Today is our last day in Thailand, we fly to Malaysia in the morning.
Today we went shopping, I mentioned in an earlier post it's better to barter during the day, what I didn't mention is that once Bev gets going there's no stopping her! We got some proper bargains! Here's how you play the game - you see something you like, they approach you with a calculator with the price on - it's then up to you to put in the lowest price you think you can get away with, they then type in prices and you repeat the process until you end up back at the price you originally wanted to pay!
How we're gonna get everything home I have no idea...
We've just come back from seeing more monkeys! These live at the end of Ao Nang beach where we're staying - there's a bridge that leads up to a mountain path they all play on. They're pretty tame and not shy about jumping on your back or sitting on your head.
When I'm home I'll try linking some video within the blog to show you!
So it's goodbye to the land of the little people (even I'm taller than them!!), where even the chocolate bars are sold in party size - no family bars here!
See you in Malaysia!!
Showing posts with label Krabi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Krabi. Show all posts
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Monday, 9 March 2009
Walking on water & The 4 Islands of Krabi
Poda Island
Chicken Island
Tup Island
Pranang Caves
Today, we island hopped by long boat. It's a lttle bit slower than speedboat but all the islands are close together and the sea was calm.
Our day began from Ao Nang beach...
Poda Island
By the time we arrived at Poda the sun was already high and it was only 9.30am - perfect for a little snooze, I mean sunbathe... This island also has monkeys but they hadn't come down from the mountains and anyways they're also really wild and pretty nasty, apparently.
Chicken Island
Chicken island, as it's name suggests is not full of chickens, but in the shape of one! It's got a head & beak formed by the cliffs, a body and wing shaped by the mountains. We stopped in the sea for snorkeling (at which point I shredded my hands on the oysters when I tried to grab a rock as a wave went over my head, slipped & twisted my toe climbing back up the ladder onto the boat and fell and banged my knee - all the bad karma catching up with me for being grumpy at breakfast). We also went to the beach on Chicken island but walked across the sea from the next island, let me explain...
Tup Island
Tup island was actually two little islands connected together by a gorgeous little beach which forms when the tide goes out. It was like being back in the Maldives. The sea is light blue and clear and the colourful schools of fish swim circles around you in their large numbers. You can also walk on water!!
You can walk across the sea from Tup Island to Chicken Island. Under the sea, a natural sand bank has formed with coral walls each side allowing you to walk across the sea between the two island!
Pranang Caves
The final stop before heading back. The Pranang caves are on the same coastline as Raleigh beach. Our tour guide took us through the caves - what he didn't tell us was that it was pitch black in the middle and you litterally have to crawl under some tiny openings to get back out. Thank god for the good old iPhone flashlight!! Visions of a few bumped heads, with nobody telling you where you can walk & where you have to crawl, they didn't provide torches so you either have to feel your way or be lucky enough to already be carrying a light source.
We made it through safe and sound. A bumped head trapped in a cave would have just been my luck and a great way to end a day full of cuts & bruises!
Chicken Island
Tup Island
Pranang Caves
Today, we island hopped by long boat. It's a lttle bit slower than speedboat but all the islands are close together and the sea was calm.
Our day began from Ao Nang beach...
Poda Island
By the time we arrived at Poda the sun was already high and it was only 9.30am - perfect for a little snooze, I mean sunbathe... This island also has monkeys but they hadn't come down from the mountains and anyways they're also really wild and pretty nasty, apparently.
Chicken Island
Chicken island, as it's name suggests is not full of chickens, but in the shape of one! It's got a head & beak formed by the cliffs, a body and wing shaped by the mountains. We stopped in the sea for snorkeling (at which point I shredded my hands on the oysters when I tried to grab a rock as a wave went over my head, slipped & twisted my toe climbing back up the ladder onto the boat and fell and banged my knee - all the bad karma catching up with me for being grumpy at breakfast). We also went to the beach on Chicken island but walked across the sea from the next island, let me explain...
Tup Island
Tup island was actually two little islands connected together by a gorgeous little beach which forms when the tide goes out. It was like being back in the Maldives. The sea is light blue and clear and the colourful schools of fish swim circles around you in their large numbers. You can also walk on water!!
You can walk across the sea from Tup Island to Chicken Island. Under the sea, a natural sand bank has formed with coral walls each side allowing you to walk across the sea between the two island!
Pranang Caves
The final stop before heading back. The Pranang caves are on the same coastline as Raleigh beach. Our tour guide took us through the caves - what he didn't tell us was that it was pitch black in the middle and you litterally have to crawl under some tiny openings to get back out. Thank god for the good old iPhone flashlight!! Visions of a few bumped heads, with nobody telling you where you can walk & where you have to crawl, they didn't provide torches so you either have to feel your way or be lucky enough to already be carrying a light source.
We made it through safe and sound. A bumped head trapped in a cave would have just been my luck and a great way to end a day full of cuts & bruises!
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Sun, Sea & Night Markets
I don't know wether it's because I've slept in 7 different beds since I've been here (with another 4 to go) or the amount of exploring, but today I'm shattered!
We headed for the 'white sandy beach' this morning (how else do you describe white sandy beaches?), but it wasn't very white and only a little bit sandy. There was another monsoon in the night which had dredged up all the palm leaves on the beach. The only good thing about a monsoon in the night is that it clears the air for a blazing sun sorched day - bring on the tan!
Oh and whoever said tsunamis only happen every 1000 years needs to come look at the records in our hotel, which logs them almost every 50ish years from the 1800's (not on the scale as the 2004 tsunami) and the aftershocks can keep forming waves for several months after!
Night Markets
Neither of us bought a single thing. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Mainly because we don't need carved elephant ashtrays, carved soap or tailored suits (that haven't changed style since the 70's). Plus you get a better deal bartering in the day rather than the night because there's hardly anyone around shopping.
What we did though is grab some beer (still only 25p a bottle!) and sat at the food stalls trying all the dishes for the grand total of 70p each!
Good job it's all healthy we'd both be looking like lucky buddahs by now!
We headed for the 'white sandy beach' this morning (how else do you describe white sandy beaches?), but it wasn't very white and only a little bit sandy. There was another monsoon in the night which had dredged up all the palm leaves on the beach. The only good thing about a monsoon in the night is that it clears the air for a blazing sun sorched day - bring on the tan!
Oh and whoever said tsunamis only happen every 1000 years needs to come look at the records in our hotel, which logs them almost every 50ish years from the 1800's (not on the scale as the 2004 tsunami) and the aftershocks can keep forming waves for several months after!
Night Markets
Neither of us bought a single thing. Zilch. Zip. Nada. Mainly because we don't need carved elephant ashtrays, carved soap or tailored suits (that haven't changed style since the 70's). Plus you get a better deal bartering in the day rather than the night because there's hardly anyone around shopping.
What we did though is grab some beer (still only 25p a bottle!) and sat at the food stalls trying all the dishes for the grand total of 70p each!
Good job it's all healthy we'd both be looking like lucky buddahs by now!
Saturday, 7 March 2009
Thai Cookery
Krabi
It really was a monsoon last night, all of our stuff was soaking wet through. And by all our 'stuff' I mean the 5 dresses Bev bought when we went shopping before bed. (I admit it, I bought a few things too - god damn those cheap fakes!!)
Thai cookery course
I couldn't believe it either, but I have video and photographic evidence - Bev actually cooked (and her food tasted great too!).
We got picked up from our hotel and headed towards Krabi town, and after all the jokes about cooking dog our group (6 of us) cooked 7 Thai dishes in total, including spring rolls, salad, soup, rice, curry paste, curry, noodles and dessert. I know that's 8 but you can't cook curry without curry paste.
It was such a great, although hot & sweaty, day, I just feel bad that after a full day of tasting Thai food, herbs, spices & sauces, all I could think about was a big fat portion of fish, chips, peas & gravy.
It really was a monsoon last night, all of our stuff was soaking wet through. And by all our 'stuff' I mean the 5 dresses Bev bought when we went shopping before bed. (I admit it, I bought a few things too - god damn those cheap fakes!!)
Thai cookery course
I couldn't believe it either, but I have video and photographic evidence - Bev actually cooked (and her food tasted great too!).
We got picked up from our hotel and headed towards Krabi town, and after all the jokes about cooking dog our group (6 of us) cooked 7 Thai dishes in total, including spring rolls, salad, soup, rice, curry paste, curry, noodles and dessert. I know that's 8 but you can't cook curry without curry paste.
It was such a great, although hot & sweaty, day, I just feel bad that after a full day of tasting Thai food, herbs, spices & sauces, all I could think about was a big fat portion of fish, chips, peas & gravy.
Friday, 6 March 2009
Home run & no photos
I forgot to mention when we arrived in Krabi, we also begin to conclude our adventures in Thailand before heading over to Malaysia.
Also I still can't post any photos because we're still using free wifi at coffee shops & wherever else we can find it.
Also I still can't post any photos because we're still using free wifi at coffee shops & wherever else we can find it.
Krabi
We're now in Krabi (in case you hadn't guessed from the title).
There wasn't much to say about Koh Lanta - it's probably more of a
honeymoon destination, and we stayed in the resort for food too.
Side note - we've eaten in the nicest restaurants and spent a load of
money on really bad food and eaten in the most basic dirty run down
sheds and the food has cost peanuts and been out of this world.
Wise Buddah says "Dont judge a book by it's cover." ;-)
Krabi
After the sleaziness of Phuket, the noise of Phi Phi and the quietness
of Koh Lanta I feel like goldi-travel-locks, Krabi is just right. It
has the perfect mix of day & night life without being too
commercialised and has a beautiful White sandy beach. There's also
some great cheap food stalls.
And the best bit...
... I've talked Bev into a Thai cookery course tomorrow (should be
fun, she hates cooking!). Tell you more tomorrow - the rain is coming
and it's like a monsoon out there.
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