Anyhow, we met JOE. Joe came to Thailand to stay for 2 months and play frisbee golf. When we found him, he had been there for 14 months and the only frisbee golf course on the island was shut down 8 months ago. But here is a little picture to show you how we found Joe. His business was the most important business on the island --- remember I haven't been to the USA in about 3 months.
Joe ran the Big Fat Taco Stand. The only mexican food I've had in 3 months. We visited Joe for a few days in a row. :) Too bad we found him so late in the trip. And too bad he was a little kooky. If you have played frisbee golf, you "have to have heard of Joe". Can't remember the last name - starts with a "N". So, if you've heard of him, please let me know. He was taking a trip to New Zealand soon, but the highlight of his trip was going to be a hop over to Antartica to play on a frisbee golf course there! Interesting.............or not.
What a beautiful picture. So serene... But checking into our resort was hilarious. I did TONS of research for available resorts. The only requirements were pool, breakfast included and spa at the resort. Well, we finally found the place that fit the bill. Now, to decide on a room. None of these resorts had too many pictures online. It was amazing at the variety. You could get a room for $40 a night or $250 a night. So, we searched and searched and decided that the "superior deluxe room" looked like a winner. That sucker was only about $67 a night. Sweet! We arrive in Koh Samui and the resort is picking us up from the airport. We start to get nervous that maybe we cheaped out and this place sucks. The shuttle bus pulls up and there is our name with the driver. He then runs off to get the Resort Van -- this is a good sign - they have their own van. It's raining at this point as we head off to the hotel. Along the way we pass TONS of people on motorcycles (or scooters) and it's raining?!?!?! Then, we make a turn onto a little side street with junky houses. Could this be the way to the resort? And finally, we dead end into a tiny parking lot and we're there. It's looks a little sketchy. We get out to go to the "Front Desk", which is an old desk with roof, but it's all outside and there's not even a computer! They finally show us to our room. We got a semi-detached cottage, so we only shared one wall with another cottage. We walk in and Oh My Goodness - what a sh*thole!!!! 
What's even better is that our giant garden tub that "blends with nature", doesn't even have a shower hose long enough to go above your head. You had to squat to wash your hair and it didn't have a shower holder high on the wall, so you had to hold it the whole time. Here is Rob demonstrating our shower technique (with clothes on). Too bad the place was too gross for me to consider sitting and bathing in there. Not to mention that you have to brush your teeth with bottled water because their water is bad. That makes you feel even more dirty that you aren't bathing in "good water". 
Well, the room sucks, but back to the positive. We're at a gorgeous beach in a place where you can't spend money if you try (unless you get an expensive room)! :)
Here we are, just swinging in the trees. Rob was hot in his tree swinging getup.
Kayaking out at the Marine Park.... a dreadfully boring 2 hour boat ride from the island. Should've taken the speed boat tour. Lesson Learned!
A hike up the uninhabited island.
The people behind us on the Elephant Trek. We bought our picture, but I can't scan it right now, so you get to see this family. What a gorgeous trek through heavy forests......or not. Maybe it was just a circular path. oh well, I got to ride the elephant --- which also rid me of my previous desire to take a elephant safari in Africa. Can you say uncomfortable.
Okay, another funny story. We are walking along the beach at night and we see this bright light in the sky, but it's moving slowly. Must be a small private plane coming in. Wait, there's another one. They sure aren't moving fast, but that is bright. What is it?? That one is moving around in crazy directions and the other light just went out. What is going on????!!!! Then, another night we see them and listen intently. Definitely no engine. Finally, on yet another night, we are at the restaurant on the beach and these guys walk by and are trying to sell this "bag". Then, we see them light one and off it goes into the air and burns for 5 or 10 minutes. THAT'S WHAT THOSE LIGHTS WERE! Boy do we feel dumb. Anyhow, we bought some lamps while we were there and had them shipped back to Korea, so the owner of the store gave us two of these "hot air balloons" (can't remember the Thai name). He said that you send it off with all of your bad luck. We are so excited because I wanted to do one and now it's free. :)
Finally, I will leave you with the most interesting part of the trip. We had to go see a ladyboy show while we were in Thailand. We tried to decide between taking the Baht Bus (too tired to insert the picture) to Chewang - the nicer beach - or staying on our beach (Lamai) and going to the show we could walk to. We decided on walking. Lucky for us. :) We got to the show early and were the only ones in the whole place while this "lady" (or boy) danced on stage in lingerie and stared us down. Geez, are there any other weirdos on this beach that want to see a lady boy show? I thought we were going to be the only ones. Finally the place fills up and a lady from Australia sat next to us and we had a blast with her all night -- her husband refused to come out for such an event. The reason I say lucky for us that we stayed in Lamai for the show was definitely not the costumes or stage props -- this place was a junker and the poor ladyboys had costumes with holes, etc. They definitely need to increase the price of their drinks to buy some new costumes! But we were lucky because the show was fun and it had one chick/dude that did a comedy portion, so it was hiliarous. In between the shows (yes, we stayed for the 2nd show), they would come hang out with the crowd. So, here is Rob getting to know them and also the hilarious one, who proposed to Rob during his/her skit and picked on the crowd. Great show! We had a blast!!
I would upload more, but this took me an hour. The picture are the slowest part. It's past my bedtime and I've stayed up just so I can call Bank Of America - now that they are open - and transfer money for our next trip to China! The tour group only accepts money orders or wire transfers -- what happened to the great credit card!.jpg)
And then Ziun and YoonJoo. These three are already working in our office. 
These ladies in the next picture have worked for multiple Chevron projects over the last years. We are hoping to pick them up in October, when another Chevron project departs Okpo.
The group picture. No comment on the giant beast that is the blonde in this picture. Rough pic for me. LOL.
We found the trail (after taking many wrong turns in the car to get there). Now, how many engineers does it take to figure out which of the 3 routes leads to the waterfalls. Kind of hard to read a map in Korean.
Then, we made it around to the bottom. Here we are at the falls.
The Koreans are very in touch with nature and the bodies & senses. My point being is that you see things like exercise equipment outdoors at a park by hiking trails - or the giant hula hoops and other exercise areas half way up a mountain. Below are stones that you can walk on with or without shoes to "massage" your feet (looks a little painful to me). They have these insets at other exercise areas and the sections differ between smaller stones and large flat ones, etc. to provide different senses.
Here are little wooden platforms hidden in the woods by the stream that runs from the waterfalls. Families will come here and have picnics.
Since the falls were a local spot that you could park and walk up a paved trail, this place actually had some facilities....even if you can see the face and legs of whomever is using them. Here's Rob saying hello!
I promise to post something besides hiking soon!!!!!!!!!!!!
