Songkran

Something I've noticed on my travels to South East Asia, is that there are a lot of very pale looking, local people here. I thought nothing of it, until someone explained to me, that people use a whitening cream (the opposite of fake tan) to give them a whiter complexion. The idea of it is that it will make the consumer look more Caucasian, rather than Oriental. I was completely speechless, for once!

This is an insecurity created by the media and it is very sad, in my opinion. White people want to be browner, so they use fake tan; Oriental people want to be paler, so they use a whitening cream. Why is that? In my opinion, it is because the media portrays images of what they think we should look like; this creates insecurities in people, so they end up thinking that they need to change. It's disgraceful that the media make people feel like they need to be different from the person that they are. Models, actors, pop stars etc., that we see in photos in magazines, don't really look like that. Just do a Google search for 'photo shopped celebrities before and after', and you will see what I mean. Anyway, rant over - it was just something that struck me along the way.

The Andaman Sea, that surrounds Koh Lanta, is warmer than any water I have ever swam in. Usually, if I'm going for a swim at home, I run into the water, dive under, realise how cold it is, then get out. Here, it is so different - it's just a case of run in and swim until you want to get out.

I've always been a huge fan of the sea. The sound of it is very relaxing and I always feel at ease when I'm near it, in it, or on it. Watching the sunset, on Khlong Khong beach, is a truly beautiful sight to behold. Looking out over the Andaman Sea, all you can see is boats on the horizon, numerous other islands and the sun, changing shade as it sinks deep into the clouds. The reflection of it, on the sea, seems to make a direct line to wherever you sit, as it always does, regardless of where you are.

Experiencing four seasons in one day is not unusual, where I am right now. Following the magical sunsets every night, there tends to be a tropical rain shower, that can last anywhere from five minutes to two hours. It can actually be quite refreshing to go out in it, to cool down, especially after the scorching heat during the day. As well as the rain, there is nearly always thunder and lightening. It may not be directly over head, but the flashes, in the distance, really light up the sky over Koh Lanta.

Strolling down the beach in the dark, the shore line becomes a street of it's own, with loads of bars & restaurants, and even a little mini-mart. The music is often questionable, the food is nearly always great, but it is the people that make this place such a great location to visit. Safety is never a concern here, and you could leave your wallet on your doorstep at night, to find it still there the next morning, guaranteed.

The weekend just gone, was the Thai New Year, or 'Songkran', as it is known locally. The New Year's celebrations went on until the very early hours of Sunday morning. For a small island, they really know how to throw a party. It was a very pleasant surprise. Following the party in the night, there is a huge water fight the following day, which was also another welcome surprise. Driving my scooter towards Saladan, the main town on the island, I was completely unaware of this water fight. By the time I reached Saladan, I was dripping wet, from head to toe.

There were people everywhere, of all ages, waiting for the opportunity to throw buckets of water onto people driving by. To fight back against the people on the side of the road, there were pick up trucks, with huge buckets of water, and plenty of people to give the roadside a taste of their own medicine! It was so much fun to be a part of it, and to see everyone enjoying themselves so much. The festive atmosphere of the whole day really made Songkran a New Year celebration worth remembering.