• Flying to Samui itself was roughly 3500 Baht one-way from Bangkok (quite expensive – as Bangkok Air has a monopoly)
• Flying to Surat Thani – and catching the ferry across
• Bus or train all inclusive of ferry price (the bus/train alone can take 12-14 hours!)

Cheapest is (of course) bus (or train) and ferry, but the amount of time to get there is huge and very tiring. Flying to Samui is quite expensive (around 7000 Baht return) as Bangkok Air own the airport and run the monopoly flights going there. Then I realised I could fly to the mainland, costing around 2700 Baht return and taking around an hour. Then take the bus/ferry to the island taking roughly 3 hours and costing in the low hundreds.

The ferry might be 110 Baht, as the net states, but the SeaTran bus from the airport was charging 280 Baht. More than double of what I expected. It still means I got to Samui for half (or less than half) of the price of flying direct with the only airline going.

Here’s the whole trip from Chachoengsao:

• Ekkamai bus 55 or 9901 (from Chach to Suvanabumi airport) – took a little over an hour and 30 Baht
• Purchase 7-11 goodies @ airport bus station and grab shuttle to the terminal – around 15-20 minutes
• Flight to Surat Thani – around an hour in the air
• Bus to Donsak – around 1.5 hours as the airport is a fair distance from Surat Thani (as I discovered later)
• Absolutely crawling ferry to Samui – about 1.5 hours.

For those adding (as I was) that’s around 5.5 hours for my half price fare. Not a bad time period for the cost. The cheaper option of the train/bus/ferry with its 15-17 (plus 1 hour to get to Chach) hour journey just didn’t appeal.

I’ll tell you something though, having one bag (a day pack) was a major bonus. Overall, I was less tired (from carrying less), less stressed (from time and bag worry), and could safely dawdle into the toilets between buses and ferries and still be near the first to board. No rushing, no lines, and no bag scramble. It was fantastic! Not that we can do this “one bag” thing for our big moves, but I’m definitely cutting back our ‘guff’ that we carry around!

I was quite spoilt on the island as my friends picked me up in their car, but there is a songthaew route that passes by. For around 50 Baht (or less) you can travel around the ring road (usually heading to the north beaches first).

That’s it, safely on the island – enjoying the warm sea breeze and clean air!

Firstly, we were treated to a traditional Thai welcome dance (sawasdee) followed by the littlest of the school (who had trouble getting up the stairs). They were so cute doing their little dance, and as always there was one in tears that couldn’t move (too scared). After their little dance they each got lays with money stapled to them and money gifts. And so it went up the chain alternating girls of the class/boys of the class.

Some of the older classes did musicals and plays, mostly about Chachoengsao. These were broken up with more dancing numbers.

For the most part, the class dances were like a rock school competition with barely sequenced steps and the kids looking to one another for the next move.

Scattered within was a Chinese fan dance and a beautiful Thai flower dance to a very nice Thai jungle-type music. I’m going to attempt to get a copy of the tune, it’s quite pleasant.

Every now-and-then there were readings of money, I think it was how much was given to the kids.

It all ended far quicker than it began with the director still speaking – parents and kids fled on all forms of transport. The place was almost deserted in a matter of minutes. The director told me 30 000 baht went to the kids today, the amount seems important to them. This was for a school of 260 kids (I’ll let you do the math).

Project touching

Touching base and doing actions in as many project as you can in one day. Nothing actually gets completely finished, but the majority of projects take that one step forwards. Perhaps keeping a project tally for the day would be motivating.

Pushing the big project rock

When one project needs launching, finishing or is generally behind, dedicating a nice 2 hr+ block will kick it in the right direction. When times get stuck or boring, a re-evaluation or trying another strategy is called for.

Mosquito zapping

One of the advantages of living in non-quality-controlled Asia is the battery powered mosquito (and fly) zapper. Somehow it’s very satisfying doing that non-toxic bug sweep before bed. A day dedicated to knocking away all those little tasks will reduce your list’s little tasks or mosquito problems, and it feels ever so satisfying to see the greatly reduced size of those lists.

Bottom of the stack (oldest first)

Like cleaning the garage, much of this work may actually be “oh yeah” work and require evaluation. If they are all still relevant, then do them NOW. This one helps keep you moving with the times and not let those late or boring tasks slip. Perhaps some form of counter would be good for motivation – or look to the outcome for incentive to move those fingers (vision it complete).

Top of the stack (newest first)

This one happens naturally for me. Sometimes it seems like a higher priority, other times it’s a little like a squeaky wheel or mosquito zapping. Things come flying in from all angles. Whether it’s due to the 2 minute rule (if it’s under 2 mins do it now) or you are motivated not to let things add to your list – sometimes there are just days to complete all those things flying in to make them go away and stop interrupting you. On these days it’s pointless starting a big task anyway due to the interruptions.

Squeaky wheel

This can be a little like the top of the stack or an old task you have forgotten. Better get on top of things to oil the squeak. While we are thinking about the squeak – How did this get to the squeak-phase? After completing the task, analyse the squeak for future prevention. Perhaps it’s time for the bottom of the stack?

Future flying (goal driven)

This often happens on weekends or quiet time for me. A session dedicated to reviewing those goals and working towards them. Already underway? What about those someday/maybes? Or research this? These sessions are the completely selfish “I want to work towards my future” sessions that need to happen every so-often to keep you on track with those goals.

Hmm… for today I need to push that big project wheel of study and make sure I stay on top of requirements. How about you?

China was the best place for Christmas as they have taken on the commercial aspect like no other. Santas and tinsel are everywhere. But here in Buddhist Thailand, it’s very much a non-event. In fact at school it was decided that the kids are a little behind on their work (and about to be more so with sports days coming) so literally “Christmas was cancelled”. And it’s back to work for everyone.

You might think, orh how sad for you and the kids there, but really they (and we) have plenty of chances to celebrate and have fun on other holidays that are done properly. It’s just that this one… doesn’t count for them.

I was never one for traditions or consistency, so trying new things is like a breath of fresh air for me

I’ll let you know when it’s Thai new year (mid-April), and you can run around throwing water on everyone!

Purpose
The “why are we doing this?” question. It’s one that’s seldom asked on larger projects. More profit? Keep clients happy? Gain new clients? Why?

The dinner? Well, we like our friends and want to keep the relationship happy. Besides it’s our turn to shout.

Principles/Expectations
This was snuck in as an element of purpose, however I don’t think that we naturally think of these with little projects. Although larger projects do need this! Finish the sentence – “I would leave others to continue uninterrupted on the project, as long as they …”. It’s basically inbuilt expectations we have of others. Let’s have them out in the open where people can see them, understand them (and the reasons) and work by them rather than break them unknowingly.

Vision the outcome
Roaring success! What else? When you envision the dinner with friends, do you start to say “I don’t know about this, what if…?”. Of course not. We’re all there having a roaring good time. The food’s great, the company’s even better. Do this for every project in your life. Success will look, feel, taste, sound like this. Write it down if you think you’ll need reminding. Better yet, draw a picture. Focus on that picture whenever you need, or still better – pin it on your wall and focus on it every day. That way your brain gets reminded to get to that successful outcome.

What you focus on is what you achieve.

Brainstorm ideas
If brainstorm has a negative connotation either turn it around or find a better word because now that your brain is in gear (purpose and vision of success) it naturally goes to work thinking of ideas to get there.

With the dinner – you have the friends in mind, and everyone enjoying themselves. Now you instantly jump to ‘where’? “Oh that place I went to last week was great, I should see if I can book”. ‘How’ “Joe’s without a car, so I can pick him up”. Ideas simply pop out of your head. Which ideas are better doesn’t matter the fact that everyone is highly motivated on the vision of success is what’s important.

If you decide to have a brainstorming session with others, it’s more than important (necessary!) you are all on the same page. Take 5-10 minutes go through the purpose and vision of success with everyone. Perhaps others can add details to the vision (all the better). Now everyone will naturally spring with ideas. No one can help this – it’s natural!

Ordering/organising ideas
Now we have a board/notebook/sticky-note wall full of ideas, let’s pick some out and order them. If there’s egos, face or another form of ‘my idea should be taken’ – then work with an anonymous brainstorming system (sticky-notes like secret voting). That way people are separate from their ideas and it’s just the project’s ideas.

People will naturally start to think this way, “that” needs to get done before “that” and “that” should be near the end/start. This is where the pieces of paper or sticky-notes are useful. Move them around until everyone ‘feels’ happy about the order.

Back to the dinner – “First, I’ll call Joe, then you see if the place is free, then …..”

Now what?
Before we walk away from the dinner planning, we have a list of things we are to contribute – our To do’s. The question here is – what’s next? What’s the very next action you need to take to get this moving? Call Joe? It doesn’t matter that you can’t complete this ‘right now’ (Joe’s in Paris). You can think of the very next thing and write it down in your trusted reminder system, perhaps even for a certain date (when Joe gets back).

On a slight side note – I tend to put all my next actions to a date, that way it makes it dead easy to know what I should do that day. I’ll end up with a bunch of calls, errands and other small actions on today’s to do list. Even if the list is long, you can instantly judge if the task is able to be postponed to tomorrow (or not!) because your brain is free to think about the big picture or the purpose and vision of success.

You’ll also notice the word small. Try to break down any action or ‘to do’ into it’s smallest component. Yes, I agree that makes a massive list, but (and there always is one) it makes it child’s play to know exactly where you are and what is to be done at any given moment. It’s also leaves the little details out on paper leaving your brain free for ideas and visioning success. Fill your head with success and purpose – and it will find it’s own way there. Fill your head with details of to do items and it gets clouded by the everyday life and has no purpose.

What you focus on is what you achieve.

Now you’re ready to plan anything!