A Weekend in Samed (Part 1)

Do you ever feel like you need to get out and spend sometime in the beauty of God's creation?

Well, I had been feeling that way for a while now. Living in Bangkok is not like living in the quiet and peaceful area of Collegedale, yes the pace of life is about the same, going and coming.  But within minutes you can be somewhere where the birds are singing, the peacefulness of the trees swaying, the sounds of people relaxing and playing, or just the fact you don't hear whistles blowing...

Anyways, we left after school on Friday, we had parent teacher conferences, and it was an easy day, so we thought it would be great to get away for the weekend.  We includes:  Nok Moolkeo, Melissa Erbineich, and Me.  Along the way we were picking up a new member, Joy.  Sorry, I don't know Joys last name, she is here visiting her sister who is working for the Peace Corp. up near Chang Mai.  Melissa is a friend of mine that works here at EIS with me.  She is the 12 grade values teacher (bible class).  We work together with TNL and SML Worship team.  She is also a basketball buddy, plus she is one person here that I can talk with and have deep conversations rather than the simple how's it going and jokes.  And Nok is my girlfriend, she works in the guidence counselors office and is the intermediate counselor.

Ok, now that we know each other... lets continue with the story.

Well, Nok and I left first and we went to the bus station and took a 3:30 hr ride through East Bangkok and along the coast till we came to Rayong, east of Bangkok and South Eastern side of Thailand beside Cambodia.  As were coming close to the Bus station the driver stops.  And Nok was like lets go, she had talked to a lady next to us and she found that we should get out there. The bus had stopped at the dock or pier where we could get a speed boat to Koh Samed.

It was a blessing because we got on the boat with this lady and her child

and her friend.  The price was on $250 for Nok and I each.  Very nice, and then to drop us off they just road right up to the beach, backed up and we jumped out... nice.

Our adventure was starting.  As we got off it was nice, we took a little walk on the beach, with the Resorts along  the beach and the starts glisening above, with the sand and water between our toes... but then we had to figure out where I hotel/resort/cabin... Pineapple Restort House.

Well, we went through some back alleys and through some mud puddles, and past a big Buddha, and past some places we thought look nice, and then there was the Pineapple Resort House. Looks like needs some tender love and care, it was not what we hope for but it was nice to finally be there.

It was a small room with two beds and two mats on the ground... the bathroom was pretty big, but there was no water pressure and the water was cold.  The nicest part was that there was air conditioning and that the water was close.  The bad part about that is there was only rocks, no sand or beach... :)

Well, Melissa and Joy, showed up about an hour or so later than we did.  They had an interesting adventure of their own.  Their adventure included:  a mini van ride to Rayong, a Mini Speed boat ride to Koh Samed for $600 each, a ripped pair of pants getting off the Mini Speed boat, a trek past the Big Buddha and mud puddle, and joining us in the small cabin-house-resort.

...... (To be Continued)