So after the last update, yes I know it was a while ago, within minutes the bloody rains set into Patong Beach so we headed to the cinema to watch Green Zone for $2.50 p/p. Anyway half way through Jason decided that after not eating anything that day to have a small but violent bout of food poisoning and threw up throughout the movie and most of the night. Poor thing really, but in hindsight least he had a flushing toilet and some toilet paper... which is rare where we have been recently.
Anyway the next day, and Jason still feeling a bit sorry for himself, we decided to head out to Phi Phi Island. Got the ferry out there and as we arrived, it was like being in heaven. The weather was awesome and the sea was turquoise. Anyway, walked around for a bit- being mobbed by the Thai’s flogging us long boat excursions and a hotel room for “good price” but was horribly expensive, found this place which seemed nice enough , very central and had free Wi-Fi. Wondered round for a bit and suddenly realised that the weather was like 5-10 degrees hotter and the water was bizarrely warmer than bath water... it was horrible you just couldn’t get cool! Didn’t do much the next day as Jase was still a bit sensitive to everything ....woose! So just another day on the beach getting burnt and sweaty! The next day we got a day trip around Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lay, snorkelling and visiting a few of the local beaches including Maya Bay (where the Beach was filmed) and Monkey bay. It all was going well on the rickety long boat, until 3pm when all of a sudden the perfect storm approached and the seas turned a little rough and we all got drenched! We thought it was hilarious but everyone put on their lifejackets ready for the boat to capsize... try the Manly Ferry on a bad day on for size people!
Again after a day of activities we decided that the next day would be a relaxing one... didn’t want to overdo it and all... The next day we planned to head to Railay Beach but walked past this mad old Thai woman who told us to head to Koh Lanta so along with Julia’s recommendations within the hour we were on the boat. All was good until literally as we docked, the storms broke and it was torrential rain (something we have learned happens at 3pm everyday from April onwards). Anyway managed to find a hotel at a “good price” along Long Beach and headed there in the rain. Lanta was great, although it’s all one road and not the nicest road to say the least but you have little side roads that jut off onto the beach where you can find mad reggae bars. Not much to do in Lanta other than “chill” so that’s exactly what we did! Next day we hired a scooter and rode up and down the island looking at the beaches and trying to find this cave.. Well we found this cave, which we thought would be a small cave off the side of the road that you look at for 5 mins... well no.. Not this one. This one you have to walk/climb for 30 mins through jungle and then climb down into this dark abyss where you walked through various wet and slippery chambers only to find the exit is where the bats, spiders and this 70cm diameter hole is - which you have to get on your hands and knees and climb through. Honestly it was crazy considering we thought it would be this silly little tourist attraction!
Next day Jason decided he had had enough of Lanta so we took a 2.5 hr mini bus ride to Krabi heading for Railay Beach. The driver was a fricking mad man and I swear he forgot what side of the road he was supposed to be on. I know you hear tales but it was well scary! We were pretty lucky though, we knew we had a 2hr-ish ride where as this couple we met on the bus were conned into getting a bus to Phuket which would have been at least 7 hours on the road or only 1.5hrs by boat... hahahaha clearly not as good as a researcher as I am. Managed to get to Ao Nang ready for the Boat to Railey when, at 3 - the storms came and OMG these were the worst we have seen. Not only was the rain about 0.5m off the ground but there was lightening striking the sea, just where we were supposed to board the boat... hmmm... anyway waited an hour and then decided to risk it.
Railay wasn’t exactly as we would have thought and in the rain just checked into the nearest hotel on Rai Leh East we could find. Well for 400 baht, we didn’t expect much and it was disgusting – though Jason didn’t mind roughing it as it really was like what we should have been staying in the whole time (bungalow, outside toilet with no flush, scabby sheets etc) but as much as I tried I just couldn’t handle it. Plus got totally bitten to death and for fear of Malaria we left the next day. Was certainly an experience....
In Railay didn’t do much other than beach in the morning and then when the rains came watched a movie in the room. 2nd night however met a few nice Melbourne guys at a bar and got ridiculously drunk, drunk enough that Jason decided he would fight in the local Thai bar for 4000 baht (luckily convinced him otherwise), managed to get him up and singing at the Karaoke bar and then left him at the Stone Bar chatting to a Swede listening to the Chilli Peppers. Next morning feeling like poop and slightly hung-over, we went rock climbing and Jason took to the cliff face like a spider monkey. The first few climbs, Jase nearly vomited over everyone, but after that he did very well. I on the other hand didn’t do as well but still did a few complete routes that were still rather high (well that’s the story I’m sticking too!)
Next day we decided to come back to Phi Phi (our favourite so far...) for a few nights and live it up on the island before heading north. Watched a few English footy games and then went to the local reggae bar where you could fight your mate and get a free bucket. Again Jase was keen on a fight but for a measly Sam Song bucket (or $3) we didn’t think it was worth the hassle so watched in awe as drunken dickheads went at it.
Today we hired a Kayak and slowly paddled round, (after a few arguments about speed, direction and if I was holding the oar the correct way) to Monkey Beach again, where it was just delightful... pure white sands and crystal clear waters...although fearful now that we are horribly burnt.
Tonight, we grabbed a quick meal sitting at the local bar, had a few drinks to get the Dutch courage for Jase to get an ear piercing and for me to run through a fire hoop. What daredevils hey!
Miss you all terribly and sorry for the long update... haven’t had internet in a few days.
S&J x
Ps.. watching Underdog whilst writing this so might be rather vague and long as it’s clearly a awesome movie... also Jason is FINALLY shaving for the second time in 3 weeks and I think there is a mini Jase in the sink. Plus he is taking photos of his beard at different stages... It’s like Movember all over again!
