As threatened, here's the Koh Samui TR.

With 3 flights each way (Sendai- Osaka- Bangkok- Koh Samui) it was a bit of a trek. Soubriquette managed to navigate us the wrong way on the expressway, causing us to arrive at the airport 20 minutes before departure and creating a certain amount of tension. She also left her ticket at the hotel for the return leg. From now on, I'm in charge of tickets, passports and timing.

I was last in Koh Samui in 1980, when it was backpackers only. An overnight ferry trip from Surat Thani, and accomodation was grass huts on the beach. A gravel road connected a series of fishing villages. Now there's an airport and rampant development. The island is pretty much continuous ribbon development, ugly and totally unplanned.

The hotel was fantastic. $$$$$-star with beautiful grounds, bungalows, superb service and a private beach. The staff were excellent, very friendly, attentive and professional. It was a great place to chill out with soubriquette. The food was ace too. I love Thai food in general, and the seafood was plentiful.









We took a trip to go snorkelling. The coral, frankly, was rubbish, but it was still fun. The boat was absolutely barking. A monster Isuzu truck diesel mounted on a swivel, and loud as hell with an unsilenced megaphone exhaust.



All in all, a great trip, lots of fun (and beer), but not very eco-friendly.

nice soub! Getting me excited for a little bit of travel early next year! Again, that sunset pic is sweeeeeet!

That's sunrise matey. I was up at 5 to get that one.

It rained pretty steadily all that day. It was absolutely delicious swimming in the rain.

Seems like you had a great time Soubs. Nice picks!

what was the hotel? Looked excellent.

Sunsets ans Sunrises, there's a blue tinge for sunrises I find. Good pic, and water cooperated.

It was the Tongsai Bay Cottages and Hotel. It was truly excellent, expensive but great value. It was absolutely immaculate, with great staff and attention to detail.

I rang reception for an English newspaper, and English and Japanese papers turned up automatically thereafter.

I was really chuffed with the sunrise shots. It was completely still. I took one from the same angle later in the day, and it's rubbish.

Nice! Hard to go wrong in Thailand...

The sunrise pic is very lovely. Are they natural colours or using some filter?

No filter. I've done a 2% stretch on it, which has lifted the blue slightly, but otherwise it's as the God of Tea gave me.

Crackin' pic.

Thankee kindly.

I thought out the shot the day before, and sometimes (rarely) they come off. I have a couple of others to take locally, but haven't managed to get them yet. The D40 is a dream

Nice. Was the hotel booked through an agent in Japan?

Everything was booked by soubriquette. It's her release from a 90 hour week, and a 365 day year.

that's the magic of a digital SLR, see your results instantely and then adjust and take again. Can't do that with a film camera

The D40 DSLR is farking great. I'll still carry my Canon in my pocket, but there's no contest wrt functionality.

I was reflecting this morning. Soubriquette and I have been together for 4 years. We never argue and there's never friction, in total contrast to my marriage. It shows it was my ex-, not me. What a wonderful world and a wonderful life.

Next trip looks like Lombok. Anyone been?

no, all it shows is that you and your ex were not a good match, but that you and soubriquette are In any case, it's a nice way to be eh Soub! BPG and I are like that. Never fight. Quite a contrast to my previous girlfriend who was very difficult.

I'm glad you and BPG get on so well.

Close but no cigar. No1 son reports that the dickhead (he left his family, two girls aged 1 and 3 to save my ex- from me) argues regularly. No1 was on the phone recently, begging to come to Japan. Both sons love it here because of the peace and absence from daily crises.

You may think I'm exaggerating, but she employs someone to oversee No1's homework because she can't do it without going ballistic.

No mate, I don't think you are exagerating. We have all heard your horror stories about how she treats your kids re talking/visiting you. I was really only trying to say you've obviously found a much better match

my best friend divorced 3 years ago. terrible marriage indeed.
she got married again this spring. wonderful match.

enjoyed ur lovely pictures soubriquet, couldn't go last time but there's always a next time.

Thanks Ewok.

The need to control others is a path to misery. We are sweet together. She gives me light and I give her colour.