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A 10-day adventure by David & Kerry Read more
  • David Coles
  • Kerry L

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  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    Oh no - I am going to get a wet tail here
    Kerry leaving Adelaide1I am on holidayLunch in 2DKerry's BC afternoon teaSoaking up a little golden hour while waiting for KL to arrive

    DC begins - FNQ

    May 2 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    On holidays - always a good thing! I leave HB in a leisurely late morning reserved Uber. Makes a civilised change but of course I still got up early. After a decent few weeks the rain returned today. I picked a sunny break to walk to the beach but a rapidly approaching squall sent me scurrying home! The Cairns lounge was very busy but I scored a window seat with power points. Middle of the day flights tally with the bar open so this holiday start is well on the way! My upgrade request was granted so my next note will be from 2D! Felafal lunch with a lovely glass of Lois Lane - always good. Kerry had a busy morning but is also now in BC so maybe we can say cheers! Late departure but arrived on time in SYD. Short wait for Kerry to arrive but the lounge is handy! Showery here in Sydney so - train/Uber?? Kerry arrived on time and we ubered to the Pullman. Quick check in and bag drop and then down to the lounge - lovely nibbles and bubbly then oysters, calamari and Provence Rose. Thailand tomorrow!Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    K's first in First SYD
    A fave1K's sweet corn fritters1D's bennieTrust me - I love this place!Iconic - but sans our flightFinnAir wet leaseWet here in BKKOur BKK 'lounge'1Samui

    Trip started

    May 3 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Up early - chilly run but dry. Off in good time in Uber rather than train to maximise First Lounge time. The security run was a breeze and we were in a relatively empty lounge in no time. Enjoyed the brekkie, the Lallier, the views and the ambiance. Our flight to BKK has resembled a ghost flight from the beginning. From the app saying it has already departed to not appearing on the lounge click clack. I was assured all was good. We left the lounge in good time but then the experience fell in a heap! I won't dwell but a few words may paint a picture - construction site, delayed flight, bus transfer, stairs to an A330, economy and then runway delays.... Anyway - we are on our way. We are seated together which took a call to Qantas earlier as we booked separately so things picking up now. On board service was quite good with more than edible tucker. A relatively easy transit through BKK to our Samui flight but a looooong walk as it is huge! Not a long wait but a bar was convenient. Another bus trip and stairs into a very little plane - we will be there soon. We made it with no further issue and all is excellent at our old fave digs PS Thana. We popped across the road to another fave, Mother restaurant for a beer and their take on fish cakes. Balmy heaven!Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    2
    1Stormy1LunchPool timeChoices - pool or beach2Cocktail time - Mai Tai and Amoretto SourStrawberry Daiquiri and MatadorDinner - not quite complete??That's better - the chilli and soy have arrived!

    Back in paradise

    May 4 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    A relatively late night (factoring in time difference) but a good sleep in a good bed set us up nicely. I woke for sunrise and then my familiar village run. A dip in both the sea (heaven) and pool (soupy) after and back to the room to find K stirring. Breakfast was good as ever (no pork soup lamented K) but the breakfast room and view is priceless. Down to the beach to capture some lounges. K went to have a foot massage and I read the paper to catch up on the election. When she returned we went into town to find our little Thai coffee hole in the wall - no more 😞 so bought some cheap beach clothes, bought some coffee in a place we will return for food and bought some essential supplies (beer) and back to the beach. This will be a recurrent phrase this week (back to the beach!) we had lunch at our hotel - no names, chicken sate and chicken larb. The dishes were beautifully cooked but bigger than we remembered and too big. The larb was someone's fusion idea of chicken schnitzel with larb dressing. The flavour was 100% authentic and the dish was outstanding but - too big and not larb. The afternoon storm rolled in and we amused ourselves watching the beach being completely packed up. The storm was short lived but lively. We then went to the pool for a change of scenery. We then wandered down for happy hour cocktails at the uber cool bar we discovered last time. It delivered again and will be on our daily itinerary! Given our huge lunch we will have a light dinner here in the most perfect balmy beachfront bar #bliss . K had watermelon and feta salad and I had Thai omelette with moo (pork) - both beyond excellent!Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    1
    1A lighter but no less deliciousThe cocktail bar views1Cosmo and Thai SabayLayers (artist K)1Cosmo and Classic Mai TaiChicken sate1Big noodle shrimp and Larb Moo - Very good

    And again

    May 5 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Another very easy start and the early morning perfection was easy to take. A leisurely and tasty brekkie on the deck and then - down to the beach (oh, we did go to the shop to restock essentials). We had planned to go to Chaweng Beach to check out a fine wine shop to buy some birthday champagne but it got too hard to leave our beach lounges. We had some (lighter choices) lunch at our hotel beach restaurant - pad see eiew and sate again. A very light spotty rain started falling but never enough to drive us off the beach - even a nice walk the length of the beach. To our cocktail bar for happy hour - good as! Our dinner choice was where we had coffee yesterday and it proved the goods.Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    Both cooked very well - from Bain Marie!!
    Brekkie dogDoing the 'deal'1Bottle shoppingOn TourAt lastStrawberry DaiquiriVERY happy!Italian fizz on our balcony #balmyFish cakes, deep fried but authentic flavour(best yet) larb moo and pad see eiuw goongComplimentary watermelon finisher

    Tour Day

    May 6 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Another spectacular morning with no wind and perfect temperature. Brekkie on the restaurant deck with a local dog to protect our table. We hired a car for a day and it was to be delivered at 10am so we hung out on our balcony until the man arrived. No hidden surprises and the transaction was seamless - other than having to surrender my passport to him for the 24 hours. A big travel no no but is what happens here. On our first visit I hired a bicycle for 4 days and the shop had my passport for that time! The weather was cooler and overcast as we set off. We drove around the top of the island passing all the Buddhas, Fisherman's Village, various piers, beaches until we reached Nathon Town on the other side. A quick look around (passing a couple of scooter mishaps - not caused by me) then back around to look for our wine shops for a good champagne for a birthday present for me from Kerry. We found 2 across the road from each other - one had an excellent selection and the other we had been to before. This had not a bad selection but way too pricey - Kerry was happy as the totally spectacular serving lady was still on duty. Needs to be seen to be believed but she would turn heads in Paris. The pricing of champagne is all over the shop in Koh Samui with wines like Veuve Cliquot Brut being twice the price of Taittinger for example. We went back to the first shop that had a better range and MUCH better pricing. It is lucky me as we decided on a Ruinart - it was a little over than budget but by far the best buy. We returned to Choeng Mon via Chaweng Beach and couldn't get back down to the beach lounges quick enough. Still overcast but still and balmy. We have spotted a nice Thai restaurant for tonight so shared a Tuna Baguette for lunch on the beach. It was really very good (and they snuck a few chillis into the mix!) So - I have been thinking I have 1 more tattoo in me and I had been scoping out palm trees for designs in Cairns - but had put it off. Had a talk to a tattooist across the road from our hotel and he impressed me - let's go! Breaking all the rules today! Giving up my passport to a hire car firm and having a tattoo in a holiday town in Thailand - what could go wrong! Great result - back of the Achilles area. Dinner at A &B happened,was absolutely fab and we will be back - the larb will be my final feed here in KS!Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    1Cracking start
    Breakfast2Many hips - thanks KerryIconic - for us!1View from the Carnival barCosmo and Classic Mai TaiStrawberry Daiquiri and (yes) Classic Mai TaiBookend pics #magic1Pork sate - delicious1Larb Moo and Massaman Nuua Wuua (beef)

    The day

    May 7 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Weather wise - even better if that can be possible. Clear skies and a sunrise to match. We needed to fill the car up before returning so we had a little drive - around the Big Buddha and then followed the road behind our beach for a way and then to look at the Six Senses Resort. Unreal position but OTT. It has started some planning discussions about next May and also the need to be serious about our itinerary for the Champagne trip. Some balcony time while waiting for the car to be picked up (and yes - I have my passport back) and then to the pool. There was some shade there (given it was bright sunshine) and also the tattoo shouldn't go in the sea. Dosed with Vaseline it can go in the pool. The Ruinart was opened poolside and it was SO good and easy to drink we enjoyed it there TO THE FULL! We then repaired to the beach and had another Tuna Baguette - a little different but still yum on the sand. Of course I applied the Vaseline and went in the water - FMO! We have glasses so some Santa Christina Orvietto from the room fridge - I LOVE this place and we are going to do this stay extremely well. A long spell on the beach then to the Carnival for Cocktails - as good as ever. What else would one hope for on a birthday. Very pleased to share the time with Kerry. The sundown was exceptional. Decided to go to Mother Restaurant to add to the comp. It was completely empty when we arrived but thankfully filled quickly - for good reason. Excellent satay, stunning larb (top of the ladder) and wonderful Massaman. Friday's choice has just become harder. I had a great birthday and we couldn't have scripted it betterRead more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    Brekkie animal - more animated than the dogsMango daiquiriMushroom pizza'Bobbing'1Cocktails from our place - strawberry daiquiri and odd but ok mai tai (in a risque glass!)Our balcony viewDinner at PS Thana

    The Next Day

    May 8 in Thailand

    Just as we returned home last night the heavens opened - a real monsoon type downpour. It lasted an hour or two but was very entertaining on the balcony with a glass of Orvietto. Woke to a beautiful morning but on my run I noticed the effect of a lot of water on the roads. Given the sand and debris all over them they would have been inundated - easily 100-200mm I would say. Today was always going to be a quiet one. Leisurely brekkie - morning at the pool and then off to try a pizza place we had noticed. The menu and place looked very promising. One website said it was open and another closed. The latter won but we did have a plan b and it wasn't far - in fact it was back to the Carnival - our cocktail bar. We had a beach front table that was nice and breezy and tried their pizza.
    K had a mango daiquiri and loved it. This pizza (mushroom) was really quite good and not too heavy - happy as and being beachfront again was a bonus. A short walk back to our beach lounges and that is a perfect afternoon! A number of our regular faces at the hotel while we have been here have checked out today. We will see what the incoming brings. Looooong beach session with cocktails on our beach. Sundowner on our balcony and we were considering dinner there but the breeze wasn't happening so we went down to our restaurant. We had Massaman and fish 3 ways (sweet sour salty) - a very nice meal but our choices didn't reach the heights. Unbelievably we still have another full day here with no plans #loveit    Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    Sun rising
    Success in a bagSmile says it allLounge viewWhere is he????Good man!1DeliciousK captures the skyOld friendCosmopolitan and Classic Mai Tai - we have our faves!His classic Mai Tai and my Mango DaiquiriLast beach evening view'Mother' table view to our place1Our dog made it across to the restaurant1Mango Sticky Rice

    As little as possible day

    May 9 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today will be an exercise in not wasting time doing stuff! Leisurely brekkie, then all morning at the pool. I had an idea where a small local coffee stall might be and I hoped it wouldn't be too far as the day was already quite hot (34o feels like 42o) Found it and secured both iced Thai tea and iced Thai coffee - done traditionally. Very happy to deliver them to K poolside in their little carry bags. That's a tick off the list. Down to the beach and try to find our elusive sweet corn man for lunch. Earlier in the week we despaired he wasn't there but he made a couple of appearances after we had already lunched.
    He wasn't there when we arrived but he was off getting supplies. The cobs were as good as remembered and another pleasurable tick. Back to the lounges to enjoy them. Long, lovely afternoon on the beach. Cocktails at our fave bar and fab sunset was just perfect. Dinner at Mother was chicken sate, pork larb and pad sie eiuw. All of the best in one meal and then - mango sticky rice to finish. Sublime is not a good enough description. We have eaten well this trip!    Read more

  • Choeng Mon Birthday Break
    Oh no..
    We WILL be back!Hey hoNot ours but worth capturingAlways a great place to land1Happy asR20 is the best of the trio (18, 19, 20)Black vinegar wontons & signature salt and pepper squid but sans ???1Complet!Beef short ribs, sticky rice2Good morning!

    Winding up

    May 10 in Singapore ⋅ 🌩️ 28 °C

    Checking the after effects of last night's storm revealed how intense it was. The roads had obviously been inundated again, the fishing boat out front had filled with water and capsized and one of the pool stone elephants dislodged and is now on the bottom of the pool! Beautiful morning again of course, a leisurely brekkie, walk on the beach before the dreaded packing. The manager here insisted on us getting to the airport HOURS before but at least 11am pick up here is civilised. Both K and I scored BC upgrades for the night long haul on QF82 SIN-SYD so you can imagine how much that helps leaving. Our transfer to the airport was good, a hassle free processing and walk through the shopping experience to the terminal - I like it! Trolley bus in the heat into the plane then to Changi. We have been to this airport MANY times but it never ceases to amaze. No need to change terminals so straight to the First Lounge - almost straight as I did want to look at at a duty free wine shop nearby. I was tempted by a truly great price on a Dom Perignon P2 - one of the best wines I have tried. Maybe reconsider after a few glasses in First. First was great - thankfully not the very busy experiences S&T have had recently. The food was excellent, great service and wonderful wine. And yes 🙄 - I did go back down and purchase the P2!!Read more

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