Ridiculous to the Sublime

Leaving Pattya was no mean feat - especially when our destination was Trat. Bangkok to Trat, no problem, many buses a day. Pattya to Trat - different story. One bus which was scheduled to pull through Pattya left Bangkok at 6am so we calculated that if we were at the bus stop by 8am we should catch it. Bus destinations are written on the front of the bus in Thai and down the side in Thai and English so you can read the bus you've just missed as it swings past you. For fear of this eventuality, I learned to read Trat as my first word in Thai script. Much to our good luck, a woman making her way home to Trat was also waiting for the bus and took us under her wing. We arrived at the bus stop before 8am, the bus came through at around 11.30. So for the intervening time we sat in the dust and exhaust on the main road and chatted with our new friend who I must say has to be the youngest looking 46yr old mother of three I've ever met!

I enjoyed the 5 hour bus trip, great to sit down and relax, especially when you're clogged up with a bug. Managed to sleep a little as well as enjoy the scenery of a much greener rural Thailand. We were the only farang on the bus. On arrival in Trat, we caught a songthaew to our accommodation - far cry from the Pattya cesspit - the Banpu Resort and Spa - gorgeous, spotless and quiet - a perfect way to unwind and recover from our respective bugs. And that is pretty much what we've been doing today - reading, sleeping, strolling to the restaurant and back.

Will probably need to venture into Trat town tomorrow for some supplies and exploration. After that, who knows? Maybe a massage on Tuesday, hanging out by the pool....

P.S. While I write this, night has fallen and I'm now accompanied by about 15 little green-grey geckos on the walls and ceilings of the internet kiosk. They are making strange noises at me.