A Climb With John

by Gay Mitra - September 9, 2010August 13, 20144

Because I have loved life, I shall have no sorrow to die. – Amelia Burr It was 2007. Because of an unexpected approved vacation leave, I was able to join a climb with All Terrain Mountaineering Club (ATMC). Straight from a graveyard shift (I too, was a call center agent in my past life), I…

The Big 3-0: A Backpacker’s Flashback

by Gay Mitra - September 3, 2010August 13, 201413

I turned 30 yesterday. And nope, I didn’t throw a big party nor vacationed somewhere remote and exotic. I would have if I wasn’t 38 weeks pregnant – or more of, if our family elders didn’t disapprove it. My celebration was very boring simple. With a handful of relatives, we had lunch at a Chinese…

1st Blogversary: A Year of Growth

by Gay Mitra - September 1, 2010August 13, 201411

I’ve got a dream, I’ve got a dream And I know I can share it if you want me to If you’re goin’ my way, I’ll go with you – Jim Croce, I Got A Name That dream was to travel around the world. It seemed far fetched for me – a Filipina who earns…

Koh Phi Phi Lei

by Gay Mitra - August 28, 2010August 13, 20140

There’s no way you can keep it out of Lonely Planet, and once that happens it’s countdown to dooms day – says one of the characters in the movie ‘The Beach’. Although the popular novel (turned into a Hollywood movie) by Alex Garland is set in Thailand, it’s been rumored that the actual inspiration for…

Koh Phi Phi Don

by Gay Mitra - August 26, 2010August 13, 20140

Koh Phi Phi Don is the largest of the Phi Phi Islands. It is almost separated into two islands, but a strand of flat land (each side has a beach suitable for swimming) connects them. When we arrived at the Ton Sai Pier, Shervin led the way through the jungle straight to Long Beach. We…

Surat Thani-Krabi: Ferry From Hell

by Gay Mitra - August 24, 2010August 13, 20142

I was traumatized by the ferry ride from Koh Tao to Surat Thani. Though the ticket was a well-haggled 800 THB inclusive of ferry from Koh Tao to Surat Thani, bus from Surat Thani to Krabi, and ferry from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi Don. We weren’t given seats but beds since it was a…

Koh Tao

by Gay Mitra - August 21, 2010August 13, 20140

Koh Tao (Turtle Island), lies 45km north of Koh Phangan. It’s known for diving and snorkeling because of its water visibility and abundant coral and marine life. Poch, Shervin and I headed to Koh Tao the day after the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. Our Couchsurfing host Sameer (who’s from El Salvador and was…

Full Moon Party

by Gay Mitra - August 17, 2010August 13, 20147

We found out about the Full Moon Party when we were in Koh Samui. Travel agents were promoting it because they offer speed boats to and fro Koh Phangan. Since Shervin and I wanted the trip to be as cheap as possible, we didn’t hang out in bars and clubs. We would buy beer from…

Koh Phangan

by Gay Mitra - August 15, 2010August 13, 20142

Getting off an overloaded ferry was hell, but such big relief we docked Koh Phangan alive. Koh Phangan is 15km north of Koh Samui and is considered as the hammock haven of Thailand. Our overcrowded ferry to Koh Phangan.We immediately contacted via SMS a fellow Pinoy Couchsurfer Poch who was already in Haad Rin looking…

Topless at Lamai Beach!

by Gay Mitra - August 13, 2010August 13, 20148

Chaweng Beach is the most popular one in Koh Samui. Its long stretch of beach has lots of posh bungalows and pumping bars. That means, majority of the tourists flock here. But if you’re content to just lay on the beach and have low-key, quiet nights, then Lamai Beach is for you. It is for…