Of course, things did not go to plan. From the late hotel pick up to the pouring rain, delayed departure of the ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, I had a bad feeling about my journey ahead. Rightly so, as it was only a matter of minutes before the ferry started racing through the unbelievably choppy sea, slamming down on to the waves making everyone jolt in their seats and moan in pain. When we had first boarded the boat I thought that the staff had handed us individual bin bags, but it wasn't long before their true purpose became unpleasantly transparent, and people on every side of me began hurling into their little black bags. I thought Michael and I had been on some scary ferries in Central America, but NO turbulent experience that I have ever had in my life even comes close to this ferry ride. People were clutching on to their arm rests; all of the luggage would fly at once up in the air and land back down again with a heavy thud; the electricity would cut out and the TV screens turn black before coming back to life; people were afraid to leave their seats, and people with motion sickness forced to sit side by side with strangers and puke their guts out in between their legs. It was a holy nightmare. The people getting off at Koh Phangan were lucky though, even those headed to Koh Tao had a much better deal, as they were only on the sick boat for less than an hour and a half. I, however, had the great fortune to be trapped on the boat roller coaster for 4 and a half hours. Thank God I have a stomach of steel (although that's not to say I didn't experience intense nausea), because the shape that some of the people were in getting off at Chumporn was highly unenviable.
Despite docking 30 minutes late, I thought to myself "the worst is over, at least you're on dry land now". Everyone got on their separate buses and I settled myself into the front seat on the upper deck thinking that I had a nice view to pass the hours by. Within approximately 30 minutes we were already pulled over on the side of the road, the 2 bus drivers frantically running back and forth to the engine with bottles of water. The groans that ran through the bus were unmistakeable. This practice became more and more regular, until we eventually stopped at a "rest area" with restaurants where we were informed we would be waiting for half an hour for a new bus. With time slipping away from me and a growing desire to see my family ASAP, I became rather "Pantsy", quizzing the driver as to our new expected arrival time into Hua Hin. When it became obvious that we would be waiting for at least 2 hours, with another 2-hour drive afterward, all hell broke lose and I became a woman on a mission for a taxi. I enlisted the entire bus station's staff in an attempt to get me out of there ASAP. The only problem was that the language barrier had probably never been so bad, and I was getting absolutely nowhere, whilst growing more and more restless. Over an hour later, with a few frustrated tears shed, I was about to accept defeat, when someone (definitely not God; thanks a lot by the way) provided me with a miracle... a TAXI. We quickly agreed an extortionate price for the 4-hour return journey and sped away at full speed, with me urging him to "pedal to the floor it" and overtake every obstacle in our path.
Some very skillful driving later, my driver managed to shave 30 minutes off the estimated travel time and we rocked up to the hotel a little before 8pm, to my wonderful (tipsy) family waiting for me in reception. I ran into their arms for a much needed cuddle before quickly changing and heading out to enjoy a lovely dinner. I was so happy to be with them that I barely noticed the lost time, and couldn't have been more thankful for the fact I managed to get hold of a taxi, as I genuinely don't think I would have arrived until gone 10pm if I'd had to wait for the mysterious replacement bus. After all, you can't put a price on time! Hua Hin, get ready.
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