Paul Arden | Monday, 29 June 2026
It was nice to have a break. In fact we have decided to extend our stay by one extra day, because yesterday, after having been lost somewhere in the middle of Koh Samui while trying to find a Buddhist Temple, we found a camp spot with fantastic views all across the island. And as you’ll know if you read last week’s FP, I have to make more use of my roof top tent… so that it doesn’t continue to cost 1250USD/night! One night camped at the top of Koh Samui and I’ll have brought this cost down to $800/night, plus we will get some wonderful sunset views!
Also, we went on a cooking course so that I could learn to cook Green Curry, which I’ll be sure to be making more of back aboard the Battleship in Malaysia. So not just beans and potatoes anymore. I actually learned how to cook Tofu too. I’ve been doing it wrong it turns out.
Koh Samui sure has changed since I was last here, 25 years ago. It’s considerably busier. There are apparently 688 week shops in Koh Samui. Which is mind-boggling. It is a nice spot to be however. Thankfully we are here in the low season. But it’s still far, far busier than I recall.
I haven’t done as much swimming or running as I would have liked, but it all starts today and I’m already a day behind on my training program. I’ll catch up when back in Malaysia. The focus now is in getting into proper shape for this year’s Ironman in Langkawi next November. We will be able to run tonight and tomorrow.
It was nice to do some 4x4ing yesterday. This was something I used to do all the time. The D-max is a nice drive. I think before we become fly fishing pirates we will drive around SE Asia for a few months. I do plan to give it a 2” lift and some bigger wheels. We bottomed out a couple of times today. What a great truck this would have been for my earlier travels.
Hope you are all having a great start to the week.
Cheers, Paul