Sticky Waterfall, Zoe in Yellow and Lady Boy Shows

So having been travelling for a while now I have seen my fair share of temples, so this morning, when I heard that the early morning activity was another one, I opted to catch up on some much needed sleep instead. Having woken up before people were back, I decided to take some me time in the lobby and get a blog or two written. Just sitting writing, drinking some water and chilling with the hostel cat. I have found that, although I am enjoying travelling in groups, it is nice, when possible, to take some me time every once in a while, particularly as it has enabled me to write these blogs – a good excuse to get away from everyone and everything for a while. Anyway, when everyone was back from the temple it was time for Buatong Waterfall or, as it’s known, the sticky waterfall. Which meant another hour in the back of the not-so-comfy and rather hot vans. The sticky waterfall isn’t in itself much of a waterfall; its more of a slow leak down some boulders however, this has made perfect conditions for people to be able to walk up it here and there, with the aid of a rope or two. I have to admit I did find the place slightly underwhelming as it wasn’t a particularly long walk and it was rather busy. I believe it is more of an instagram spot than a full on adventure but, still not an awful place to spend an hour or two. After walking up the ‘waterfall’ I did get a very sugary iced drink which was advertised as a fruit juice but was more syrup with ice, although I have to admit I did enjoy the sugary goodness and definitely needed cooling down, ain’t easy work walking up a slightly sticky waterfall! I also get some time to sit and chill and have a chat and get to know Prae, Nicole and India a little better, after dipping my toes in a pond at the top of the waterfall with Alex, Dan, Sarah, Lesha, Emily, Jon, Hayden and Jess. See I am starting to get the hang of everyone’s names – slowly.

Lady Boy engagement
(click on the top right hand icon)

After we were back from the waterfall the boys and I were desperate for food and Alex had googled and found a Mexican with good reviews just round the corner. I have been craving Mexican since Japan, when Rachel, my guide, mentioned it as on option when we did the street food road but I was too full at the time of the Wagyu and Kobe beef I had munched on. Anyway, it was a great burrito I got, as well as some soft shell tacos. It was a big meal, but it was needed as it was the group’s first scheduled club night coming up.

Luckily for me I chose to opt out of the next day’s activities, a mixture of ATV and White Rafting, both being rather costly and also stuff I had done before. Instead I had a lovely lie in and a long cold shower to wake me up. I then went into town to meet up with Jon and Alex who had also opted out of the activities and we had a nice wander round and found an amazing cafe called Aroy Dee. Here I treated myself too a lovely banana smoothie, a Chicken Tom Yum and a Pad Thai, all of which where absolutely delicious and exactly what I need for my hangover. However, although delicious and hangover-curing, they did put me straight into a food coma, so I went back to the hostel for a nap; to sleep off the rest of the alcohol and now a food baby as well.

Once back at the hostel and having given Jon his shirt and having had a few drinks at dinner and the ladyboy show, inexplicably it is decided that the boys and I are going back to Zoe in Yellow for another night out! Once again I can’t remember much, except that Jon leaves a little earlier than us and gets back to the room first. When Alex, Scott and I are on our way back and feeling a little peckish, we get a text from Emily, one of the girls in our room, saying she has got herself a MacDonalds she couldn’t finish, so we can help ourselves when we are back. Alex instantly says that with Jon there, there is no chance the Maccies making it until we are back. So we decide to go for a drunken Burger King. In recent years any BK I have been to in the UK has been rather shite but I have to say in Asia they are still pretty good. Anyway full from our drunken stop we stumble back to the room and out of curiosity I have to check the MacDonalds bag so precariously placed smack bang in the centre of the room. Of course Alex is right, it has been demolished by a hungry Jon who has ever so kindly left us a couple of cold fries floating around in the bottom of the bag. And for anyone who has ever braved cold Maccie fries you know its not something you try twice! So replete from our Burger King but still a little sad about the Maccies, we head to bed.

The 6ixcret Show. Why did I have to sit in the front row?!

A great burrito, full of Mexican goodness

An Aroy Dee smoothie – the drink, not Alex!

So now full of Mexican goodness it was time for Prae and the group (bar Mia who as mentioned previously doesn’t drink) to hit it hard. We start with drinking games in the hostel lobby with beer, whiskey, soju and many more different spirits flowing. I some how end up playing in three different drinking games at the same time at one point. Eventually it is time for us to head out to our goal: Zoe in Yellow, a club/bar that is in somewhat of a strip. There was a square with lines and lines of tables surrounded by bars and once the group had got there it was time for buckets of cocktails and dancing. To be honest, as usual, my memories of this night are a little hazy but I am pretty sure I had a great time.

Cool or what! Zoe in Yellow Clubbing with Elain and Ina

The Drinking Games
(click on the top right hand icon)

Later in the evening the group made its way to a food market square; a square with live music and bars surrounded by various different food stalls selling Asian and western food alike. As well as the food, the reason the group had come to this particular place was its proximity to a night market as well as a free lady boy show that many of us planned on watching. So after a couple of drinks and some food the boys and I head to the street market and Scott, Alex and I quickly become separated from Jon. But we carry on strolling through the stalls looking for any potential bargains. Somehow it ends up that Alex and I, and this has happened before, want to buy the same shirt. So to resolve the issue all three of us end up getting it and of course instantly putting it on. We then make our way to the lady boy club and waltz in to the laughter of our group and Jon, feeling a little left out. The show was good and as I somehow ended up sitting at the front and involved in quite a bit of audience participation. Alex, Scott and I do leave about half way through, later finding out we missed the best bit when Hayden from our group gets pulled up for a somewhat awkward lap dance, but to be fair to us, it was an awfully long show. To make Jon feel a bit better we end up swinging by the same stall and buying him a matching shirt to on the way back so not a complete loss!