Cooking Lessons

I had to do some cooking lessons...or reminders... today. I was left home alone in my sister's place, so had to fend for myself. I resisted the temptation to go out for breakfast (I've only got borrowed Pesos anyway due to the useless exchange at Bangkok airport), and had to make myself a coffee and some toast!!! Remarkable. The first coffee I've made for myself for ages, and definitely the first toast I've ahem, 'made', since leaving home! I even managed to cut a few slices of cheese. I'm just so glad I went to the pool for a few lengths to build myself up to it.....although for a moment it was looking like I was away to get stuck in the lift....not very reassuring when it stops a few floors down for someone, the floors are 8 inches out of line, it stops, the display goes off, but you can tell you are still moving.

Anyway, all sorted for tomorrow's trip to Malapascua...fly to Cebu, will splash out on a taxi for the 2-3 hour trip to Maya pier, rent a boat for 30 mins to take me over to the island, and I should be there around mid-afternoon so I can speak to someone about what I'm going to do there. Oh, so many dives in such a short period...I really should buy a dive computer..... ;-)

Really looking forward to the few days...the place is so small is doesn't even appear in some of the guidebooks on the bookshelf.... an extract from Lonely Planet : "This little island off Cebu's northern tip has everything the low-key, sun-seeking traveller needs. The island - LESS THAN 2 SQ KM IN SIZE (yaaaah!).....has enticing, long, white beaches.....major drawcard of the island is underwater - the thresher shark...."

Myanmar pictures uploaded

I've uploaded some Myanmar pictures from October. No captions yet but may get round to it tomorrow.

Manila

Jeepney!


I arrived in Manila early this morning after quite a long day. I was getting 'pestered' by a Filipino girl (no, not like that!) on my last flight from Bangkok, who decided to have a mid aisle chat, then move to the window seat next to me (since I was the only one in my row). There was only one thing to do - pretend to fall asleep rather than read my book. Needless to say we were both sleeping together before long (erm, her head against the window, mine against my hand, one empty seat between us!). It was a pretty uneventful journey except some unexpected turbulence that woke me up. It's the only time I wished the flight lasted longer - three hours sleep just wasn't enough (it left at 0130 so couldn't sleep before). I had quite a bit of time to kill in the airport, but a wee wi-fi fix always helps that, along with an episode of Futurama on my laptop!

I'm now sitting, Sunday late morning, in the comforts of a 36th floor apartment of my sisters, browsing the web, overlooking downtown Manila, eating home made fruit shakes, coffee and toasted buns. It's nice to get a bit of comfort and home feeling for a change! I know I'm diving, and I can't moan, but a week of this would have been nice. I'm even liking Norah Jones playing in the background to give the full on Sunday feeling.

We've also been for a wander along the river to get out and about. I'm sure they weren't used to westerners walking down there as we got some funny looks. We then went to the American War Memorialto get some pics. Apparently it's the biggest greenest quietest area my sister has came across in Manila!

Coming back here takes me back a year to my previous trip to the Philippines - another quick trip to Manila, with two island trips as well. Some funny stories in that link!

High rises in Makati city (from the living room window)

The contrasts in Manila :

Battambang pictures uploaded

I have uploaded some pictures of Battambang in Cambodia.

Leaving Krabi :-(

I'm sitting here waiting for my taxi to Krabi airport to get my flight to Bangkok. I then have a few hours to kill before catching a very early morning flight to Manila, two days there then off to Malapascua for a few days.

It's pretty hard leaving here! I've been here long enough but there are plenty more islands to explore. It almost feels like 'home' though after spending more than a month in the area. The guesthouse owners recognise me, the guy at the wifi cafe recognises me (and said goodbye on the beach this morning), the tailor I walk past every day stops to chat, and the motorbike guy at the end of the road always says hello. The only person that pretends he doesn't recognise me is the jobsworth security guard as I trot home every night (I always try and tease him to get his metal stick out like he did once, but he's never done it again!).

Anyway, it is goodbye to the Andaman Sea, with a nice chill in this morning as John left to head to Koh Lanta. Last thing I heard he has successfully found 'Tong' at the peir, and was on the back of his pickup to sample the Lanta Family Resort I relaxed at for many hours recently! Jealous!

Although I'm heading to the Philippines I'm not ready to leave Asia for Australia - the though of heading to such a western society doesn't really appeal just now. I was looking at Myanmar and Laos pictures last night and it reminded me how enjoyable those places were!

Anyway, needs must! Kapun Kap Thailand!

Updated gallery pictures

I've updated some pictures from Koh Phi Phi and my liveaboard trip...
Have a look at the Wandering Scotsman gallery.

Malapascua here I come!

Oh dear, Thailand has made me start to blow budgets like mad! I convince myself that it's a good investment long term...as I have booked a 4 day trip to Malapascua next week to do more diving - half the price of diving in Thailand, and only £35 return flights (plus taxi and boat) to get there, and $28 a dive. Have a look at Exotic Dive Resort as that's where I'm heading. Super helpful folk via email and phoe enquiries. I may do a Nitrox and Deep Diver certification there as it doesn't add so much onto the costs of the dives I'd do anyway. With a bit of luck I'll see Thresher and Hammerhead sharks as well.

Tomorrow (Saturday) I'll gladly be leaving the Krabi area of Thailand - great area, great activities, and many islands I'd still like to see, but I've been here too long relaxing and blowing cash...although the diving has been worth it. It's just a shame when I think I've spent longer here than Laos and Cambodia put together - largely due to meeting various people who happened to be in the area.

Sunday morning will see me in my sister's pad in Manila for a couple of days before heading to Malapascua for 4 days, 2 days diving, then it's over to Singapore for a night then Australia.

Bullseye! 50 dives :-) Ping - shit that'll be my mask strap bust underwater!

This one's for you Dave! Sorry for the texts Dave - here's a shot of John and I on Tonsai beach just after we sent you the picture message!


Yes I've met John, and it's been relatively tame so far - however we were up at 7am to dive around Koh Phi Phi today, bringing my total to 50 dives. The dive's were a bit, erm, 'bland' with poor visibility, and luckily saved by seeing a 6cm yellow seahorse, and a Leopard Shark, and a blue spotted stingray (oooh, so common last week ;-> ). Not really worth the cash today, however there was a pretty 'cool' incident with my mask that's been bugging me rotton for a while....

I pulled my crap mask strap like I always do (Mare's quick release thing, just it always released a bit when I breathe!), and it went ping! It stayed on, but I warned the divemaster and john just incase the expected happened as there was only a tiny bit left on the left hand side.... and 2 mins later it did - it started to go, I pushed my mask with my hand....got john's attention, handed him my camera, pulled the spare out of my BCD pocket, noticed the strap on that had detached...which the divemaster put back on..... and once I took a few seconds, I swapped them over with little fuss. Job well done. Yaaah! We were 2/3rds through the dive so the divemaster signalled we would go up....after a few repeated OK signs (in the unspoken manner of 'sod that, this day cost us 50 quid, lets dive'), the dive continued like nothing happened. Sweeet - a justification of me always diving with two masks since I bought one.

I'm off to check out the possibility of diving in Malapascua in the Philippines next week! Budget blower that I am....



Here's another few pics from the day.
John pre-dive :


John and I mid-dive :


John post-dive (tired, but still not lost the knack - no way was he spilling 2/3rds bottle of beer mid sleep!)

Well I'm back in Ao Nang for the thirdtime since the mid December, just having arrived from Krabi. It's not a new place for me, but it's new faces. I left Rachel for her slow trip home and am waiting for John aka 'Johnny Jazz' to arrive in town. The first and probably only chance visitor from my mates at home. Could be boozy!

Will be heading to the Philippines on Saturday night and despite wanting to chill, I'm about to investigate a short dive trip to Malapscua...arg, I just can't resist after the last few days diving fest. And, John has taken over an exspensive plastic box with sealed buttons on it so I can take my camera diving too....yaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Anyway, will try and catch up my stories over the next few days, including my mad visa run to spend 20 minutes in Malaysia after dashing cross country in a pickup with a manic fast driver...I try and get more pictures online. I have an absolute stunner of one of the manta rays from the other day, but it's not my picture, so will keep it to myself.

Come on John, I'm waiting by the phone for ya...

Shark, Whale Shark....Manta, Manta, Manta!

So here I was sitting on the sundeck on the boat's roof, doing my usual mid-dive zone out listening to some of the vast selection of new music I managed to ahem, 'acquire' on Koh Lanta. This time it was the turn of Aim's Hinterland album.

Suddenly some inconsiderate bugger was stomping loudly which interrupted the chilling bass of the sounds in my ear. Then there was more thumping...too early for the dive briefing I thought, so I peeled open an eyelid to witness everyone making a commotion, pointing over the side of the boat. On our previous dive we had been with two Manta Rays circling around us, so before the next beat, the headphones were thrown on the deck and I was at my feet. I looked over to the group next to one of the other liveaboards, and as I heard everyone shouting 'whale shark', I saw one of the snorkellers motioning a shark sign. Without any hesitation I decided to follow the people jumping down the stairs, some of whom had already grabbed their camera, donned fins and mask and were one their way - some even decided to save time and give up on the snorkel.

It was hilarious, from zoned out to in the water within 30 seconds, and I was two stories up. I even managed to rescue one of Rachel's fins that fell off in the hurry and was slowly making it to the seabed 25 metres below.

Everyone was making a beeline for the shark spotting point 25 metres away from our boat, when I spotted a large Manta Ray circling below us at less than 10 metres away. This proved a bit of a deviation for me and I made out from the commotion the shark had moved on. After a bit of swimming and much looking around I decided to head back to the boat.

Ten minutes later, everyone came back, grinning from ear to ear, and the digital cameras being passed around with wonderful arial shots of the whale shark......bastards. I came back too early.

Mind you though, it could have been worse. 45 minutes later we were on our second dive at Koh Hah, jumped off the boat, and had one Manta swim around 5 metres underneath us. Then the divemaster's bells were shaken to point out the second one following. I then turned round and spotted the third one in the line come into view, trying to grab some people's attention sticking up three fingers. Sweet. The next 55 minutes were spent with them interrupting us every few minutes, teasing us with how close they would come. Little was I to know that a day later at the same dive site, they would come close enough to almost touche.

They have to be one of the largest (these had a span of around three metres) and most graceful creatures I've ever came across and they absolutely mesmerised me underwater, with no space in my head to regret not being able to get a housing for my camera yet! On the next Koh Ha dive I was sitting behind a small coral pinnacle looking at the little fish when I looked up and saw a Manta cruise over it, slow down, and perform a swooping turn directly above me, leaving me and several others around me gobsmacked. That was until they did it again. And again. And again :-) I decided I wouldn't moan within myself at diving at the same site for three dives any more - each dive got better. What a few days.

Similans Liveaboard

I've just had the joy of being on a 4 night liveaboard to the Similan Islands and Richelieu Rock in the Northern Andaman Sea, North West of Phuket on the west coast of Thailand. There were around 20 of us on the Dive Asia boat, ready to make the most of it. Some dives were hampered with the visibility not being so great, but it had to be the most varied diving I've done in such a short period of time so far. We did 14 dives in 4 days, bringing my total to just short of 50.

The dives were varied from nicer long relaxed dives with no current, to strong currents where you had to go from behind one rock to another staying low, and swimthroughs. We saw a load of stuff from leopard sharks to whale sharks, manta rays to harlequin shrimps, and everything in between including many barracuda, tuna and large schools of all the 'typical' reef fish.

In fact we never saw the whale sharks when diving, one of the times we watched the large 3 metre plus mantas weren't when we were diving...it was SNORKELLING! Unfortunately I had to kick myself hard as I gave up snorkelling towards the shark when it disappeared for a bit, only to curse when others still saw it. I didn't, or the leopard shark, and it had to be one of the highlights of the trip.

Our dives took in East of Eden and Elephant Head Rock in island 7, Rocky Point, Breakfast Bend and a night dive at Mooring Bay on island 9, then we moved to Koh Bon, Koh Tachai Pinnacle, Richelieu Rock, then back via the pinnacle, Koh Bon, with our last two dives at Anita's Reef on island 5 and Shark Fin Reef. For a short moment it looked like we may not make it to Richelieu (although we never realised that) but our lovely captain fired up the engines around 3am and took advantage of a weather window.

The food was fantastic, the crowd were great (and from Korea, Japan, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, USA and of course Scotland), and the crew were a sociable bunch despite some obvious language barriers. There were many digital cameras kicking around the boat which only made me frustrated not having been able to obtain a housing prior to the trip, and having an unusable strobe flash in my bag! Luckily there were a lot of fantastic photos taken and shared around.

I spent the last night on the roof of the boat, falling asleep to the lapping of the waves and the wind before getting in our earliest dive, being in the water at 0645, then 0915 before a long cruise back to Phuket.

It was an expensive few days (22500 plus gear rental and park fees), but not too bad when you consider it was 14 dives, accommodation and excellent food for fours days. So glad I did this - it will definitely be one of the year's highlights, but it only makes me want to dive when I reach the Philippines!

Philippines here I come!

After much time online I have decided to head out and see my sister in Manila from 28th until 5th Feb before flying to Aus. Krabi to Bangkok to Manila to Singapore for under 100 UK pounds....thank you Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Tiger Airways!!

Kerry - kick the maid out!

Have to dash - away to join my liveaboard to the Similan Islands until 22nd. Jeez, it's a hard life. John - I'll see you in Krabi on 23rd PM! Matt I'll see you in Singapore on 5th! Sydney kids - I'll see you on 7th! Excellent. I think I deserve a beer.

Koh Phi Phi

Leaving Koh Phi Phi tomorrow. I did more exercise today than the last two weeks....but was blessed with a fab view of Koh Phi Phi.

Koh Lanta Gallery

I've added some Koh Lanta pictures to my picasa gallery.

Lanta Life Uncovered - bikes, beer and bar brawls

Playing a bit of a catch up due to slow expensive internet connections, here's a summary of Life On Lanta for the last week or so....

Alan, A geordie mate who stays in Merlbourne, flew over and met me the night after I met another mate from Aus, Rachel. We had been out for her birthday,and ended up at a thai club, so when Alan arrived, the same thing happened, even more alcohol fuelled by Alan's ability to order drinks not stop, at a pace that seemed like a round a minute for a while! Needless to say I've probably spent more in Thailand in the last month than the previous three put together..!

We all headed over to Koh Lanta, where I had been the week before. Although staying at a different beach, the lifestyle ended up the same - sleep, sunbathe, eat, drink, and a big chill out. Of course I had another 'last night' to attend as Alan only made a brief visit before heading to Indonesia to start a job.

The last night was pretty eventful. Having had our share of time on the beach, we flagged down two ladyboys on a moto and hitched a lift to a bar down the road which was having an opening night. The kind sods took two trips to take the three of us, and wouldn't take any cash for it. We overshot the pub, and after stopping they made a quick u-turn, which promptly threw Rachel off the bike...much to our amusement (we could laugh as we were only doing one mile and hour, and alcohol would've more than made up for any scratches received).

When we left we caught a minibus back, where we made some sarcastic 'complaints' about the cost of it back to our resort. Turns out some of the brit residents there have forgotten sarcasm, so when this was topped off with a drunken 'you're a wanker' motion (not by me!) tempers soared, and toys came out the pram, as someone started attempting to throw punches in my mate's direction. Luckily there was a friendly british driver, but when the Thai woman got involved, we were forced to walk after a pretend apology was made to calm down the situation. All in a night out we reckoned!!

After this, and Alan's departure, we made a trip back to Lanta Family Resort, and the Chocolate Bar for a party they had organised. I felt obliged to go as some of the crowd from the previous week were still there, and after all, I made the finishing touches to the flier momnets before catching the ferry last week. It was a cracker, but we left 'early' after the samsong buckets came out....if they kept flowing I'd have ended up staying there.

Back at Long Beach, we made friends with Sue, from The Joyful Bar - the local beach ladyboy, but super friendly, and really liked after he started to give us free drinks - Mai Tai's and whiskey's - as 'you drink a lot here' - each one getting stronger as the week went on. The drinking was pretty much sitting in their beach hut, feet in sand, and totally chilled.

Rachel and I managed to get several dives in last week while on Lanta, visiting two sites at Koh Ha, and two at Hin Daeng and Hin Muang. Unfortunately we only saw a few reef sharks, and none of the biggies that are often there, but many many fish, shrimps, octopus and plenty of the fish I don't think I had seen before.

Eventually we left Koh Lanta, me for the second time in two weeks, and headed back to Koh Phi Phi on the way to Phuket so we can join the liveaboard to the Similan Islands from the 18th to 22nd, which I'm really looking forward to. I wanted to do a few more dives around the area like King Cruiser Wreck, Shark Point and others, but I may get to do them when I hook up with another mate John who arrives in the area around 21st Jan.

After this I hope to book flights to go and see my sister in Manila for a week, before returning to Singapore for a mad night out with Matt, before very very sadly leaving Asia to head to Australia.

Lanta Life

I'm still alive in Koh Lanta. Heading to Koh Phi Phi on 16th then over to Phuket for a 4 day liveaboard starting on 18th. The internet is a bit problematic here sometimes - I need to walk around 50m to get it ;->
When I get round to it I'll tell tales of falling off motorbikes, bar brawls, booze, parties, and sleeping in. Don't worry mum, it's not as bad as it sounds.

I went diving to Hin Daeng and Hin Mueng (will need to check spelling!) yesterday which was great. There were problems with the speedboat so after two boat swaps, we finally left and got out there. Unfortunately the visibility wasn't as good as it often is. The first dive had quite strong currents, and the second was way more relaxed. I never saw any leopard sharks which I hoped for, but I did see several fish I hadn't seen before and a few small white tip reef sharks, many small shrimps etc. The boat trip back was made all the better for having a school of small dolphins following us for a while.

Annoyingly I can't seem to find any stockists of Ikelite housing that can get one to me in time for these dive trips and the liveaboard. Arg!

Hopefully I'll manage to get more stories and some pics online before I'm on the boat for a few days.

Back in Koh Lanta

I'll keep this one brief, but I'm back in Koh Lanta, and have just spent a few days with my mates Rachel, and another unexpected one Alan who had a cancelled job in Indonesia and decided to pop down to Krabi and Lanta with me. Needless to say I spent too much, and drank too much. Alan left from Lanta yesterday and I went diving at Koh Ta today. The horrible visa runs happens tomorrow and Friday we are scheduled to go to Hin Daeng diving, but the forecast is not looking too promising, with a few operators turning back today and yesterday due to the winds.

I'ev also reserved a place on a 4 day liveaboard to the Similan Islands NW of Phuket on 18th-22nd.

Anyway, things to do - more soon!

One week, 5 birthdays, 1 anniversary

Ok, its just over one week, but from 26th December until today I've had 5 birthdays (two for folk I just met) and one anniversary. No wander I'm so knackered!! Was so tired last night it was a struggle to stay up until the sunrise!

It wasn't planned, but Lee and I went back 'home' to the Lanta Family Resort from the noisy pub we tried out, got settled, started chatting, and it was almost sunrise time!

Anyway, I'm back in Ao Nang, back in PK Mansion, and away out to celebtrate another birthday!

Sleep, swim, eat, sunbathe, tunes, drink...

The visa run didn't happen today as for once, the bus was full...probably of people who have just sobered up after new year and realised their time is due...

So life on Koh Lanta? The title above about sums up our life at Lanta Family Resort for the last week. Get up...sometime, go for a swim if the tide is in (it's too far to walk the 100 metres along the beach if the tide is out...), have breakfast (or more likely lunch by that time), grab a bit of beach real estate (there's hardly anyone on it - not a problem), and fall asleep listening to tunes.

If you are feeling really energetic you may read a book, or get up and order another banana shake. If your brain is really working on overtime, a day may also involve a 25 metre walk to the internet cafe on the beach. If the tide's still in, heck, go for it - another wee swim.

Anytime from 3pm onwards (sometimes earlier, sometimes later....usually sunset for me) on the Lanta clock it's beer o'clock. Sometimes there's enough time for a pre-dinner snack, but if you are really energetic (or need a kick) then you may sneak in a shower between beers. Usually I'll try to put a bit of exercise in and walk to the shop along the driveway and across the road to get cheaper bottles of water.

I've got too settled in this environment, but I'm loving it. I don't know how I'll handle the 'metropolis' of Krabi and Ao Nang tomorrow, but hey I'll be back here in a few days.

Last night it was the second birthday of the week so we excelled ourselves and walked 150m up the road to 'Take A Seat' for a Scottish guys birthday. He had arranged a buffet with an owner he met here a few years ago, and it was most of his group's last night. I was convinced I'd have a few beers then go back for an early kip.

Little did I realise that later on I'd be playing the bongos at the bar and be the catalyst in getting the whole crowd up on 'stage' dancing like complete loonies to some corny dance tunes. The stage was one of the several beachside raised platforms at the 'resort'. I crashed at 3am after we had a little fireshow on the beach, some firecrackers for the birthday, several beers, a cocktail and the inevitable buckets of Samsong. It was a great evening though - around ten of us sitting on a mat at a table on the beach with our tunes on in the background (the night before I was playing a specially compiled playlist through the speakers from my MP3 player :-)))))))) ). Eventually I crashed taking home someone else's sandals (they took mine by mistake) and after convincing one of the guys it wasn't a good idea to take his hired moto into town to find a party and kebab.

I got woken up this morning around 11am hearing voices outside the bungalow....

"I bet he can't even remember I took his sandals when he wakes up"
"Thanks very much guys, have a good flight home today".....then I decided I should get up as I could fall asleep on the beach instead.


Gotta go, the sun is going down so I better get off this beach hut and go and post this....

Biking around Koh Lanta

I managed to move a bit further than the 20 metres to the beach today. I got a scooter with one of the other guys in the accommodation and biked around the southern end of Koh Lanta. We also spent an hour in a kayak just to pretend we did something a bit energetic.

AND - the bike never broke down OR ran out of petrol (like the last times)!

Tonight we're heading along the road to eat elsewhere for a change. Someone we invited to join our group the other night is having a bit of a birthday meal, so we're off to show out faces. A lot of the group here left to Koh Samui today, and tomorrow I'm off (very briefly!) to spend 30 minutes in Malaysia to do a visa renewal run, before heading back to Ao Nang in Krabi to meet Rachel the day after. It's a bit mad going back there for two days before heading back to Koh Lanta but it's a birthday....

I hope they're up for diving etc as I've put all that off until they arrive. I also need to make a few phone calls about liveaboards if I'm going to head to the Similan Islands...but that's an expensive treat!

Stuck in Koh Lanta

Well, I wouldn't quite call it stuck. I cashed in my ticket to Koh Lipe today (albeit a bit reluctantly, but wise due to the time available) and am staying here until I go back to Ao nang / Krabi on 6th. I'll do a visa run over the next few days. Due to having a sore neck today for no apparent reason, the most I've done is walk to breakfast, walk to the massage place, lie on the beach, then go for a half hour walk just now.

Also looks like I can't get hold of an underwater housing in time for most of my diving, but will likely order it anyway. Arg!

Koh Lanta - staying

Well the guys at the Lanta Family Resort perked me up a bit. After picking me up at the peir, after dinner I went back to the bungalow's restaurant and was told to join him and the other guests for a beer, and stayed a few hours, despite thinking I wouldn't be out past around 10, given the night before. A sound bunch of folk, some of whom had came here for a few days and stayed here 1.5-3 weeks!

Unfortunately, as warned last night, we went to the pier today to find out the boat to Koh Lipe wasn't running today as it's every alternate day. Due to only having a few days there I may just skip the expensive boat trip and hang around on Koh Lanta a few days before my visa run, and heading back to Krabi.

In saying that, it's quite windy tonight so I hope a storm doesn't pass through!
I have a new Thai mobile number, so email me if you want it to call me and have a chat (go on, you know you want to!)

New Years Day

I've calmed down a wee bit after realising that there's nought I can do about my phone. I've had it on my 'list' to back up all my numbers for ages but never got round to doing it, so everyone please email me your home and mobile numbers!!!! It's really frustrating loosing a phone at the best of times, but at New Year's when you are abroad its much worse as its the one contact I had to be able to say Happy New Years to everyone.

So I had a bit of a hangover this morning, but it should probably be a lot worse! I lost my phone when stumbling around trying to find my mate's accommodation, knowing I had walked past the strip several times. I took a wee nap after texting him, and couldn't find my phone when I woke up, or on the strip I had been walking along.

So, quite rightly I'm on a bit of a low today, which isn't a good start to the New Year, but hey it can only get better eh! I now know why I haven't had many huge sessions on the booze though as it just kills the next day. I slept all the way on the ferry from Koh Phi Phi to Koh Lanta today.

It is so different on Koh Lanta. I accepted the first offer of accommodation on the pier and am in a basic bungalow 50m from the beach. It's so much more laid back here though as I didn't really like Koh Phi Phi - way too many people and way too touristy - hundreds of shops, bars and restaurants crammed together in a very small area.

I don't think this is the best time to travel in Thailand if you are backpacking. I guess I've been spoiled in the previous countries where everything is really cheap, and it's very easy to find accommodation. Prices here are hiked up to maybe three or four times low season rates and you could spend ages looking for accommodation.

Today is probably the first time I've been on a travel low, but that's just a combination of hangover and my phone loss!

I'm only here for the night as I am taking a three hour speedboat to Koh Lipe from Koh Lanta (1600 Baht!! 26 UKP!). I'm not sure if this is a wise choice as I'm sure it's going to be very expensive there. You can also now get direct boats from Koh Lanta to Langkawi in Malaysia as well which is an interesting one.

Anyway, I'm off to brighten up and drink a shit load of water!

Happy New ...phone

Happy New Year! I lost my phone on Koh Phi Phi last night while trying to find my accommodation! Arg!!!

Hope it started better for you!