We are staying in the same house we have stayed in for 7 winters (the first winter it was a smaller house). We are staying for 4 months as we did last year. Our belongings which have grown over the years are kept in huge crates for us at no charge. We are now up to 6 crates, 2 fans wrapped in bin bags, 2 bicycles, and some kayak paddles. This year will have the addition of a big box with our own tv.
For the first month or so that we were here, one or both of us had a virus resulting in lots of chesty coughs (not Covid). So activities were limited.
This year we have developed a routine which suits us well. We eat dinner mainly at 4 restaurants, one of which is our favourite as they have the best homemade Thai food and we love the owner and her staff. They feel like family. We've been going to this restaurant since coming here in 2014.
We get up early every morning (5:50). Danny rides his bike for an hour in the cool of dawn. I go to a huge and well-equipped gym every morning except Sunday. Koh Fit gym.
Sunday I accompany Danny to catholic mass. It's a lovely new church with friendly people, an amazing choir, and many tourists from various countries.
Monday is one of the days the cleaners come to do the housework. We don't like to be underfoot while they are here so this is one of the days we do the shopping, stopping first for a cappuccino at a nice little cafe. Mid-afternoon we catch a songtaew (a vehicle with 2 rows of seats in the back) to Lamai Beach. We walk along the beach and stop at Black Pearl Bar and Restaurant. I normally have a cocktail (Mai Tai etc) and then a bottle of beer. Danny has beer. We never drive the car when we're going to be drinking alcohol. We eat dinner at our favourite restaurant Koh Kaew.
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| An occasional treat - normally eat a Thai dish with tons of veggies |
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| watermelon smoothie |
Wednesday mid-afternoon we ride our bikes to one our favourite beach bars and have a couple of beers whilst enjoying the breezes.
Thursday morning we get blissful massages at the same place we have been going to since 2015. Afterward we have lunch at a very healthy, creative cafe Sweet Sisters Cafe.
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| Fish cakes and salad and tamarind sauce |
For dinner we have non-Thai food. I have a chicken burger topped with homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce and fries at Yousaby.
Friday is the other day of the week that the cleaners come and we go for cappuccinos and shopping.
Saturday mid-afternoon we ride our bikes to our other favourite beach bar for a couple of beers. Cold beer tastes best on a beach in the shade with sea breezes!
We have a smart tv and keep up on US and UK politics since we are able to get many of the channels we want. Also have Netflix and Prime so we are never short of something to watch. My Kindle is loaded with books so I'm never short of something to read. Danny also reads and studies the Thai language. We have two verandas on our bungalow so they have lovely places to sit and read.
The pool is a few steps from our bungalow, and the beach is just across the road.
Other things we do but haven't yet this year is take a longtail boat trip to various small islands, sometimes going on a snorkel trip.
Danny's brother and his wife are coming this year in February for 3+ weeks and will stay near our house and we are really looking forward to this! Sis in law and I are going to Chiang Mai in northern Thailand for 4 nights and leaving the boys here. Chiang Mai is an ancient city with more than 300 Buddhist temples. We will be staying in the old city which is the most historic and interesting part of the city. It also has the most important temples. Great shopping there as well! Chiang Mai tourism
