Choice : Still Mooing or Just Short of Shoe Leather

Sunday 24 September

I was up early this morning and in the pool doing my stint of forty lengths when I was joined by Jean and Ray. Following breakfast I blogged again all morning (entries seem to be taking longer – is that because life is somewhat banal at present, so not so many colourful incidents to describe. When Juz and Dave arrived, soon after midday, the three girls decided to have another massage, so ambled along to one of the shops in the village, not far from Smile, where we were informed that the masseurs did not start until about 15.00. We arranged to go back later, and meanwhile had time for a swim. The ball we had played with in the pool before, had sadly deflated recently, so Dave bought us a new “Penelope Pitstop pink ball (especially for Juz) and we played “catch” and “piggy in the middle” while Jean and several children looked on! This life is returning us to our childhood!

It was now time for the massage. The boys went to the Frog and Gecko and we went to the massage parlour, where we were taken up the small side street and round the back to a large oblong, light and airy room, containing six mattresses, divided by curtains, all raised about 18 inches off the ground. Standing up in a compartment, your head and shoulders were above the curtain rails so you could chat! We had all decided to have an “oiley” massage (appropriate for Jean) and striped down to our knickers (for Thai massages you don’t usually take your clothes off). For an hour, three Thai ladies rubbed, stroked and kneeded our bodies from toes to heads with a light oil (which didn’t come off on your clothes when you were dressed). It was very relaxing, although if they felt you were nodding off, they used a few “flick” stokes which shook you awake. At the end, as we stood up, all three of us felt “stunned” and a little off balance. Definitely in need of a drink

We had left the men in the Frog and Gecko, and that’s where we found them. After a few discussions about what we were doing tomorrow, Dave and Ray went to see our favourite travel agents and booked a fishing, snorkeling and swimming trip, similar to the one we did last year which had been great fun. For 900 bahts each – about 13 GBP – including lunch, it’s a real bargain.

We finished drinks in the Frog and retired to the balcony to await time for cocktails – not too long, as the bars start opening soon after 18.00. The sun had come out this afternoon, and it was really warm sitting outside the bungalow, trying to avoid the mozzies. We wandered down to the Beatles Bar – fast becoming our favourite bar due to the cheap drinks – all cocktails 130 bahts till 21.00 (against 170 in most bars and 180 in the Happy Elephant) and the cocktails themselves are always good – voted best Black Russian on the strip and the Bloody Marys, Pina Coladas and Gin Fizzes aren’t bad either. Having downed a couple of rounds, we made our way to the Shack for our Australian barbeque meal. The menu was scribed on a large blackboard which took up the whole of one side of the restaurant. Starters included ribs, prawns, mussels, breads, smoked salmon and soups. Main courses were of course, Australian steaks, either rib eyes or fillets, with some lamb, pork and fish. Everyone ordered a steak of some kind, including Jean (I don’t think I remember Jean ordering a steak before in all the years I’ve known her). Colin and I both had ribs to start and they were “finger-lickin’ good” with a cinnamon/clovey barbeque sauce. Between us we had a range of steaks for main courses which were delicious – I of course had mine “still mooing” or blue, and Dave had his usual “well done” or “a shade shy of shoe leather” according to the menu - but tasting a morsel of Dave’s I might change to “well done” in future, as it seemed to have more flavour (unlike our steaks at home) and was crispy on the outside and still juicy inside. The steaks came ready served with garlic mash/jacket potato/fries, and spinach which was not heat hot as it is served on the plate and taken to the barbyman to wait whist he cooked the cow over fiery flames at the front of the restaurant. (At one stage, when the barby needed refueling, he fanned the coals using a large electric fan that had been helping to keep the room at a comfortable temperature.) I am looking forward to food in Australia – great steaks and lots of shellfish I hope.

After dinner we were all feeling weary and could not even summons up enough energy for a nightcap, especially as we had to set the alarm clocks for an early call tomorrow for fishing.