Thailand - Andaman Coast
Trip Start
Mar 19, 2008
1
2
31
Trip End
Jun 05, 2008
Krabi,
Thailand
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The big thing that has struck us both about travelling this time around, is how surprisingly easy it is. Almost disappointingly so. Arriving in a new town late at night and finding a place to stay or working out the logistics for onward travel is hardly a challenge now. Although I guess I shouldn't speak too soon! We have discovered a little piece of paradise though, in the shape of a little island called Koh Jum (Thanks Alex G - spot on recommendation!). Quaint and idyllic, with no cars (not an issue as there aren't any roads!), no electricity (not necessary when you have the moon and hundreds of stars lighting your way), and no hot water (but then cold showers are a must in this heat!). We were struck by the simplicity of this place and the friendliness of the islanders. It was a pretty perfect setting in which to recharge our batteries and take in the fact that we are actually married and on honeymoon! Nothing but snorkelling, swimming and lazing about on white sands - bliss
Demon German child
!The motorbike and the mud
Of course the tranquility was interrupted a couple of times. (Mam don't read this bit!) Once while hanging onto Paul on the back of a motorbike while we drove up a steep, wet, gravel track through a torrential downpour, with the back tyre spinning in the mud. Both of us too terrified to tell the other than we couldn't see with the amount of rain dripping off our eyelashes! Luckily we escaped with only a flat tyre and a severe soaking. ( Mam you can start reading again now).
The second was a trip to the local health centre. But don't worry we are both fine. Paul hurt his foot while chasing a crab on the beach one night (I know - what is he like?!) and by the next morning he was in agony. I was a little worried that it was fractured so to be on the safe side we hobbled to the local health centre, where he seemed to be a novely as it looked like they only ever saw pregnant ladies and babies. In fact, with hindsight, it may have been a midwife's clinic... Luckily it wasn't broken - just a torn tendon apparantly, which we worked out after lots of hand gestures and "oohs" and "ouchs" from Paul. And for 100Bt (about GBP1.50) we walked away with a stock of ibuprofen and some extra strong tiger balm which worked beautifully - so of course he was back on the beach chasing crabs again in no time. Honestly, sometimes I think if we ever have kids I'll be well prepared!!
Ao Nang
We've now made our way back to the mainland, where I've tasted the most amazing mixed berry smoothie and Paul is suffering from a severe case of the McSherry sweats - it's so much hotter here
Elephant ear rub
. We spent yesterday kayaking through mangrove forests which was really cool - snaking our way through gaps in giant limestone cliffs in the calmest waters with monkeys jumping about in the branches above our heads. It was made even better by the fact that Paul did most of the paddling! We also made some new Swedish friends - Lena and Malin - and spent the evening drinking cocktails and hearing all about their dating escapades! Elephant hiking
The highlight though was a trip to an Elephant retreat, where we were allowed to feed them and watch them having a bath! I was a bit taken by the youngest one, an 18 year old female, who seemed to be letting out low rumbles when I gave her a kinesiology ear massage, which hopefully means she liked it! It was really cool.
Now, after blagging our way into a posh spa resort (for free!) and spending the day lazing by their very nice swimming pool, we're ready to tackle Bangkok and whatever wonders await us there.
Anyway, we're uploading photos as we go, you'll find some of our Thailand ones here (more to come!):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodiak-jack/sets/72157604340771120/
