Sala-pad... oh, how I've missed you!

I got up and decided that I would give myself some time, and take the 2pm boat back to the Island. This way I could see my friends at Kiwi and still have some time do shop for a few things without rushing at 100km/h. I head into town and see Jai and Lek at Kiwi for a few hrs. After having some breakfast and visiting, I realize it is getting close to noon, so I go back to Starcrab, grab a shower, collect my things, and clear out of the room. I used the Internet for a while, and head back from Steve. He will be in Kanchanaburi around Mar 23, so when my Laos Visa is about to expire next month, I will come back to Thailand on a 15day, to visit Steve and see Kanchanaburi and “The bridge over the river Kwai”. Should be interesting! With about ½ hr before the boat leaves, I head over to the Burmese market to buy some Sala-Pad, which is this Burmese spicy salad that I fell in love with last trip. It has got nuts in one bag, and greens in another. You mix them together, or at least I do, and eat it. I think the greens are made from chilies, garlic, and tomato, but there seems to be 3 varieties now. In 2007, there were only 2, regular and spicy. I bought 2 10packs, one for me and one for Tee-ha and his Aunt. Once it was all bought and paid for, I headed back to Starcrab, bought a beer for the boat, gathered my bags and headed for the pier and onto the 2pm boat. The trip was nice, and I chatted to a couple from Ireland. I was also given a flyer for a party on Mar 16th, on Koh Chang. I guess the girl has open a new reggae bar on a small beach there, and has arranged for a free boat to bring customer for Koh Phayam, over to Koh Chang. It sounds like a good time, but it’s a ways to go for an evening, and I don’t think they bring you back. So you’d have to stay at 1 of 2 places on this small beach. The boat pulls into the pier after 2 hrs, I head to the market and buy 24 beer, flag down a taxi and head home. I ask the taxi man to grab me some ice, and I unpack my supplies. He returns with my ice in about 30min, and tells me that while driving back with the ice, a cobra was crossing the road. He stopped the bike, and the cobra coiled up just like the movies! We both have a good laugh, and once I pay him, he drives off. I had some noodles and rice, followed by my first Sala-pad in 2 yrs. Once chilled, I enjoyed a few beers while listening to music, and saw a frog in my bungalow, which people have told me could be a sign that there is a snake around… eek! Perfect timing!