Today we met with another builder & architect down in Lamai (about 30-40 mins drive south from our place). After our meeting we had planned to go swimming at Lamai beach and try somewhere new for lunch. However, it was raining and not 'warm enough' for a swim, and too early for lunch! So, rather than taking the direct road home we decided to take the long way home (around the southern part of the island). We made a few stops along the way - trying to find somewhere that was open for lunch was a challenge. We also stopped to take a sticky beak around an Ikea-like furniture store which seemed to be in the middle of nowhere. We didn't buy any furniture, but ended up eating at an Isaan seafood place near Nathon. Isaan is a region in north-east Thailand, renowned for yummy/spicy food, and also where our friend Kik comes from. We indulged in Papaya salad and Crab in curry sauce. Yum! :-)

Before we moved to Samui last month, we had enough Thai vocab to get by in a bar or a restaurant (saying hello, ordering food/drinks and paying the bill). Kik has now extended our vocab, and taught us how to say 'Sabai dee mai-ka?' which means 'How are you?' and also the reply (if you are well, or otherwise). I'm hoping to take some proper Thai language lessons in the next few months, just as soon as we get the house contract signed.

In case you want to get to know the island better, here's a link to a map of Samui. We live in the north-east tip (north of Cheong Mon beach).

http://www.samui.org/map/

Ciao for now,
Tammy