In Thailand

On Ko Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand, after one of the most exhausting travel experiences we have ever had. (And typing this into Word again for later posting, because of more access issues. “Wired world”? I’m not convinced.

We knew it would be tough: check out of Delhi hotel on Thursday morning, kill entire day on foot in Delhi, back to hotel for bags and airport transfer at nine PM, flight to Bangkok from midnight to four, flight to Ko Samui from nine AM to eleven, ferry to Ko Tao two PM to four. Actually the final day in Delhi, sans guide, was great – bright sun, modest warmth, the whole city looking almost clean; we mastered the Metro, ate ice cream at Nirula’s on Connaught Circle, went to the National Museum to see everything from 10th C armor to (incongruously) a wonderful small Faberge exhibition. And, despite the timing, no problem with the flights.

Still, we were exhausted by Ko Samui, and what we had not bargained on was a truly ghastly ferry ride, in massive breaking rollers, for the two hours to Ko Tau. People were throwing up everywhere – one poor woman got hit square by a horizontally driven stream from someone else – and a few of the waves were quite scary. We more or less managed to keep our day’s worth of airline peanuts down, but were all feeling a bit ill when we got here - me especially. I only felt normal again (and suddenly needed a stiff drink and a large dinner) several hours after getting here.

Time for bed! More about Ko Tao when we have had time to notice it!