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Return to Choeng Mon
  • David Coles
  • Kerry L
May 2023

Return to Choeng Mon

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  • Trip start
    May 4, 2023
    Return to Choeng Mon
    Really is stupid o'clock
    Compensation!BC bubblesA sparkling trip- BNE International Lounge

    Away

    May 4, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    Another stupid o’clock flight- but it’s different on hols! Had upgraded with points to BC so enjoyed the front end from Cairns to BNE. Negotiated all the manoeuvres to get to Brisbane international and then into the lounge- no it isn’t a First but at least it is elevated away from the Bali throng. Plane late arriving so departure delayed by half hour. Kerry has also started the journey so I will post this now and do an update from Singapore. I will be in the First Lounge and I am tasked with sweet talking the front desk to letting Kerry in - wish me luck!!Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    That plant wasnt there when i was supposed to board.....
    YAY - no neighbour!The other end of the dayPS Thana balcony view - late at night!

    On my way - still……

    May 4, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    My flight from Brisbane to Singapore was delayed-then delayed and then delayed again. An engineering issue and while I like it being fixed it adds to stress when connecting flights are involved- 2 hours later I am on board and my expected ‘friend’ in 25A was a no show - YAY!! A row on my own. I won’t be able to post this in time to tell Kerry she is on her own to Koh Samui tonight- my flight is going to be too late in to connect- goodness knows what this means. What an adventure!!
    I am updating as I go - no I am not going to make the scheduled connection to Koh Samui -I land as our USM flight boards….The Qantas flight has been as good as a late flight can be. No one on board knows what will happen next so the adventure continues.
    Well - I can update that (with a bit of swift walking) I was able to get onto the next flight and see Kerry already on board! I am not at all sure how that happened but - great news! I was expecting to stay in Singapore overnight but it ended up being 10 mins! Somewhat disappointing as I had factored in a session in the Singapore First Lounge (my favourite) but not to be. I think I will be able to have another crack at Christmas so all is not lost. Kerry is at the front of the bus and I am at the back but at least we are on it! Interesting to see the flight this time is full of ‘farangs’ (Thai for foreigners) - previous flights have been very localised - Koh Samui has arrived! I will finish this when we arrive at Choeng Mon. And we are here - warm humid and a lovely welcome (both at the airport and at the resort) - happy as!!    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    A very aussie airport view
    Cloudy but fine1BC breakfastMelbourne lounge1Nice setup for long haul1Uluru

    I’m away too!

    May 4, 2023 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Departure day has arrived! I had an early start too but not crazy early like David. And unlike David all my flights were on time or early. I wanted to have a departure bubbly too so I put in a low bid for upgrade, and got it! And I also had a spare seat next to me on the long haul so all very easy. The pilot alerted us to Uluṟu on the right hand side, where I was lucky enough to get a great view. The only glitch was no access to the Singapore lounge as my Koh Samui flight did not have a QF number. But with only an hour to kill I did some long walks around Changi before going to the gate and waiting to see if David makes it to the next flight. And he did! Pick up was easy and here we are, hot and balmy. A cup of tea on the balcony and time for some well earned sleep 💤.Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    11No Names1Kerry's pad siewLunchview2My larb moo1Dogs are a feature of this beach - all old and no trouble to anyone

    Setting the scene

    May 5, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    After a long day and late night a good night sleep was ordered and delivered. Sunrise seemed a shame to miss so I went for a run in the quiet village. Just a few roadside breakfast vendors firing up their cookers. Back in time for a dip in the ocean - beautiful scenes that I would have loved to have shared but my camera fogged up from going from a cool room to the warm humid air. Maybe tomorrow. Breakfast was highly anticipated but a disappointment (based on previous visits) and we will have to see if we can train the kitchen over the next few days. A walk to the shops for essential supplies (beer and water) and a recce to scope eating options. Then to the beach steps from our front door. Very sunny but we scored some lounges under the big tree that served well all day. Early on I read a piece in smart traveller that from 6 pm on the 6th to 6pm on the 7th all sales of alcohol prohibited throughout Thailand- goodness!! A dry birthday!!! We. confirmed with the fancy resort where we were going to get a day pass for the 7th that indeed no alcohol would be sold. So - postponed that little soirée to Monday. The ban is because it is national vote pre polling day - odd! However we will do a restock tomorrow and tough it out!! Anyway - beers on the beach with ‘no name’ vegetable patties (a local specialty) , a massage for Kerry, lunch at the beach restaurant 3 steps away then back to the lounger. The water is warm and crystal clear and the climate perfect. We had a cocktail at 4 on the beach with no photo or description- give you the idea? Writing this on the balcony having a sundowner. Dinner tonight at our resort restaurant-the no names were good so we will cross fingersRead more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    1
    211Entrance to our place. You may recognise it from past trips.So early even the beachdogs are still asleep

    Day 2 - up and about

    May 6, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Big news! I was up before David this morning. I wanted to see the supposed spectacular sunrise, and it really was lovely. Going to be a long day though, still an hour until breakfast opens.
    And you may have noticed David and I are alternating days on doing the blog so you will get two different views 😊.
    Today we are heading into Bophut to see if we can get a bottle of champagne for the birthday tomorrow, before the 24 hour alcohol ban at 6pm tonight.
    More later.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    David's morning photo
    Post massage beerLunch being cooked1Lunch is served11Cocktail hour, and damn they were good!Cute beach dog

    Day 2 continued

    May 6, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    After a lovely breakfast of fresh tropical fruit, and superb omelette for David, we claimed our beach loungers under the big tree. Later in the morning we headed off to the wine shop in Bophut (expensive but terrific) and picked up some French for David’s birthday tomorrow. Champagne, Provence rosé and a cote du Rhone. Hopefully there will be some leftovers for the following days 😊.
    Straight back to the loungers for a while, then I headed off for a massage and David had some peace and quiet.
    Lunch on the beach was a chargrilled corn cob, delicious!
    Lots more swimming and lounging, then headed down the beach to look for a cocktail after yesterday’s fail at our place. Found a place called Carnival and pulled up a bar stool. Daiquiri for D and Mai Tai for me. Well, they were perfect, generous pours, as professional a cocktail as you would hope to find, and happy hour prices! Even the beach dogs were cuter. We will be back.
    Home for a spruce up ready for dinner across the road tonight.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Pad siularb moo

    Dinner with mother!

    May 6, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    Mother is the name of the restaurant just across the road from the front (street side) gate of our resort. We have both been there in before visits and it was (great) same same! Terrific service, big variety of menu and no flinching when Kerry ordered a Singha after the start of the 6pm ‘ban’. Some places were quite vocal about no alcohol service while others were very ‘ look the other way and mumble’. We will see how the beer service on the beach goes tomorrow- I suspect 🍺. Any way the food was great - fish cakes in a different format, superb pad sieu and pork Larb. We were offered a complimentary mango sticky rice but they had to comeback to apologise as it was ‘finis’. A quiet wander down the road where K bought a bikini and I bought a couple of lightweight shirts that I like from here - winners. Back to the balcony for a couple of glasses of a top Provence Rose. A very good day!Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Sunrise gallery from Kerry's walk
    11A serious treatLocation locationNew shirt! Must be a birthdayPork rice soup (already dug into!!)

    Where else would you celebrate

    May 7, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Up just before sunrise (a great time) and Kerry is frightening me - second morning her alarm has gone before mine! Anyway we both enjoyed our different directions. I have a dual dip here after the run - sea first then pool. The pool is like a sauna though - a beautiful pool but not refreshing. Just before brekkie Kerry gave me a birthday gift she had carried from our Willunga trip - a lovely handmade wooden coffee scoop. Will be well used. We then grabbed the birthday champagne and headed off to breakfast. Shock horror- there was no buffet and it looked initially as a ‘ brekkie not going to happen’ - Sunday?? However we were quickly greeted with menus and told it was now cook to order breakfast! Exactly what we had been hoping for/anticipating was now reality. Kerry’s face when she saw pork rice soup was something to behold! They told us this would be the go from now on- order has been restored! I had chilli omelette which was cooked perfectly and the rice soup was next level. The Nicolas Feuillatte was superb - a 2008 Vintage Blanc de Blanc - a serious treat and big thanks and kisses Kerry! What a spot and the complete treat. Bring on another day in this corner of paradise.Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Early morning fishing boats
    No-names and Pad Thai1Wine with hatPool viewPool viewTuna and avo starter. The pumpkin is still a mystery.Gondola pizza1Birthday boy1Perusing the cocktail menuDecided!Happy holidayers.Squid boat out working

    Later on the birthday day

    May 8, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    After our amazing breakfast we set up on our loungers for the day. The weather is perfect, slight breeze and very still water. Lots of swims and reading.
    Lunch was on our loungers, shared some no-names and Pad Thai, then more swimming and lounging before going to the pool for a change of scenery. The pool is really lovely, but quite warm even though it is really deep. It was a bit sunny there so back to the loungers. I went for a lovely foot massage while David swam and relaxed.
    Then it was time to get ready for dinner. Spruced up a bit, finished the champagne on the balcony and wandered down to Krua Thai for dinner only to find it closed until 10 May. So back we came and settled on Pecore Nero for an Italian dinner. Shared a starter of raw tuna and avo, (with glasses of Verdeca from Puglia) then shared a Gondola pizza, mushroom and olives (with glass of Negromara). The chilli oil was super hot and lovely. Finished off with a complimentary shot of chocolate rum, delicious.
    It was only about 7.30 by this stage, plenty of time to wander down to the cocktail bar on the beach. Mai Tai for me and a Caprinha for David. Lovely cocktail with feet in the sand, a lovely way to end the birthday.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    David's early morning view
    New viewNew viewNew viewI am not leavingDelicious fish cakesLunch3Definitely not leavingHe is tanned!1Lunch viewDinner view. That is the entrance to our place. Not a long walk home.No-namesTom yum goong2Pad siewView from our new balconyView from our new balcony

    Day 4 - A day at SALA

    May 8, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Today is our day at SALA, the fancy resort next door. I slept in today but David did his usual run, swim, swim and then off to breakfast. Well, disappointment. The buffet is back, no rice soup for me. But the fruit and omelette and spring rolls and noodles and toast did the trick.
    Back to the room to organise ourselves for our trip next door and do the blog, then headed off to SALA at 10am. They were very lovely, set us up with lovely thick soft towels on a double day bed under the palms. This will do very nicely! Kept coming around with fresh glasses of iced water which is a nice touch. We swam in the adults only pool, beautiful. Aperol spritz at midday, then up to the restaurant for lunch at 1.
    We have been chasing traditional Thai fish cakes so we shared that as a starter and they were as good as could be, delicious. Then shared a squid dish, raw tuna dish and a beetroot tempura prawn dish with quinoa. All very delicious with a glass of Pinot Grigio.
    Back to the loungers for more rest and swimming before I declared to David that I was not leaving.
    Reality snuck in, and I said I would leave for a cocktail down the beach at the recently found beach club, so we packed up, paid the bill and headed off for cocktails. What a great day.
    We arrived back at our room to find the aircon not working, and it is really hot here at the moment. Unfortunately the maintenance man has knocked off so it will need to be fixed tomorrow. They gave us keys to another room to sleep in which is fine, so now we are spread across two rooms.
    Across the road to Mother restaurant for dinner which was lovely, then home to a new and cool room for a good sleep ready for more beach tomorrow.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Just to continue to annoy everyone who is experiencing the coldsnap in oz
    Watermelon shake1We have been gracedSentry dutySom Tam (sans chilli)Tropical skyProsecco on OUR balcony! - pre dinner

    Day 5 - The next day!

    May 9, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    The new room was ok without being in any way better other than bigger. It was similar but missing a few bits and bobs - but the air con worked. Worked better to my standards than K’s (ie not too cold) but allowed a good nights sleep. Both up at the same time and enjoyed the sunrise and awakening village. Brekkie was still buffet so we are resigned - I have no problems but Kerry is somewhat limited to amazing mango and toast with pineapple jam! We went and claimed our beach spot for the day and shortly our manager friend came up and said the room a/c was fixed. All excited we followed her over to find - it wasn’t fixed at all. Back to the beach. A nice lunch (seated) of no names and then som tam - excellent flavours but just needed fresh chilli which they then brought in abundance. We were then advised the room was cactus beyond repair so would we mind staying in the new room - not best pleased but… Anyway- I went to start the move (and get a beer) and was entertained by quite an animated discussion with front desk and the manager. I thought they maybe were setting a new price option but our friend took me to our original room - I thought to scope what the move assistance would be and inside she flicked on the aircon and - voila! Action!! Anyway as of now (4pm) we are back to situation normal - Kerry is having a massage and when that’s done we will head to our cocktail bar - they are the best way to wind down a beach day!Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Appropriately next to the shrine
    Penfolds!It wasn't PenfoldsChicken satay1Larb Moo (confusingly that is pork)Red curry shrimpMango sticky rice, bliss!David's sunrise photo (I slept in)Breakfast rice soup, yumDifferent colours in a thunderstormThought it was going to rain so settled in...Lunch viewNo names and pad siew.1Lunch viewPerfection

    Day 6 - just like day 5

    May 9, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Last night’s dinner was at Mother restaurant across the road again. Hard to go past it as it is so good. Chicken satay starter, then pork larb, then red curry shrimp then mango sticky rice. Ticked a lot of the holiday must haves right there. It was all delicious and had with a carafe of Sauvignon Blank from Chile.
    This morning we were ever hopeful the à la carte breakfast was back, but alas, not to be. So imagine my surprise when I opened the Bain Marie to find individual servings of chicken rice soup! So happy. And they also had a glass noodle dish so I had both. David had his usual fruit and yoghurt, then omelette, then toast, vegemite, chilli and pineapple jam. A very good start to the day.
    Set up our loungers after breakfast, had a few swims and then went for a walk down the road to find some iced coffee, which had been eluding us, not that we have tried that hard. Found a lovely little open air stall. David had Thai iced coffee and I had a Thai iced tea. Beautiful! No photo because I didn’t take my phone but there will definitely be one tomorrow. The tea was interesting, very orange and tasted like mashed up tea leaves rather than being seeped in water. Strange at first but absolutely loved it.
    Back to our loungers for more beach time before a lunch of no names and shrimp pad siew. Delicious. Had to move to a table under cover as the thunder was rolling and the staff were all looking skyward. David was sure it wouldn’t rain but I had my money on the locals. Unfortunately (for me) David was right.
    So back to the loungers for the afternoon, a late beach walk and back for showers and sundowners on the balcony. Prosecco for me and Leo beer for David with some peanuts with fried anchovy.
    Dinner may be here at the resort tonight, but all will be revealed tomorrow.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Chicken sate
    1Breakfast is served2Crystal clear

    and on thursday - the beach!

    May 11, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    We stayed en premise for dinner last night - and how glad we were. A couple drinks on the balcony and then we took a partially demolished bottle of Prosecco and the Cote de Rhone we bought at the fancy bottle o. Initially the man mentioned corkage and as it was reasonable we said no worries. We had the Rhone in the fridge in the room and they brought an ice bucket- the wine temperature in the glass was perfect, much better than the air temperature. Well - did we eat well! Started with chicken satay that was so uniquely flavoured. Not the expected peanut curry sauce but beguilingly Thai. The cucumber sambal was amazing. We then had steamed snapper served deboned and a squid dish. Both were outstanding and again, uniquely flavoured from the expected flavours. The 2 wines went extremely well, and as an added bonus when the bill came he said he would not charge us the corkage!
    This morning Kerry missed out on her breakfast treats but was happy with very flavoursome fruit (bananas you would cross town for). I skipped the omelette in favour of some fried eggs - I had these before and they burst with rich flavour. Then to the beach for a carbon copy of yesterday - the difference today Kerry has returned to the beach massage person. We walked into the village for iced coffee and tea then back to the beach. Lunch was the same normal as a) we cannot fault them and b) it is our last lunch 😢
    Tonight we plan to try the place that has been closed and a beach cocktail on the way.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    Mai Tais
    Starters1Hahahaha funny face!Beef massamanAny number of these 'tobacco' shops around - completely legal, even bars sell it - and no, not us!The parking lines are clearly an optional guideCape Frahn

    And on Friday, we leave 😕

    May 12, 2023 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Enjoyed our last dinner in lovely Samui last night, after a lovely beach day. Mai Tai for sundowners at the Carnival Beach Club (happy hour, $6 each, such a bargain). Then a walk around the corner to Krua Thai which has been closed the whole time we have been here but reopened last night. We were the first ones there but it quickly filled up and was buzzing.
    We shared 3 starters, fish cakes, no names and pandanus wrapped chicken. All delicious but the standout was the chicken. It tasted like real roast chicken that mum used to make, when chickens had real flavour. Followed that up, rather bravely really because they were big serves, with beef massaman curry. Again delicious. Had with generous pours of wine, cheapest price on the island at 120 Baht (around $5].
    Up early this morning (even me) to see the last sunrise, have our last breakfast, last swim, then will need to pack and get in the sad wagon (as David calls it) at 11 to go to the airport.
    The sunrise photos clearly show Cape Frahn which is billed as a private and exclusive island, with chef David Thompson in residence at the restaurant. Today it looked like an island because the tide was in, but yesterday we could have walked over to it. And the guests arrive by funny looking jeep trolleys that drive through the water. I tell ya, if I was paying those prices to stay on an island I would be wanting to arrive on a launch (think Monaco in the 60s).

    David will finish off the blog later with our return adventures but it is bye from me. It has been a lovely holiday, I know the blog is not very exciting or full of new things, but a true reflection of how relaxing it has been.    Read more

  • Return to Choeng Mon
    1One last view as we settle the account
    Cute shuttle acceptable at a tropical airportHot wait on the tarmacEmirates International Business LoungeLots of interesting and quality choicesHouse pour - Champagne GremilletAirport gardensSydney putting on a showMy little piece of the tropics

    Heading home

    May 13, 2023 in Australia ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    A hassle free transfer to the airport from our resort and the Bangkok Air flight was super efficient and well run. Bangkok airport (I won’t try to spell it) is enormous and combines domestic and international. The transfer to international was seamless and off we went looking for our lounge. A short deviation for duty free then we found the Emirates Lounge (recommended over the Qantas suggested lounge by Point Hacks) and it was a lovely lounge. Quiet and great service at every turn. Lots of food choices- both hot and cold - inc cakes, dips cheeses etc. A limited but classy wine selection and any number of spirit options. QF 24 to Sydney was relatively close by and left on time. Service was good and the flight was long (and cold). A very quick security clearance and we decided to try the outside shuttle (rather than the Qantas shuttle which has been a bit tedious in the past.) Qantas domestic was not a shuttle option outside so we returned to the Qantas shuttle - it was fine.
    I continue this in the SYD Qantas Domestic Business Lounge. Kerry leaves for Adelaide at 8.50am (delayed to 9am) and I head the other way at 9.45 meaning we both get home at a reasonable hour. Kerry’s plane ended up not taking off and returned to the gate for navigation issues. They fixed them and we take off at about the same time. Kerry reported she landed about 1 1/2 hours ahead of me and all good. Likewise my transfer home was very quick (have to love carry on) and likewise settled in. Thanks for following our Choeng Mon holiday. While we did nothing it was everything and we both enjoyed our time immensely. It is hard to imagine we won’t go back for a repeat!    Read more

    Trip end
    May 13, 2023
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