Wunder Bungalow Phangnga

... a minibus to Khao Sok, then off to the place where I stayed. Anyway once I had checked in, and dumped my bags I went back to reception and spoke to a nice lady who booked my bus (trains are full until April 20 (the new year again!) from here to Bangkok for Thursday night, booked my guesthouse at Khao Sok, and my train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai for Sunday night. I learnt ...

... experience of watching them lay eggs in Costa Rica many years before . . . needless to say, it was an emotional experience that I hope to soon replace with a positive encounter. . .

I also had the great experience of seeing a colleague of mine from work (Pattie) on the island. Though there are multitudes of islands around Thailand that people typically go to for vacation, Koh Pra Tong is definitely not one of them. What an incredible coincidence that Pattie and I ...

... them!!! Haven't been in a country yet where you're still allowed to smoke on a bus. And it seems like most of the men decide the bus is a perfect place to overindulge their addiction...a constant stream of lighting up, sharing cigarettes....lighting up again...and no effort made to blow the smoke out a window....And I have to say, I've only seen men smoking in Sumatra. If the women are doing it, they're private about it...but it's a free for all ...

... and the kids into the car (air conditioned for Dad of course) and back to the Resort for lunch and a swim. Now Rob and I are able to goggle at our leisure without the stress of worrying where the kids are, where Dad is, what he's buying for them etc. We wander around and decide that there's the same range of products as in Patong. Billabong, Quicksilver, Diesel T-shirts, shorts, souvenirs etc. We're not really interested so look for somewhere to ...

... on my seven gear Giant mountain bike to reach the north of the island from my accommodation in the south. The downhill sections made the pain almost worthwhile, as I was able to generate enough speed to overtake motorbikes and cars. I did not see one other person on a push bike during my three hour or so ride, and drew astonished looks and laughs from locals as I grimaced and crawled up the steep slopes in the north. By the time I ...

... I would try to talk to Frankie or vice versa Caroline would have to interpret! We were taken to the pier where we got on the longtail boat for the ride to the floating huts (little under 1 hr ride). On the way there we ate some interesting fruit (I think it was fruit) that was very sour so of course I liked it. I have no idea what its called which is nothing new for me in Thailand! The scenery on the way was stunning! Pictures don't do it justice. The ...

... without too many problems and still managed to get a few good dives. Everyone diving at the Similans wants to see Manta Rays and Whale Sharks. Unfortunately we didn't see any of these but as new divers it was fantastic anyway. The visibility was amazing - about 20m - and the water temperature was up at 28 degrees. The abundance and variety of life in the seas there is quite unbelievable and we definitely hope to do more during our trip and maybe return ...

We do almost nothing...brilliantly! Other than booking our snorkeling adventure to the Similan Islands for the next day and discovering Eule, a western restaurant presenting the grill and saute pan wizardry of Chef Stefan, the day is very slow. This offers both us and you, poor and used reader, a much needed break.

... to make you a suit for "very good price". In Ao Nang we finally gave in and had some made. The finished result isn't quite Armani standard (they show you brochures of every designer you can think of - well maybe not as many as Nicola can think of - and let you choose your suit from them) but still very good for the price you pay. Nicola had a couple of dresses made, one from Thai silk for the wedding we're going to the week after we get back and ...

Last week in Ban Bang Pat No work - boys did some dragging sacks and slabs of concrete across the bridge, Kirsty and I worked on mural Taught Annan and Assama to play Snap (snaf)and Annan to play Split Assama got more daring and regularly came to ask me to play footie and to beat up Rhod and Richie Jasminder turned up one morning while Kirsty and I were doing the mural with a ...