I'm not actually sure where we are anymore. I thought Krabe was a city but it seems to be a county or province, we're more specifically in Au Nang (have to pronounce it like there's peanut butter stuck to the roof of your mouth) and it is beautiful here.
It's so jungly and tree-luscious with way high up cliffs. The beach is pretty neat too even though it's not very desirable for suntan layabouts or swimming, it's just really nice to walk on because it's muddy and gooshy and feels wonderful on the feet. Plus there are tons of sea shells and little crab and actual sand dollars, which I've never seen before.
Yesterday we went rock climbing in Railay (pronounced Riley). I moved about ten feet in ten minutes and said, "okay this was fun I'm done thanks," but then there were some British girls next to us with long nails and zero affinity for climbing so I felt better. There's no shame in gaining confidence via other's failures.
It was actually a lot of fun until I cut my hand all up... that put me in a real stabby mood, but after I had lunch and stopped being a baby I was able to keep going. Not that I got much sympathy anyways from Mister Moir who was riding high after impressing the heck out of everyone by being Spiderman and scaling all sorts of mountain faces.
All these tours are supposed to include tranfer to and from the hotels, though the level of transfer leaves much to be desired. For instance, on the way back from rock-climbing, the boat anchored about 500 metres from the dock because it was low tide. So sure we could walk, as the water only went up to our knees, but it's full of sharp jagged rocks, the water was that indescernible colour of murk, and I know, I just know we were walking on filthy bottom dwelling sea creatures.
Come on Thailand! I know money's tight, but you can't build a dock halfway, that's just lazy.
You can probably surmise that I'm not a big fan of sea creatures. Or the sea for that matter. Of course I think it's beautiful and I love to gaze at it and hear it's crashing waves, but I prefer a more platonic relationship with the ocean. I like to walk in up to my knees, and that's about as close to first base as I'll allow.
Today was rafting and elephant riding. The former was a blast and I would do it every day if I could. The latter I'm a bit hesitant to rave about. It just felt uncomfortable, like I wasn't sure I should allow it to continue. Not that I know anything about the way the elephants are treated or what their quality of life is like... it's just, they're so beautiful and amazing that to see them wearing a saddle bench and a big stupid flag seems wrong. I felt contempt on its behalf. Then there was a show in which the elephants did silly tricks and everyone clapped at how they could stand on their hind legs...
Then some monkeys on leashes did some tricks and that felt awkward too. How are you supposed to feel about a monkey riding a tricycle? Awkward. That's how.
Oh well, I still love it here and the food, oh the food, is fan-taste-tic. (See what I did there? What a clever bird, I'm college educated you know) We've had cashew chicken from about 8 different places and they've all tasted completely different and have all been scandalously delicious.
Tomorrow we are going to some place called James Bond Island, not too certain what that's all about. I'm also looking to actually go to a spa and get a nice massage, they're bloody everywhere. You can even get a Fish Massage where you stick your feet in a bowl and fish eat your dead skin. Haha ew. Brock's not too keen, but I would let those little fishes nibble my toes and then I'd go to a fancy restaurant, eat one of their brethren and feel really good about myself. While Elton John sings about circles of life and other such nonsense.
Well, it's late and I'm rambling. See ya!
