Thailand...

There's nothing that makes you wish you were on a beach more than sitting under a duvet with the heating on full blast when its -2 degrees and snowing than look through old holiday photos. Thailand were the pictures I came up on my facebook memories to remind me that it had been 3 years since we flew out for Christmas and New Year to spend 3 weeks with our family.

We were flying out to Koh Samui, the second largest island in Thailand after we landed in Bangkok. Having never been away around Christmas before it was strange and exciting to almost be able to completely do it twice, we had a 'pre Christmas Christmas' with our family and close family friends where we set up a fake Christmas day and exchanged presents even if it was the beginning of December. 

Getting to Heathrow for our flight meant killing time around the airport and more importantly trying to stay awake as our flight didn't leave till extremely late, which always adds a little bit of nerves in case you fall asleep while waiting. Myself and my brother killed our time by eating a little bit too much while mum took herself off to the duty free...a necessity apparently.

10 hours and 4 films later we arrived landing into Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, possibly one of the biggest and most confusing places I have ever been in my life. Its safe to say with a 7 hour time difference and after a flight with limited sleep the last thing you want is a 2km walk from the arrivals terminal to where we had to get our connecting flight...it seemed as though those who worked in the airport didn't know where we were meant to be either adding at least a kilometre to the trekking around the airport we had already done.

 

 Thankfully we only had a short hour long flight over to Koh Samui, a complete contrast from the vast airport in Bangkok it was tiny, it looked more like a little hut than an airport terminal, which meant the wait for our luggage was ever nervous when everyone else's had arrived and we were hanging around with no sign of it arriving anytime soon... as it happened it was on a different cart and the porter had been held up something that happens regularly so we were told.

Having been lucky enough to travel a fair amount but never been to Asia I was excited to see how different the culture is and try proper Thai food. We were staying just outside of the capital city of Chaweng in Bo Phut, a small fisherman's village with very little in it which was ideal really for a quiet getaway. Our hotel was called Smile House and it was exactly as you would expect the Thai hotels to be like, rather than having a block with multiple rooms in each room was an individual hut situated around the main pool area set into the trees giving you upmost privacy.

With the hotel fairly secluded you had the option of the public beach as well, only a stone's throw away you were able to walk up and down the beach front littered with larger more modern hotels and smaller beach restaurants and bars looking out onto the sea. A particular favourite of ours was one which had giant bean bags spread across the beach in front of the bar...comfort and cocktails while watching the sunset, doesn't get much better than that.

Being away for Christmas was something I wasn't quite sure how I would take, without our usual traditions and the inevitable rain we would usually have at home it was quite strange sunbathing in 30+ degrees heat with Christmas trees and tinsel in the palm trees round the pool. However the Thai locals did everything they could to make it seem as christmasy as possible...a full buffet was laid out around the area where the pool was with everyone who was staying at the hotel enjoying drinks, food and the entertainment they had put on for everyone. 

 Boxing day was our first opportunity to get out of the hotel and see a bit more of the island. The group of us had arranged to go on a tour that covered multiple sites such as an elephant sanctuary, the big Buddha, an animal safari and a drive up the mountain to one of the highest points with stunning panoramic views. 

The Big Buddha Temple was one of the first stops, its hard to imagine how vast these places really are. The pictures don't do them justice until you are standing at the bottom of the stairs looking up at the 12 metre figure, the Buddha is surrounded by numerous clothing and food stalls for tourists to enjoy. Once reaching the top of the stairs the vibrant colours of the statue is covered in much smaller statues each and every one different to the next with various religious connotations.

   Alongside the Buddha we visited what seemed like a little village, with multiple statues very similar to the Buddha where you were able to walk in and through all the figures to see the intricate designs painted over the ceilings and walls. 

The next stop was the elephant sanctuary, they had 20/30 elephants of all ages roaming around that you were able to see and feed. In one of the areas immediately going in they had 3 baby elephants all of which you were able to feed and stroke...an experience im not likely to forget in a hurry. 

 

 One of the final stops was one of the more hair raising experiences I have had on holiday. Transport in Asia isn't quite what you get used to in England so being in an open top safari jeep in torrential rain driving up a vertical mountain with sheer drops either side isn't something that does your nerves any favours at all. However the drive was worth it, when we reached the top we overlooked the whole of the city...of which we were able to see through the rain clouds. Around the corner was one of the more picturesque scenes of the island, a beautiful waterfall that you were able to swim in the foot of the waterfall while watching the elephants further up stream.

The beaches are without doubt the best part of any holiday, being able to walk up and down  for hours on end finding small little areas hidden behind the trees, quiet areas where there's no one around make any holiday a little bit more special. I stumbled across a tiny little village where people where living in little shed like huts, you couldn't imagine people would actually be able to live there but they had found a way in the most idyllic setting on the

beach front. 

Sitting on the beach watching the sunset had become something of a must for me, you don't find a more relaxing time of day that listening to the waves watching the sun disappear over the horizon surrounded by friends and family.

 

 Something of a must in Thailand is going into the capital to watch a Ladyboy Show, despite knowing what you're going for you still have the apprehension having absolutely no idea what to expect. The capital Chaweng is a bustling place, with car horns sounding continuously, people walking just about everywhere with no real order and the bright lights of all the shops it was certainly eye opening.

The show in itself was set out like you were walking into the theatre, however arriving early and ending up in the front few rows may have been something we lived to regret. They offered you drinks before it began and throughout. The actual show was put together in a way I can only describe as a massive surprise, with multiple girls performing routines to different songs in an array of extravagant outfits to compliment the show...a bit like being at a musical only in a backstreet of Thailand.

New Year came around very quickly and was probably my favourite night of the whole holiday, very similar to Christmas day the hotel had set out tables once again however this time on the beach front with lights through all the trees and a stage set up to count in the new year. We had crackers and balloons along with traditional Thai flower necklaces to wear while enjoying the night. 

Once we had finished the food and were approaching midnight myself along with my brother and uncle had bought paper lanterns to light and let off along with hundreds of other people along the beach. Its a moment I don't think I will ever forget, watching them float off into the sky (after multiple failed attempts) alongside everyone else will always be one of my favourite memories.

Soon after the count down began and we watched the fireworks across the sea from all the other islands bring in the new year.

Despite not having the best weather while we were out there, spending more time sheltering from the rain than sunbathing getting an opportunity to explore a completely different culture is something im so grateful to have experienced, alongside my family at Christmas and new year.