Pieces of the WORLD (Koh Mak and Koh Kood again)

Koh Mak 

There is no doubt that Koh Mak is still the best island for me and Bangbao Beach in Koh Kood is still the best beach for me. I am glad to get a chance to go back to these beautiful islands. 

This time I went to my fave islands with some friends and my sister and of course Taylor. 

We stayed in Koh Mak for 3 days, and we had the best days at Coco Cape! 2 years ago there's no entrance fee, but now they have a 200 Bhat (per person) entrance fee with free drinks (any drinks). When we came back for the second time cuz my friends loved the place we paid 100 Bhat (per person) with free soft drinks. We stayed there the whole day. 

We stayed at Miss You Beach resort which is beside the pier, I thought it's a bad idea, but the place is nice. The beach is nice too just bring your insect repellent for the sand flies and all insects (lol). Well, the thing is I was the only one who got many bites out of us, I know I am prone to insect bites but didn't expect to have a lot. It kind of freaks me out, but I know it's normal, so life goes on. 

I thought we explored the island when we were there, but I was proven wrong because we still found some hidden spots. Maybe because my travel agent of a sister was with us (lol). She always wants to visit places whenever we go traveling, unlike me and Taylor we are more than happy to stay in our accommodation and swim all day long. But with my sister, she wants to explore more places whenever we travel. I think it's a good thing, now we get to discover more places that are off the beaten path like the Lost kingdom of Somchai's affection. WE get to have sunrise and sunset viewing, and it's always magical to witness both. We also really enjoy the food, all the food we had in Koh Mak was all tasty. Finally, we get to eat fresh seafood. A funny thing happened to us, so on our way to Banana Sunset Bar our golf cart broke down in front of the good man's house. He called the owner to inform them of what happened. Luckily the owner passed by from somewhere and the good man explained what happened. So they replaced our golf cart with a cute pink one (lol) and gave our thanks to the good man and the owner and off we go to our destination. Now, on our way back my sister was like let's ask the good man about his place (eatery) so we can have our breakfast at his place. So we went back to the good man's place and our golf cart broke down again (lol) it won't start. His place is closed, so we thought he's not there when we're about to leave the cart won't start. And so we called for him, and he was so kind enough to call the owner of the cart again. And when it was fixed they all drove behind us, even the good man drove behind us, I think they just want to make sure will make it home without another glitch (lol). That was so kind of them. The next day we went back to Coco Cape and enjoyed our last day. We swam to our heart's content. 

The lost Kingdom of Somchai's Affection 

Coco Cape

Around Koh Mak

Koh Kood

My third time in Koh Kood and the third time staying in Siam Beach Resort nothing beats the crystal clear water on Bangbao Beach. This time we were joined by new sets of friends. While the other two went home. We had a nice time until our second day when we had an accident. It was a rainy morning, we didn't really plan how to spend our day that day, but we were planning to do waterfalls hopping and the fisherman's village but since it was raining all morning we kind of just enjoyed swimming. Then suddenly they decided to go out and go to fisherman's village as it stopped raining, we kind of debated on renting the motorcycles or renting a pickup because I am not a confident driver but in the end, we got the motorcycles and the staffs were like against it cuz for one motorcycle there'll be 3 people riding,

but they just said okay. So Taylor, my sister, and  Lori in one motorcycle, then me and MJ (she's the driver). We went on, and I think after 20 minutes of driving the accident happened. MJ was driving slow and Taylor went on ahead of us. It was a curve road and what welcomed us was them on the road with blood. I kid you not that scene still haunted me, it was panic and chaos for all of us. I was a mess and it was just traumatic. We are thankful to that auntie who helped us, called the hospital, and stayed with us. I was trembling the whole ordeal while checking on my sister and my friends. I was closed to breaking down myself, seeing my sister there on the road, my friend Lori bleeding in the head, Taylor full of wounds. Yoh!!!!! it's not that easy. But we all stayed strong and waited for the ambulance. Thankfully, it was all minor injuries. PRAISE GOD!  And so after that, we went back to the resort and rested. I am so grateful to the staff of Siam Beach Resort for their assistance all throughout. We went back to the hospital the next day for check-up and cleaning of the wounds. And I think because we as Filipinos are resilient, and we have the ability to still be happy and laugh even in adversity, we still get to enjoy our stay in Koh Kood. We still went to Fisherman's Village in a pickup and had a sumptuous lunch with fresh seafood. Even the staff from the resort were surprised that we still want to go (lol). And after that, I still get to enjoy swimming, but poor Taylor can't even go near the water. Koh Kood definitely gave a hell of a remembrance. But I would still love to go back!

                     

Skye

"FROM EVERY WOUND THERE IS A SCAR, AND EVERY SCAR TELLS A STORY. A STORY THAT SAYS 'I SURVIVED' "

Pieces of the World: Pai and Changmai (Kissing 2019 Goodbye) New Year's Travel 2020

Goodbye, 2019! You have been challenging and it was a hell of a ride with you. I had a lot of down moments, but that didn't stop me from still be grateful because life is made of moments good and bad its what made me appreciate life more.  You taught me to fight and to face my fears and you gave me opportunities to learn and push myself to do things that I taught I couldn't do. Thank you for all the pain both physical and emotional, it made me stronger.


Hello, 2020! I hope to learn a lot from you. I hope to better myself physically, skilfully, emotionally and spiritually. Looking forward to greatness and awesomeness but I really hope to be safe and in good health too. Lez get it 2020!


Moving on, I thought I will be spending my New Year again on the beach but for this year I  got to spend it on the mountains (hahaha). I went with my sister and Taylor. Our first stop was Pai in Mae Hong Son Province. It's like Sagada in the Philippines but I love Sagada more. What I love in Pai is it has one of the best natural scenery here in Thailand. Life there is simple and peaceful. If given a chance again, I would love to go back and stay longer. We didn't get to explore all the places. Our accommodation Bueng Pai Farm is a nice place. They had cottages and they grow some vegetables and they have chickens that lay fresh eggs. They didn't have a restaurant but they have a kitchen where you can cook your own food. You can buy the eggs from them, they have free food too.
It's quite far from the center but the place is nice so we didn't really mind the location.

We visited the World War II Memorial Bridge, then we went to Pai Canyon which I didn't get to walk around cuz I was still recovering from my haywire of emotions from driving the motorcycle. It's been my first time driving it again after time immemorial! I know how to drive but I'm not confident enough to drive on a freaking highway with cars and trucks! (cries) plus I'm scared of heights so I didn't get to appreciate the canyon. The next day we decided to rent a private car cuz I am not gonna drive the long and winding road to Tham Lot Cave when we were on our way I was so relieved that Taylor didn't push the motorcycle ride going to the cave because the road was just not for me (hahaha). Tham Lot Cave is the biggest cave here in Thailand.

After the cave, we went to the hot spring which is quite disappointing because it's too small and crowded. To be honest it's not worth the 200 Bhat entrance fee. My sister and Tayor went in for a swim or rather just sat down in the water. Then we head home, rested and went out for dinner.

The next day before heading back to Changmai for New Year we had a last-minute trip to Bamboo Bridge in Pambok Village. It was early in the morning and freakin cold, it was a long drive but I was confident to drive because there were no cars and trucks since it was early and the road to the village has some beautiful scenery, so I enjoyed that drive. I would say Pambok Village is my favorite place in Pai.


Bueng Pai Farm (our accommodation)

Pai Canyon and Memorial Bridge

 Thamnamlod Cave

Bamboo Bridge

Chang Mai 

My sister really wanted to see the sky lantern and wanted to experience it so we headed back to Changmai. We stayed in this backpacker hostel. We just walked around, visited Doi Suthep (too crowded because it's the day before new year) Went to buy my bag which I have been eyeing for months (heh), we also ate Filipino food in a Filipino restaurant, then we welcomed the new year.

Skye

FYI

The road to Pai is a curve road, might bring some plastic bags just in case you throw up.
Van driver drives so fast that it might get you sick.

We rented a taxi from Changmai to Pai for 2500 Bhat (I'd rather have it again, than ride a van)
Others opted for motorcycle but I'd rather not (hahaha)
We rented a private car for half-day tour in Pai it cost us 1500 Bhat (Hot spring, viewpoint, and Thamnamlod cave)
Thamnamlod Cave entrance fee costs 450 Bhat per 3 people.
Hot spring costs 200 Bhat for Foreigners but since we work here and we can speak Thai we only paid 20 Bhat
Motorcycles cost 100 Bhat for 24 hours, others might cost 150 Bhat depends on the shop.
Bamboo Bridge entrance fee 30 Bhat each person.

Final thoughts:

If given a chance I would love to go back to Pai, stay longer and explore the province of Mae Hong Son. I know there is still much to see and experience there. I am happy to be back in Changmai after 6 years as it was special to me, Changmai is the first place me and my teddy bear Skye traveled together for New Year holiday along with my cousins, since then me and Skye have been to places.
I had a bumpy 2019 I'm glad I get to send it off with good memories I made with my sister and Taylor in Pai and Changmai. My hopes for 2020 is for it to be better in all aspect, not just for me but for everyone and for the world.

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something."  -- Neil Gaiman

Here's my vlog