HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!

On Monday we had another beach day. Very relaxed, reading and playing in the waves with Ed and Will. We each got another massage too, luxury! Han's wasn't quite hard enough at first, though, so she asked for it to be a liiiittle bit harder - something must've been lost in translation because the masseuse went SO much harder!! Han could feel her straining to push as hard as she could but didn't want to say anything; it was painful but kind of good pain. They cracked, massaged, and stretched us, and even walked on our backs!! It was really lovely, although it took Han a couple days to recover haha she's still a little bruised. We came home and had yummy pizza for dinner and watched (some of) the worst movie ever: Beverly Hills Ninja. We called it a night pretty early because we wanted to rest up for New Years Eve!!

Yesterday was SO MUCH FUN! We started the day off slowly, went to a beach - which actually wasn't much of a beach!! It was high tide and the water came right up to the edge of the restaurants! They had to put out sandbags, it was pretty crazy - then did some shopping for New Years outfits with Claire. 

Later on in the arvo we went out with Claire and Ed to get Mani/Pedis done. We had trouble finding a salon with any availability, but we did find this bizarre place where you stick your legs in a fishtank and all these little fish nibble on your feet!! OH MY GOD it was SO strange; the most ticklish, freaky feeling, verging on unbearable but actually oddly enjoyable haha very fun!

We ended up finding a little place on the beach to get our nails done but we'd sort of run out of time! Eddie ended up being the only one to get her nails done before we had to head home - we didn't mind though, because we were PUMPED for our big night out!

Dad, Claire, and the two of us got all dressed up and went to Bo Phut to find a nice restaurant on the beach. We were charmed by a French host out the front of a delish-looking place, The Seaside. The food was great and the view was spectacular. We looked out at lanterns being released and fireworks going off early while we gorged ourselves on Thai and seafood. 

After dinner we went for a wander along the beach, bought some 60 Baht ($2) cocktails, and let off lanterns of our own. It was such a lovely experience and we sent them into the sky with wishes for the New Year.

We went back to the cool bridge from a couple days ago (which was decidedly less pleasant after a couple drinks haha we ran to the end and Luce nearly lost her dinner!) and we also had a couple special unco moments on the beach (Luce washed the sand off her feet and tried to step into her sandals but a wave came and nearly dragged em away hahaha at least the people in the restaurants overlooking the beach got a bit of a show with their dinner!)

After all that it was time for the main event!! At 9:00 we drove up to a higher spot right out on the edge of the island to the W Hotel!! It was so specky: grand entrance, flashing lights, huge pool, searchlights, loud music, and an incredible view. 

(we didn't actually take this pic haha)

In the pool were these big sunken pods with couches in them that we're just awesome and it didn't escape our notice that one of the pods in particular had some good looking guys in it. We did a bit of a slow walk by, nonchalant as we could, and before we knew it a few if them were introducing themselves! They were Aussie lads and they were really nice. We were chatting for a bit and they asked who we'd come with, we said "our parents" and they (in hindsight, probably joking) said "can we meet them?" and we were like "sure!" and brought them over to Dad and Claire. After a little while they invited us all to hang out with them in the pod! Haha our cunning plan worked! Just kidding. Well mostly. Anyway, it was good timing too because for the half hour leading up to midnight there was different performers out on a platform in the middle of the pool. There was a very cool hip hop group and two badass flamethrowers!

A little before midnight we left the pod, grabbed some complimentary champagne, and stood with Dad and Claire right at the edge of the roof to watch the fireworks! We counted down to the New Year, WOO!!! We could see fireworks all the way along the beach and got the most fantastic show right in front of us! They were so close we were looking pretty much straight up! Ahh it was just PERFECT. 

After the fireworks went out onto the dance floor for a couple songs then found the Aussie boys, wished them happy new year and said goodbye. The night couldn't have gone better, it was absolutely wonderful! Great way to start off the year - 2014's going to be a great one, we just know it!

Merry Christmas!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! We've had the most wonderful couple days here in Koh Samui! We arrived to this dinky little airport in the morning on Christmas Eve. There were little shuttles driving us over to the baggage claim and uhh immigration? Haha it was a very different experience to US or Aussie customs.

We drove to the house and it's absolute paradise! Beautiful inside and a lovely pool and deck chairs outside. We spent the morning and early afternoon by the pool, tanning and relaxing.

Later on we went on a bit of an adventure and drove all the way around the island. Poor dad had to catch on pretty quick to the, uhh, different road rules in Thailand - it was pretty crazy. Just driving around we really got a glimpse of a whole other world. We passed markets and shops and food stalls - lots of places to go back to! We got somewhat lost and decided to pull over into a parking spot and explore on foot. 

We happened upon the Chaweng markets that were just setting up and continued on a little way to an absolutely stunning beach. We walked along for a while, taking in the sea breeze and serenity, then came to a Thai restaurant on the beach that looked perfect for our first dinner here. 

We ordered a feast of mojitos, satay sticks, spring rolls, pad Thai, green curry and for dessert, the highlight, coconut sticky rice with mango, yum!! 

We strolled back through the markets after dinner to the car and, by some miracle, managed to find our house again. The kiddies put out milk and cookies for Santa and we all got an early night, very excited for Christmas!

At 5:00am, we woke to excited whispers outside our door - "Santa's been here!" We ran out to share in the Christmas morning joy and did our best to keep Eddie and Will quiet for a little while before they couldn't wait and went and woke up Dad and Claire to do stockings. We got some funny and yummy things from Santa - Eddie told us we better enjoy it because "next year's your last year of getting stockings"... Not sure who decreed that! - and it was all over by 6:15 haha. 

We had a big brekkie of eggs and what we thought was bacon (it was actually pork belly and tasted just like crackling when we cooked it up, when in Thailand!). We did the rest of the prezzies a little later and it was so fun watching Eddie and Will getting so excited about everything, big and small. We got lots of spending money which is SO great, the best thing we could've gotten, really, and beach bags and journals that will also be perfect to while we're here!

We had a relaxed day and met up with the rest of the fam later for Christmas dinner at Mick's Bungalows. We chatted and sipped on drinks while we waited for the big roast dinner to be ready - it ended up taking 3 hours! It was worth the wait, though, and we had some delicious mussels and prawns to get us through. Since it took so long, though, we'd all had a fair bit to drink and we're getting rather loud and silly. We were all seeing who could whistle and asked  Sir (Roger, Claire's dad) if he could he said he could but wouldn't show us because he's "here to watch the idiots - not be one of them!" hahaha it was a pretty great line. We had our yummy dinner with Christmas Pud and apple pie for dessert then headed home happy and tired. Such a lovely day!

Today we slept in then went to a nearby beach. It was beautiful!! There were huts on the sand to lay out on, yummy food and drinks and, best of all, a Thai massage place! For about $10 US each, we had an hour long massage listening to the sound of the ocean - actual paradise right there! 

We ate, tanned, and had a swim in the Gulf of Thailand, then came home to get ready to go out to night markets tonight! Can't wait! Ahh we are absolutely loving Thailand!