Bua Yai Gathering 2k13

As most of you know I tend to host numerous gatherings/parties/competitions every year and just because I am in Thailand shouldn't change that. So after some preparation the weekend finally came with a great but dangerous text from the three lads who said they could come a day earlier. In a way it was like saying here is a million Euro but it will cost you a few days of your life, a willing price to pay for such entertainment.

The lads arrived and we wasted no time getting right on it! Discovering the official 8ft beer pong table was a serious result. It took awhile but I finally got back to some sort of form! Roll backs were played with a Derby match intensity involving gate jumping and cat like reflexes! Dinner in Cat Country, Beers in Pink Panther and some other place I can't remember, bumped into some random students who have yet to say anything! Blackout!

Saturday kicked off with the 4 lads in bed watching the Inbetweeners film followed by some delicious wraps in Tony's and Chewees restaurant. Some beer pong before the first two groups arrived at the same time which saved me making an extra trip out to get them. Next up was Sarah and the last group came really late. Fair play to everyone for making a serious effort to get to my place, hopefully many of you will be nearer next semester.

Beer pong kicked off heavily coupled with the usual tour bant. Jack kindly got me some lunch that in truth was only fit for a farm animal. It was up there with one of the worst things I have tasted or smelt!! Won pretty much all the beer pong games I played which meant some sort of redemption for losing many months ago to two of the lads.

All 14-16 of us went for some dinner and drinks in Cat Country! It was late and we pretty much took the place over with lots of Karaoke kicking off! The owners are very nice in there and didn't seem to mind the horrendous singing!! Next up Pink Panther which was a quieter affair! A fuzzy yet insightful chat with one of the girls followed by some drinking game. At this point I was well past "know the one that's too many"!!

Somehow on the way home a lot of people got split up and lost so I walked and got some of them but than not wanting to walk again I took the bike. That wont be happening again. Memory is severely restricted from this point onwards but I know I was stressed and at one point thought one of the girls was having a fit that stopped after a fart!! Some more beer pong and than I presume I went to bed with the others. Tried to watch some news at 6am only to be put firmly in my place by one of the girls!

Gradually people departed on Sunday which had a weekend highlight, the two lads, myself and the two girls were decked out around downstairs and I can only describe the conversation as hilarious, frank and carried signs of psychologically disturbed people!! I walked them out and the place went from 16 people to 1! I think people in general had a good time and were pleased with the house and outside area. The clean up was nowhere near as bad as back home but it did take awhile! Found a pair of boxers in the pond!

To top the whole weekend off my neighbour pops over to see if I'm still alive and before I know it I'm on the porch having a large beer, eating homemade chips and a burger from KFC (2 hours away)!! Serious result!

Lessons were learnt this weekend, tour has its limits and my house/town is capable of hosting a gathering/party. There will definitely be another one in semester two with less injuries.

Khao Yai National Park - The first Thai Trek

So after much talk of going to the national park we finally arranged the trip. I decided not to meet the crew for a pre-national park night out in Korat because I wanted to save some money and be fresh as a daisy for the park tour. This back-fired in horrendous fashion when I went for a drink with a co-teacher and her Thai boyfriend who I met numerous times and is a good guy. One thing led to another and before I knew it I woke up to my phone ringing!! I was three hours behind schedule and missed meeting a friend in Korat (2hrs away).......MAJOR RUSH as the last bus is at 9.40am to Korat. In a heep, forgot loads of items but not the most important thing, BEAR GRYLLS adventure shirt!!

- Meet crew at Korat, there in the same boat and two members aren't even awake yet! Arrive at hostel. Bustin and I are in a different hotel near the others (what a great decision that was!). Got abuse for shirt and buff!

- Despite being the organiser I was the last to get on the truck!! Randomly stop to see a small snake. Seen, held and eaten so that was boring! Went into a cave, held a creature related to the Scorpion family! More driving. Saw millions of bats exit from the top of a cave. Impressive. Went swimming in a natural spring/pond and held a millipede. Felt weird. Held its back and felt the strength of it trying to pull away.

- Plank Off. After weeks of training for the plank off against an English man who on paper should destroy me it was time in our hungover states to plank off for 2,000 Baht (50 euro). My top time was 12mins 50secs. I really just wanted to beat that. I knew the English lad took the bet too lightly and grossly underestimated me. That coupled with no one really giving me a chance got under my skin a little and made me want it more. Like why would I make a bet for that much if I didn't think I could win!! I was in a bad way after the 4th minute, worse then in training and the English man was solid as a rock favouring to focus instead of my approach of looking around and engaging with those watching. The self-elected referee was extremely bias and was trying to rattle me by imposing warnings which weren't agreed upon and were arbitrary at best. Video evidence vindicates any suggested wrong doing. At the 10th minute there was some desperation but I held out to take the win! Well needed money!

- Food, drink, crazy/strange Karaoke bar! Mags flip flops end up in ditch. The Monk wrestles Claire and I decide to have a few over to my hotel for a wee swim..........WELL!!

- Next morning. Problem. Complaints about swim. Apologised. 20mins into tour and driver says we have to go back and talk to both hotels and the family who rented the private pool that we were in!. Put up a SIGN. Thai family refuse to pay bill. Contract between both hotels in jeopardy, Bustin and I asked to leave, Mountain out of a mole hill. So much hassle because six people for a maximum of 30 mins unknowingly went for a swim in a private pool while the owners looked at us with out protest. When we realised the situation we got out. Thai family saw an opportunity not to pay and that's what caused the whole problem. If everyone decided not to pay due to some unhappiness with a hotel or its guests than no hotel would be in business, absolute jokers! I'll keep the towel, thanks!

- Finally we got trekking, great to be back at it! Some people fell, the river crossing was fun, assisted some of the girls, climbed a few rocks with Craig and was about to jump off them into the base of the waterfall having got the lads to ask the guide but just before I did it they shouted over not to as the guide says there is rocks, those jokers didn't even ask the first time!! Lucky..yes. The best part was when it started to rain heavily, it made it more of a wee adventure. Nice chats. Saw two waterfalls, one of which was in the Beach and the other had 198 steps down to it. Obviously nothing close to the volcano trail hikes or Peru but still enjoyable.

- Dinner, wine, nice chat with Kaye, Karaoke, stomach rub, bed. Monday while on route home I decided out of nowhere to bail off the bus, not even a goodbye, nice pizza! Good weekend and some proper tourist activities

Bangkok - Irish Reunion

When Alan said he would be in Bangkok over the weekend it was a no brainer to meet up with a guy I've seen twice over the last three years since he has been teaching in South Korea. Friday eventually came and off I went once again on a 6 hour crazy van ride were the drivers must be trying to beat their previous time! Crash in these paper transportation vehicles and your dead. Decked my self out at the back as it wasn't busy.

Landed in BBK and to save time got a motorbike taxi, always an experience, I just wish they would consider that my legs stick out more than theirs so those tight gaps you and I wouldn't attempt are much tighter for me! Landed, changed, Soi Cowboy.

Soi Cowboy is an elaborate display of coloured signs and even more impressive females. Although a street that is definitely worth a look it is for all intents and purposes a place for those who either can't or are too lazy to try and have sex. I didn't have much views on the whole thing but after living here it disgusts me to see old, fat men PAYING for beautiful women (on the outside that is). Even young men were proudly strutting around with the Thai girl on their arm....ya didn't earn it......its not real!! To balance this it is COMPLETELY WRONG to assume all Thai women are prostitutes or money grabbers. Anyone who lives here knows Thai people, real Thai people are the complete opposite to what those other women are. As usual it is the few that have tainted the perception of women in this country, especially Thai women with western men, many cases are genuine, don't have such a closed mind.

So that got serious now for the fun stuff;

- We hit a few bars and ended up in a club called Insanity, solid.

- Next day was Jerry's Tour day, mastered the transportation system, saw the impressive Wat Arun and Wat Pho (a very large golden Buddha lying down). For dinner we decided to have some of Thailand's finest steak at Chok Chai restaurant. I got an aged T-bone, touch over done but lovely considering my normal diet of rice or noodles with chicken or pork!! Went to Nest rooftop bar, Londoner, sports bar, Irish bar and some other club!

- I was fine the next day and decided to hit one of the worlds largest open markets, Chatuchuk with 15,000 stalls!! Its unbelievable how expansive it is and very easy to get disorientated. Picked up some fake beats, belt, 9 pairs of socks, 2 adventure buffs and a kebab! After this I somehow had the energy to go to Siam Paragon and Terminal 21 malls. Both impressive in there own right! Quick sushi lunch!

- We had a quick swim and headed out for an Indian at some celebrity restaurant followed by a trip to Lebua tower. At the top is the worlds highest open rooftop bar, Sky bar where the Hangover 2 shot some scenes. The view was very impressive as was the decor of the tower. After a cocktail and numerous attempts to get good pictures amongst the crowds we left. A few more bars and we strolled home but not before a drink at one of those pop up street bars with garden deck chairs. They are literally beside main roads! Played connect four for 100 Baht, took the win, bought another Malibu and orange!

- Monday, I hit the MBK mall in search of a phone battery and I needed to get the phone unlocked. I have never seen so many phones in one place, how they make any money with so much competition is impressive! Made the van with seconds to spare and off I went back to Buayai!

- It was great to see Alan and we certainly had some good chats. He returns home after three years of teaching and it will be interesting to see how he handles getting back to the Irish way of things!

This weekend trip has totally changed my opinion of Bangkok and really makes Dublin look so so small and behind. There is so much to do once your willing to get out on to the streets, use the trains, read the guide book and ask questions!!