Happy New Year from Thailand!

Ron and I are ringing in 2010 on Koh Mak, a little-piece-of-heaven island in the gulf of Thailand, like a small quaint pebble (5km x 16km) dropped in the ocean full of rubber and coconut trees. It’s a tough life of swimming in the pool overlooking the ocean and relaxing in our beachside hut. We have to race between the fan, the shade, and the water because not only is Thailand as hot as you would imagine, it’s really humid so we are dripping sweat almost immediately (and constantly).

We are staying at Buri Hut Natural Resort on the far eastern side of the island. Opened in 2006 there are 35 units ranging from 300-1500B ($9-$46) for an A/C hut with sea view. Although remote from the main happenings of town (which consist of a few hotels, shops, and restaurants, shoes off please...), they have three wooden trucks to drive you around, a pier, and an infinity swimming pool. Best of all, Tan the owner is a real sweetheart, and will take great care of you!

We have been enjoying the last four days partying with our friends, Jay and Corina, who are also on a year-long world tour. We had a scrumptious dinner of enormous barbequed prawns smack dab on the beach with the silhouette of dancers penduluming orbs of fire around them.

Later the locals released lit lanterns, glowing for miles as they rose into the dark sky.

Nearing midnight, we sipped the remaining Johnnie Walker Black we purchased duty-free enroute from India (a little luxury from back home) and leapt into the pool, hearing nearby revelers countdown sip, gao, bpairt, jet, hok, hah, see, sahm, somg, neung...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We miss you and wish you all the best this coming year….