New Year Goals

Almost finished the first week back at school.  It was tough.  December Amanda left an enormous amount of work for January Amanda to do.  I hope one year I manage to remember how hard it is to come back to a million reports, exams to mark etc etc.  But I have almost made it through and hopefully I have finally learnt my lesson.  I always like to write some goals I have for the year, rathe than resolutions.  I actually do not have loads this year, but I suspect to achieve the few I have it will be tough.  Most about racing, but one exciting one is about a potential life change.  Here they are:

• 30 races
• 1 full triathlon (maybe 2)
• 1 Sprint Triathlon (maybe two)
• 20 10km Races
• 4 Vertical marathons
• 1 10km Beast Spartan
• 1 5km Sprint Spartan
• 1 5km Race
• 1 12 km Race
• Starting a Masters in Psychology and Counseling (with thoughts of changing to school councillor)

And well that is it!  

    

Gio's Birthday

While in Koh Lanta Sebastian made a new friend called Gio.  Gio has an American Dad and a French Mum and sister.  They live in Bordeaux and were in Lanta for holiday. It is safe to say they have had a hard year.  When I learnt it was Gio's birthday and they would be in Bangkok today I invited them for dinner and a little birthday celebration.  I made all these plans on Thursday before they left Koh Lanta while I was in full holiday spirits.  But today when I faced work I thought I might have bitten off more than I could chew.  BUT I am so happy that we had them.  It was so lovely and Gio had such a wonderful 5th birthday celebration.  They are all so nice, and were so thankful.  But I live for entertaining so was very much my pleasure and I was so happy to see them leave full of smiles.

Back to Reality

And just like that the holiday came to an end.  I must say I was inspired by the couple we met who opened  a restaurant in Koh Lanta.  They came on holiday 8 years ago, went back to Sweden for a few months and sold everything.  They opened a restaurant and enrolled their young daughter in school on the island and have not looked back.  Watch this space! But for now, we have returned back to Bangkok and work.  These are the last few pictures of fun in the sand, my book, my lunch views.  Feeling grateful for the holiday but dreading my return to work!

The last scrambled eggs on the island, Sebastian had 4-5 portions a day.

Tuesday Morning, Sweet Soul Vegan, Fullfill

It was funny to talk to the Italians about their favourite spots over the many years they have been coming.  We had not heard of their spots and they had not heard about ours!  I never thought the island was that big to have so many places I had not heard of.  Another reason for us to keep coming back.  These are currently our few favourite places.

Tuesday Morning

I have a huge love for this place as we started going when it first opened and we loved that lady who started it.  We also love her food and all her fresh great dishes.  It has gone from strength to strength and now always full.  But she has kept the charm and all the great food.

Sweet Soul Vegan

My only Thai one on my favourite list.  I guess we just get so much Thai I love having other food on holiday.  But this is the exception.  It is vegan and great.  I love all the dishes, it's location on the beach and their wine (not so easy to get good wine in Lanta).

FullFill Cafe

Sebastian's favourite.  The only one he will go to without putting up a fuss.  In fact, the one he always wants to go.  I love it.  She has simple home made bagels , a soup and smoothie bowls.  It is vegetarian and fantastic.  We try and go often!

Yang Garden Restaurant

I cannot believe we have been coming here for almost ten years and never been to this restaurant.  I am a big trip advisor person and don’t like to eat somewhere not reviewed highly.  I guess we just found our favourite eateries and I stopped looking. But Thursday night our Italian friends invited us to dinner at their favourite spot, Yang Garden Restaurant. It is owned by a Swedish couple who have also opened a bistro called Bonnie’s that we did eat in last week. It is fabulous. A super nice atmosphere, bar, full of people and ambience. I would not say a vegetarians dream but I got by.  It was so kind of our friends to bring us there, they would not let us even split the bill.

Koh Lanta Nature House Crew

It still makes the staff giggle here when they see us arrive.  The first time we booked this place, we were annoyed to realise we were not on the beach side of hotel.  To be fair we were all tired and hungry, never a good combination.  We tried to stay somewhere else but every where else was full.  And then we ended up loving it at Nature House and coming time and time again.  We have meet our Italian friends three years in a row.  Sebastian and their daughter Joy are the same age and look forward to seeing each other each holiday.  We have also gotten to know all the staff (it is a family business) and their children.  The place has such a great family feel and have no problem with the children taking over the resort to play hide and seek tag or whatever game they have invented.  I love it here.

Joy!

Samanatha and Damian from Lake Garda