We have just left a tropical paradise where we have been the most active since starting this trip.
We caught the train from BKK, and will never again ride the rails in Thailand. Miserable, noisy, and I possibly got my dose of dysentry from it too...
We were met at the station by our driver (F1 again), and he sped us to the coastal village of Pak Bara. The next day we met our guide, little Mr Ieu, and for the next 4 days we beasted ourselves in sea kayaks, paddling around the National Park of Koh Tarutau. We were staying on the island of Koh Lipe, which had a gorgeous bay with white sand and clear blue water. The water was to play more of a part in this leg than I'd originally thought, as Lydia decided to undertake her PADI Open Water course in Paradise (which she passed!). I followed her around from time to time, just to check she was being taught well (they did a good job Raf, you'd be proud!).
Again we had to move for our final night, but this time it was because our resort was fully booked for Budda's birthday (hey, we've got christmas...), and that night all the local mozzies came and fed on prime white flesh, then hung out on the INSIDE of our mosquito net. It was a little messy when I saw them in the morning and made them pay.
As an aside, Lydia (who hates cats) discovered a family of cats nesting under our bungalow and befriended the runt of the litter, to the point of spending at least 15 minutes every morning with the little one on her lap as she read her PADI manual. When it was time for us to leave she bought a tin of Carnation condensed milk and gave it to the French couple next door with strict instructions on when and how much to feed them. Awwww!
