As Lida ia leaving soon, we have decided to have a sea tour to the islands, to swim in the crystal clean water and relax. The choice was Koh Tao and Koh Nanyang. The price was 1300 Baht ($43) per person, pick up time 6.30 a.m. I didn’t like it from the beginning

It all began when we were waiting for a bus which gathered people at the island to take to the pier. While waiting, I sat on the sand bags near Ease divers office and put under my ass a beach mat, which, of course, I forgot there:)

Then we drove to the pier for a long time, and, finally, boarded a beautiful catamaran, we decided that our ordeal was over) How wrong we were:) It was just the beginning:)

Breaking the waves, scary roaring the engines the boat went trough the open sea, then a roller coaster began. Intestine left, the heel, then in the head. And this was despite the fact that there were almost no waves. Prayers were offered up to a “white friend”, not only in toilet the altar, the people were sick completely, all the children were the first which could not stand, then the adults followed) ))) Lidia and I were real sailors, as many as 3 hours, we held back our feelings:)

Remembering our trip to Phi Phi island on the newest boat, visually very similar, by the way, I did not remember such rolling, although the waves were much larger. Later analysis of the situation, I understood why it was so bad- it’s in the design of the catamaran, we were fighting against the water with a place, connecting the floats.

Koh Tao met us with the rain, all the green after a trip we did not even pay attention to it and happily went to the hard land to soak:) Next, we were proposed, ATTENTION )))), a trip on a boat around the island)))) Of course, there were lots of willing))).

Actually in this our unpleasant adventure ended, after 15 minutes the sun came out, it was very hot, everybody went into the water to watch the beautiful underwater world and photograph the surrounding beauty.

Russian-speaking tourists once came up with great entertainment – feeding the fish:) Actually it is forbidden, but nobody cares, we are no exception:) Honestly, it is unclear

Why can fish be ate, but can not be fed?

Actually, all the rest of the time prior to departure (which we were waiting for with horror), we swam, sunbathed and relaxed. The return trip was not so bad, perhaps because the sea was almost calm. At home we arrived in the dark.
By the way, no one took the beach mat:)

On weekend we went to “Paradise Park Farm”. It is situated high in the mountains, the road to it starts from the turn to Waterfall I.
For this trip Dima rented Nissan Navara for a day, because his Mazda does not fit to drive on the mountain roads, more powerfull car is needed.
So, we sat in the cabin and started.

After rather wearisome journey we got to the park. On the way we saw a view point with wonderful island view.

View point

The pThe zooitself takes little space, but the main peculiarity is that almost all the animals and birds are kept without cages and walk freely at the park. The children were in raptures over that! Adults also were run among animals and feed them with bananas and seed which the zoo stuff gave to everybody.

The ticket costs 300 Baht ($10), for chidren under 6 is free.

There is a nice chidren corner with swings, bycicles, teetering boards and slide.

There is also a samll restaurant where we have had launch. The prices are rather high, but we were in a good mood, so nobody complained.

And the greatest thing in the zoo is the sweeming pool with exciting view at the island, mountains and the sea. We relaxed there)))

In general we did not had compession about the time and money spent on this trip. It is a place that is really worth visiting in Samui, especially if you are staying here with children.

Everyone knows that Lida is big fan of photography and taking photos)
For this purpose, she has Nikon D80:)
Today we armed with the proper technique for shooting, excellent mood and went to the beach in the direction of Chaweng. The places I’ll tell you the most beautiful, no people are there. Peace and quiet. Sound of the surf and singing of invisible birds.
Bounty
Generally, it is quite another Thailand, quiet beaches without people, and at the same time it is very close from the boiling pot of civilization, 5 minutes to the road or 15 minutes walk from our house. We saw today a hummingbird, unfortunately could not make a picture. On the shore there are many small crabs, they can be seen, if to sit still and not to make any sudden movements.

Recently we had a fascinating trip to Malaysia in order to extend the visa in Thailand. This procedure is called visa run. Given that we have a visa that permits twice to enter Thailand and stay there for two months, we just needed to “activate” a visa for the second time. Generally, after two months in Thailand, you can go to the immigration office in Nathon and extend the visa for another 30 days, and only on the expiration of this period to go to a neighboring country and get a new visa. For the citizens of Russia, this procedure is familiar to them, put a visa on arrival for 30 days, then at the same time they can extend it to the immigration service, and then to go on a visa run.

Citizens of Ukraine are put a stamp on arrival for 15 days, at the same rate and extend. So every month to ride a visa run is unprofitable and tedious. So worth getting a visa in advance and for a long time:)
Travel agencies usually organize visa run trip. The most famous are the Easy way and Herbert agency. It costs 1,900 Baht per person. We went with Easy way, no complaints)
The procedure is as follows: early in the morning 4-5 a.m. minibus takes tourists from areas of Samui and takes on the pier. They all sit on the ferry to the mainland. The ferry is an hour and a half. Upon arrival at the pier Donsak, all sit on the other vehicle and drive to the border with Malaysia. About 5 hours to go. One stop to eat. On arrival at the border (it’s a big market out there and two screens at a distance of 50 meters from each other) need to give the passport to stamp out of Thailand, then walk to the Malaysian check point, where to put a stamp on arrival in Malaysia, then around to the other window which put the stamp on the exit, then go back to the Thai check point, where the visa placed in Thailand. Everybody returns into a van and go back to the ferry, then the ferry and transfer home.
We decided after 60 days of stay in Thailand not to renew the visa on the spot and go to the visa run, as we would have to undergo the procedure immediately after the new year. Not the fact that the company would be gaining tourist for visa run in early January. We decided to go together with Lena, Alex left with our friends, because children under 12 years do not pay the penalty for being in Thailand after the expiry of the visa. The road is long, tedious, so we did not take Alex. In vain …
At the border Lena was turned back because Alexis inscribed in her passport and visa is issued for two, ie without a child they can not extend it. Those whose children have their own passport, can not take them on visa run. I do not know the situation in Ukraine, but at that moment, when we took the documents to Sasha for the last trip to the Thai, or whether the forms were not, whether children under a certain age, your passport is not entitled, in short, wrote in her passport . So please check.
The problem was aggravated by the fact that prior to the expiration of Lena’s visa it was one day, tickets for a visa run was not healing, so she had to take the nearest available number. And on December 8, they went to Sanya again in Malaysia. This time everything went smoothly, although had to pay a fine for 2 days stay with an expired visa, for 500 baht a day. Alex, a surprisingly excellent endured a journey halfway asleep, and generally showed the wonders of obedience.

In general, we are again with visas, life is good!

Before going to Thailand I told many people to go with us there.

But noone agreed, there were many reasons for this. Later, while talking to friends in skype and icq I invited them to come, but it had no result.
There are several people, who are going to come and we are looking forward to see them.

But our guest came to us by chance, neither we nor she did expect that things would work:) We just asked to come to visit us, and she unexpectedly agreed. She quickly prepared the documents, bought tickets, and-hello Thailnd! And we, in turn, are happy that she has come to us!

So (…drum roll…) Meet)