Well it’s been a few days since the last blog, so get a cuppa and sit down and be prepared for a good old read – we’ve lots to tell!
After a fruitless day’s fishing – again on Wednesday, we headed home and went for a swim to cool off. Colin, our landlord invited us out for a walk in the plantation with him and his two retrievers, Ben and Sam. I declined but Dan was keen to continue his hunt for snakes! Not entirely sure what he would do should he see the tail end of a python or cobra in the undergrowth but off they set anyway. About an hour or so later they returned, I’m not sure that Dan enjoyed the experience as he was constantly on alert for the elusive snakes and came back with tales of battling through vast forestation and fighting off big spiders and insects!!!! I think he may have seen a hornet or two in two foot grass dunes!!!! A welcome beer was awaiting them on their return and then we were invited for a drink upstairs in the main house with Colin. Wow – not what you’d expect at all. We were ushered into the main living room complete with a rectangle of leather sofas, a fully-stocked bar, beautiful overhead ceiling fans all framed by floor to ceiling windows overlooking the plantation. Colin is a keen cook and actually supplies some products to local restaurants and he invited us to try his homemade duck and orange pate and freshly made flatbreads and Tatsiki! We have since purchased more from him! They were delicious. As it was Colin’s quiz night at the local in Lamai he invited us to join him but I just fancied a night on the sofa with a book but Dan was up for a few beers and off they trotted. A very hammered Dan arrived home at around 1am!!!! He was particularly pleased when we ended up spending most of Thursday morning at Thai International Hospital with me and my back and him and his hangover! Mind you, the service we received there was very impressive. I was seen within minutes of arriving, by triage, by the doctor, then x-rays, then physio, then deep heat treatment, then packed off with painkillers and anti-inflams to take for a week. Never knew a pulled muscle could be the root of such bloody awful pain. The medication seems to be working – slowly.
We were lucky enough to sample some local entertainment on Thursday night at the local Wat (temple). There was Thai boxing, traditional dancing and singing on a huge stage, Bingo!!!!, any number of stalls selling foods and goods and tat! It was absolutely packed with locals, I think if there were half a dozen westerners there, it would have been a lot. It was really nice to be right in the centre of a real local event.
Friday brought success at last for for Fisherman Dan. He had been reading up tips for catching squid on the internet and on utilizing these new-found skills, caught his first squid on the first cast!!! I was lying sunbathing some way away and heard the joyous cries from the other end of the beach. I’ve caught one, I’ve caught one! What do I do with it!!!!! I dutifully walked on over to inspect the catch along with a tea towel and a plastic back. The squid was inking all over the place and we really were quite unsure as to what to do with it. One of the local fisherman came along and unhooked it from the jig and put it in the plastic bag. Success followed with two more and we ended up giving them to the wee restaurant at the end of our road. They were delighted with them. Dan was like a kid at Christmas – I don’t think winning the lottery could’ve produced a bigger megawatt smile than he had with his catch!
The next day we set up camp in the same place on the beach and success was Dan’s again – three more squid. When you are bringing them in, they ink everywhere – about three times – so you have to keep clear! It’s projectile and unpredictable! Unfortunately I did not anticipate a fourth ink and my new £4 bikini is now marbled with black ink!!! Obviously Dan thought this was hilarious as did the four German tourists sitting nearby!
We had researched how to gut and prepare them for cooking and I was well up for said operation when we returned home but Dan had already given away the prize to our landlord’s wife to cook! I was quietly relieved!!! Dan must be the only fisherman in history who will never taste his catch as he can’t abide fish or shellfish of any nature! Not even a fish finger has passed his lips!
During the course of his euphoria, one of the fishermen asked Dan to help him with his nets. He was casting out one of those massive round nets and needed a hand. Dan, ever the helpful person he is, immediately agreed and off he dandered down the beach to help. I settled down to the business of sunbathing and reading. About 15 minutes later, Dan returned, thunderous!! The fisherman had motioned to Dan to take off his shorts, I in my naivete, said that was because he didn’t want them to get caught up in the nets in the deep water, but Dan assured me it was most certainly not that! When he motioned to the fisherman than he couldn’t take his shorts off as he had nothing underneath, the fisherman lifted his skirt, flashed his own tackle and said neither did he! The skirt really should’ve given it away!!! Dan made his leave and arrived back with me amidst constant mutterings of dirty bloody queer and the like. Needless to say, he and Fisherman Flash have parted company! Or so he thought! Later on that afternoon, the fisherman was cruising up and down the beach on his scooter motioning for Dan to go with him! A choice had to be made – chin him or leave – we left!!!!!!
Just before we went out, Colin presented Dan with a certificate from the Koh Samui Guild of Master Fisherman for his prowess at squid catching! Will post up a photo of the certificate! He was delighted!!!
Last night was spent at the most beautiful restaurant and bar we found down a little track. Whenever you dine out locally in the villages, it feels like you are in a friends home rather than a restaurant. We had BBQ-ed everything. Pork, steak, sausages, ribs, chicken, huge prawns (only me obviously), salads, baked potatoes – mmmmm, it was gorgeous. There was some really great music playing and as if by magic, when I looked up from returning from the loo, who was behind the decks!!!!! If in doubt as to the Holt’s whereabouts – look no further than where the music is coming from. He had a blinding night which unfortunately has been spoilt this morning due to a violent attack of vomiting! While he’s still sleeping, I have taken this opportunity to catch up with the blog. Not a mission of me mentioning the flashing fisherman if he was conscious! HA!!
Tomorrow we are off big game fishing with a very eccentric Austrian man (His wife, Neet, is Thai and they own the restaurant at the end of our road). It should prove an interesting experience as he always comes over as permanently stoned! Wish us luck!!!!!
Take care M&D x
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