5 months in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines: part five

After the crazy night of the Full Moon Party on Haad Rin beach in Ko Phangan I also danced on the following evenings, I was so fired up by then, and then... I moved on to the island of KO TAO, smaller and quieter, but not that much, since there were quite a few beach bars and there were many parties around which I took part in. I met other interesting people, among them Luca, a very likeable Roman, and then I was joined by Winney, who had stayed on in Ko Phangan. I did a beautiful boat excursion, arriving at a spot where three little islands meet and are joined by an isthmus of sand that forms two lagoons. Besides, I climbed to the top of the highest hill to admire the fine view. I spent other lovely days until it was time to leave for the last island: KO SAMUI.

Here I found a bungalow a few metres from CHAWENG beach, where I spent wonderful days taking long walks, swimming and enjoying fine evenings in the bars along the beach. In Ko Samui too I had lovely encounters, in particular Infinita, a thirty-year-old from Calabria who lives in Rimini, where she works during the tourist season and then travels the world in winter. We became affectionate friends and spent lovely days together, and I must say I still miss her. Infinita introduced me to other friends of hers, Mauro and Arrigo, and then before leaving for Bangkok we met Enrico and his brother-in-law, with whom we spent a lovely evening on the beach. With Infinita and Mauro I did the island excursion, visiting temples, other beaches, the capital of the island and even a waterfall where I bathed in the fresh water because of the great heat.

I would have liked to stay longer in Ko Samui with Infinita and the other friends, but unfortunately I had my flight booked for Bangkok for the last week, while she stayed another month and only came back in these days. What can I say about BANGKOK? It was I think the fifth time I have visited it, and this time I skipped the royal palace and the other famous temples to discover the so-called minor ones, which are just as spectacular, many of them, all over the city. And then I went to visit the very interesting National Museum and some areas I had neglected previously, such as Siam Square with its futuristic buildings and its shopping centres, Silom road, which at night is a great brothel area and by day rather squalid and deserted.

I travelled on the boats along the Chao Praya river, on the metro and on the skyline, the monorail that links important districts of the city that once could only be reached by the notorious tuk-tuk. One of the last days I did a very interesting excursion to AYUTTHAYA, the old Thai capital for almost 4 centuries, from 1350 to 1750, until its destruction by the Burmese and the move to safer Bangkok. I got there in about 3 hours by train and then, wanting to return in the evening with the last available train, I had to visit the city in a couple of hours in the company of a likeable Japanese man I had met on the train. We took a taxi together that drove us around to see the various temples and the archaeological areas scattered over a very large area. They reminded me of the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia, even though those are more majestic and were not destroyed like these.

On the last day I wanted to do some shopping at the CHATUCHAK market in the north of the city, where I bought gifts for friends, relatives and... for myself. And so on the first of April, April Fools' Day, I returned home after almost 5 months away, encountering again the winter I had left in November. A shame; if I had stayed another three weeks I would have spared myself this last remnant of the bad season and also the sadness of the political, economic and social news of today's Italy. In the end, in 140 days I visited about 30 places, took 18 flights (with Turkish Airline Milan-Istanbul-Bangkok for 670 euros, with an 8-hour stop on the way out that allowed me to see again the beautiful city of the straits), the others with Air Asia or Cebu Pacific Airlines, two low-cost companies that are going strong in those countries.

Before leaving I spent about 2,000 euros on the flights, an insurance with Nomads for 500 euros, medicines, vaccinations, etc. Afterwards about 1,000 euros a month for a total spend of 7,000 euros. I had booked some hotels for the first days, but it would have been better to avoid it, because what you find on the internet is more expensive than what you find directly on the spot, and because you have to waste time finding the place you booked. Generally I spent 10-15 euros for a room with private bathroom, tv and fan. Generally the ones with air conditioning cost much more and make you ill, and so I avoided them when the others were available.

At times I spent quite a lot more, as in Phi Phi Island, where a simple bungalow cost me a full 30 euros, or at Kuala Lumpur airport, where I stayed at the airport hotel because I had a flight early in the morning (cost 35 euros!) For eating I spent little, since I also went to small restaurants frequented by locals, where you eat as well as and sometimes better than in tourist restaurants, spending half or even less. Otherwise in the usual restaurants, where all the same you spend less than 5 euros per meal and sometimes even only 2 euros! Beer pushes the cost up, but in the Philippines a bottle costs 0.50 euros and in Thailand 1 euro, while in Malaysia you get up to 3 or 4 euros a bottle! I spent more on the excursions, but those are cheap too: never more than 10 euros, with lunch included and a day trip. You spend little on transport too, both public transport and taxis.

Even in Bangkok, for 1.50 euros I had myself taken by taxi from Khaosanroad, the backpackers' district where I was staying, to the train station, a journey of 20 minutes. The tuk tuk costs more and the drivers fire off crazy prices, hoping for the tourist's naivety, when with a metered taxi with air conditioning and music you spend half, but you often have to insist that they turn on the meter, since they tend to ask for flat rates that are always much higher. In the end I'd say the trip was certainly positive, in particular in Thailand, where I had the most fun and where the sea is the most beautiful, but the Philippines aren't bad either, the Filipinos are really likeable and there are places worth a visit, all those I saw plus many others.

I would have one reservation about Malaysia, which is a rich and well-organised country but which leaves you a bit taken aback by the many prohibitions on fun that the Muslim religion imposes on locals and on tourists too. However, in Malaysia too you visit beautiful and interesting places; all those I saw I liked, even though I had less fun. Until next time!