winters in Europe are so brutal.  We are the only Americans.  At first we were unhappy with our room.  It was terribly musty, and the bed placed back in the darker section of the bungalow.  We opened every window and that night dragged our mattresses off the frames and up to the front of the room where we could breath fresh air by leaving our doors open and just our screen doors closed.  Next morning we walked up the street to the little corner store and bought bleach, gloves, cleaning powder and washcloths.  Ronnie, bless him, cleaned the room, removed the stinky mildewed blankets in the closet and washed everything down.  Bleach down the shower drain and a good airing and suddenly our room was fresh and clean.  Sleeping near the doors on the floor has probably confused our maids, "Sweep, Giggle, and Mop" but they laugh, smile and take things in stride.  Very quiet here in the back row.  One morning the German women in the next bungalow rolled their bags out before 6 am and left.  We went over and pillaged their room.  Got a comfortable chair for our porch, a wonderful towel, some sunscreen and lotion from Germany and therefore good stuff, and some candles.  We scored!  So the days pass quickly.  Lounging long hours beneath the palm fronds on our chaise loungers which our friends stored for us since the last trip.  Sunset drinks at the reggae bar sitting in bamboo chairs in the sand, and dinner under the moon light with our friends.  Ricardo and Plaa came and joined us for the Friday night "walking street" at the next town of Boput.  No cars or cycles and many local pop-up stalls with all kinds of wonderful foods and drinks and colorful items for sale.  Hundreds of people happily walking along with Mojito's and gin fizzes.  I ate so many chicken sate skewers with peanut sauce that I only had room left for my favorite venders homemade coconut ice cream, served in half of a coconut with some peanuts and mango on top.  Heavenly!  So tonight is once again Friday walking street, a whole week melting away.  Friends coming for lunch.   We swim, we lounge, we drink good Chang beer and eat delicious Thai food.  What could be better?