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!

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 Year!

I'm sitting here at 2pm on New Year's Eve in the Krabi Ferry Passenger Terminal waiting on my boat to Koh Phi Phi. For those from the crowd at home (if any of you read this!?!) I'm away to meet 'cockney Matt' for the night and bring in New Year with him. He replied to a general xmas email saying he was flying out yesterday until the 3rd, so off to crash at his.

As all the best (or worst) goodbyes on this trip, my Happy New Year goodbye to my sister and mum (and James and Allan) were very brief, as I hopped on a songthaew shared taxi to Krabi..... and as I sit here I pick up an email to say mates are spending it in Ao Nang where I have just left.... bloody typical!

From Phi Phi I may head to Koh Lanta as a stop off to head to islands in the far south of Thailand, do a visa run, and back to Krabi to meet another mate on 6th!

Happy New Year wherever you are!!

Post Christmas chill

Pretty uneventful blog for today and yesterday.... yesterday we went to Tonsai beach and it pissed with rain so we had a beer and came back. Today we went to Railey in the afternoon (sisters anniversary and her hubby's birthday...two years ago today we were all on a beach in Florida jigging with kilts on the beach, setting off fireworks pissed...well, the last bit was just me). Oh yeh I did get 'New feet for the New Year' today on the beach where they scrubbed my feet getting rid of all the wear and tear from 6 months of boots and sandals (nice thought eh?)

I much prefer the vibe at Tonsai - a lot more chilled but maybe boring after a while if you are not climbing a lot.

And that's about it! Still no idea about New Year's night yet but not fussed which way it goes - mad or quiet. Tomorrow (30th) is the last full day with the family as they all depart on the 31st, with the olds taking in the New Year in Bangkok airport!!

Heading on a boat trip to Hong Island on a chartered long tail boat tomorrow.

The Beach

I think someone else has seen the map to 'The Beach' :


My first tour of the areas islands were taken today, including Kho Phi Phi, and other small islands. As you can see by the picture, we went to visit Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh where the beach was filmed, and I think many more people have found 'The Map'. Despite being a national park, the bay was ridiculously busy, with most boats going right up to the beach. I was doubting whether this was the real place, but I imagine it would look completely different without the boats, and DeCaprio sitting in the water on his own (erm, not that that thought does anything for me obviously!).

We stopped at various bays to snorkel, some of which had a lot of coral, and a shitload of little fish. Unfortunately, the boat operators were throwing bread in to attract the fish, and the bays were mobbed with up to twenty boats in the bays. It was a reasonable way to see what we saw, infact its the main staple of tourism here, but it was really too rushed.....

'Ok, we stop here, you have 30 minutes to snorkel'
'Ok, we stop here, you have 40 minutes to relax'

By the time you found the toilet, took a picture and laid down your towel, it was time to go again.

Another shot of Maya Bay :

Despite this, it was a good day, and I managed to snorkel at a few different sites, and have lunch on Koh Phi Phi. It was a bit of nightmare on that island as I had a quick look around for accommodation, and they are charging whatever they can get away with...a small beach hut for 500 Baht with no facilities.... and just a mattress on the ground of the hut, with a fan, next to the beach. Everywhere is full, and the beach is mobbed compared to others in the area (see picture). In Ao Nang, despite being a bigger resort, you can easily get a stretch of beach to yourself without much effort. I'll have a couple of days there in mid January, hopefully it's died down a bit by then.

I also got an email from a mate who is going to be in Phi Phi during New Year...eh oh, it could be messy (and expensive!) if we manage to hook up!

Koh Phi Phi main beach :

Tsunami Anniversary

It's hard to think that two years ago, a large tsunami ripped through this area, devastating the lives of many around the world. There is still a bit of building work going on, but I think this has as much to do with development as anything else. There are tsunami evacuation signs all over the area, including the smaller islands.

Every day we have seen small balloons, lit by a small fire underneath ascend over the bay, staying alight for as long as you can see, drifting up to the heavens. Tonight we finally found out where they were being let off, and let off our own. They were to mark the anniversary of the tsunami, and were being set off from the beach to show respect, and make a wish. They're a pretty beautiful sight as you often see up to twenty in the sky, staying alight until they are too far away to see.

I've got a sneaky suspicion that the folk selling them are making a fast buck though without any cash going to the tsunami relief fund.
Mind you though, it's not just the guys on the street. I watched the news last week that said most of the cash donated is still tied up, and many of the large countries that pledged multi millions of dollars to help have only paid out a tiny percentage of their pledge.

Happy 60th Mum!

Boxing day meant it was my mum's 60th birthday. It was a totally chilled day today as she went for a Spa, while I got up late then met them at the pool. We splashed out on a nice hotel for dinner, sitting outside...only it was raining. As usual on this trip I've found that often the more you spend, the worse service you get. On that odd rare time I've intentionally splashed out on a hotel or meal, it hasn't been significantly better to justify the cost increase.

The barmen were great, and quite talkative, but when we moved to our table it all went wrong. No white wine. The festive period and no white wine? The third person asked eventually brought one of us to the pathetically stocked wine cabinet, which did actually have white wine....about 3 bottles of it, in a big resort hotel. When the food was ordered, one starter came ages before the others, and I was served and finished my food about 45 minutes before the others. It took around three attempts at asking for the other main courses as other parties came and went, and even after that one main was completely missed out. One of us even walked into the kitchen to ask for rice to accommpany one dish! I orderd my usual chicken green curry, as I decided to miss out on the 'Poo Dish' - yet another classic typo on Asian menus (see picture)



I must admit, there were more than one of us that was tempted just to walk out. We would have complained but no-one seemed to have a clue what was going on. As they had a note of my parents resort, we decided to wait and pay, and they even had the cheek to call their resort as they had forgotten to put some drinks on the tab!

At least in a street stall, it's served instantly, and it's cheap enough you can just chuck it in the bin otherwise! You can even get served booze at another stall next door here.

Merry Christmas

Last night we took the compulsory meal and 'entertainment' at the resorts my family are staying at. To say it wasn't worth the cash (1600 Baht!) was an understatment, and all drinks were chargeable! But there were around 20 young thai girls dressed in mock santa tops! (see picture above)

Xmas day was well chilled, started off on a bad note by me having a lie in and missing the uncommunicated present opening time, early after breakfast. So there it was, all started with meeting the others in an internet cafe, me heading for breakfast across from the accommodation, and a couple of hours by the pool. Present and gift swapping took place on the bungalow balcony with the sounds of the crickets luckily overshadowing the lousy Christmas tunes on my sister's iPod!

I also woke up this morning with a sprained wrist, and I definitely didn't fall over last night, so I'm not sure if I gace myself an unexpected (and unnoticed!) present last night during my sleep.....

In the afternoon we jumped on a moto taxi to the far side of the beach and chilled out topping up that xmas tan, soon to be finished off with us heading to the Irish pub for some traditional Christmas roast....

Merry Christmas wherever you are in the world!!!

Here's some xmas day pics of me! (Note the custom made board shorts from Hoi An?) :

Ao Nang chilling

Today is officially a chill day! (another one!). Met the fam yesterday and went for some food. I went to tell the bitchy landlady that I'd stay for longer 'Ooooh, 900 baht over christmas and new year' (much more than my current 500!)
'Even if I stay for over a week?'
'Yes, Thai people, they come, holiday, one week, you pay in advance'
(I quickly remembered the empty rooms she had, and her stroppieness yesterday and makea mental note to find somewhere else)
I found somewhere else this morning out of two I looked at yesterday. When she saw me walking out with my bags, and the few thousand baht she could have had, she offered it to me for 500 Baht...
'Sorry, too late - if you did that yesterday I'd have stayed but I've told someone else I'm taking a room now'

Oh well, I'm paying slightly more now, and not so nice a room, but I'd be b*ggered if I'dbe giving her my money for a week!

Anyway, it's a fab day, my family are 100m away from me, and I'm sitting on wifi having breakfast writing this before heading up to their pool.

I'm soooo tempted to go diving on xmas day, but I think it'd go down like a bomb. We have a very cheesy xmas eve meal tonight that it compulsory for people staying at my folk's resort, and I'm going along...although I'd rather be eating at a locals place than watching a magician's show surrounded my kids...

Bah Humbug! Merry Christmas!

Ao Nang, Krabi

I left the two guys this morning and took the long tail boat to Ao Nang beach for 60 Baht. As usual, you pay more money for a place and sometimes it's not worth it. They were meant to sort a spare bed for me with my folks but said they were finished, so I went out and got my own accommodation for the same price with some stropppy bitch of an old woman! I wish I went to the more expensive smaller place instead!
I had got the times of my folks arrival so there was nothing else to do but take a bike to the dive supply shop (only to find they can't get me a housing until 9th January - yuck), then swim in the sea and stroll back to town along the beach.

Anyway, I better go - I just got a text message and mum, stepdad, sister and husband are on the bus from the airport and I have strict orders to get the drinks ready for their arrival!

Tonsai and Krabi chill out day

Had a few too many beers last night, but hey it was the first night in town, and we hooked up with Noi from Laos.

Woke up really late today, then sat and wrote some emails on the laptop on the balcony of our shack (no wifi though!), then walked 50m along the beach to go bouldering.


After 10 minutes we decided a swim was a better offer to jumped in the sea. I then walked over to Railey east, and back over the hill to Tonsai before relaxing before dinner.

As mentioned I hooked up with a couple of guys I met in Laos, including an instructor.....John, if you see this your brother is here and loving the life!

Jonathan, Noi, someone else from On the Rocks climbing school, and myself :

Tonsai beach, Krabi (or Hat Ton Sai)

Me on Tonsai beach, Krabi - way overloaded!


I made it to Hat Ton Sai beach in the Krabi area today. I met a guy I climbed with in Vang Vieng in the departures lounge (pre-planned), then spent the night in Krabi town last night. There's a great little food market there, and we were in a pretty plush room by backpackers standards.

Today we took the boat to Tonsai beach next to Railey in Krabi. The boatman lit up a big fat one while the waves were splashing over the side (don't worry mum I didn't partake!).

We got in, managed to get a room reasonably easily at Andaman Resort, then hooked up with Noi who we met while at Laos Rock Climbing in Vang Vieng, Laos. (still follow this?). We almost ended up renting a treehouse for our time here, but decided against it based on the cost and the location - right next to the bar. We were tempted though as it's not often you can say you stayed in a treehouse 3 steps from the sea.


Anyway, myself Jonathan, Adam and Noi went off climbing and did a few routes five minutes from the beach, in a wonderful setting overlooking the lime karsts and the beach bay.

When we went climbing there were also loads of Long Tailed Macaque monkeys dancing around the area. Sometime there were a couple just hanging out on a small tree branch about 5 feet away from us, then the next thing there was one literally above my head when watching the others climbed. I could have reached out and touched it before it jumped across the climbing routes to join it's mates. There were about twenty of them walking along the beach underneath us. The pictures of the monkeys don't really do it justice.




For those from home, I managed to eat some Aberdeen Rowies (or butteries) the other morning!!! My mum took four over and I managed to throw them into the hotel's toaster - complete and utter treat. Oh jeez I miss them sooooooooo much.

Going to have a day of doing absolutely nothing tomorrow, then head to Ao Nang beach to spend xmas with mum, stepdad, sister and husband (her's not mine!).

Krabi Town

Some pics of the market and pier in Krabi Town...

BKK airport and last day madness (Saigon moto drivers are lightweights!)

There's a hole in my pocket, dear Lyla, dear Lyla....

At least I'm sure that's how the song goes, and that's how it feels being in a city...regardless of what I try to do, the money seems to keep falling through and imaginery hole in my pocket!

Today wasn't a highlight to be honest. Again, no chill out time in BKK after a not so great kip. I got up, attempted to sort my luggage out then gave up. Well I kinda had to as I realised I had lost the receipt I desperately need to complete my camera insurance claim. I grabbed a cab, realised how bad the traffic was, thrust some cash in the cabbies not too happy hands, jumped out, and flagged down a moto driver. We were there in minutes.

To say it was an exciting ride would be an understatement. No junction was too much - it just meant he had to turn the wrong way then cut across the pavement, sneaking through the smallest gaps in traffic. I got my receipt, a replacement card reader, some DVD's to back stuff up, then back on a moto to get back near Khao San road.

It would have been all worthwhile if I wasn't sitting in the taxi to the airport realising I couldn't find the receipt again!!!! I think it will have to be a pleading call to them, and the insurance company. With transport, a new guidebook, a new book, and all the other crap, I've spent about 40 quid, and I still haven't eaten since breakfast!

Roll on a few days in Krabi when I'll hopefully have some accommodation secured for the festive period, as I desperately need to sit somewhere for a while to chill out! Bring on some diving, and hopefully climbing...although of course, that'll cost me! I hear your hearts go out to me.

If anyone is reading this back in blighty - have a merry festive period!! It doesn't feel like xmas here, which is a bit of a bugger as I have some presents to buy (some of which I think I've misplaced - sorry mum!)

Me sitting outside Bangkok airport on wifi! :

Last night in BKK

Well what can I say...it's my last night in BKK. I've just went for dinner with the family, checked my email...and basically can't be arsed to write anything.

Today has been pretty rushed...great plans of getting up, sitting by the pool, then hitting the dreaded shops after buying a tshirt, a new guidebook, getting my haircut.

The reality was getting up at 10am, waiting ages for breakfast while on wifi. Spending too much time on that. Rushing to throw my overweight luggage together. Checking in to another hotel, then traipsing around the Siam area looking for knock off CDs at rip off prices (compared to Vietnam) and hunting down overpriced cameras, and still being unsure of which one to buy.

I opted for an Canon IXUS 850IS, but was desperately wanting to purchase a Canon G7 but wasn't sure if the bulk of it would frustrate me for shots in the pub. I mean even my newly tailored custom made jeans have pockets that are too small to get my notebooks in. Now I need to find an Ikelite waterproof housing that won't fit the strobe flash I have been lugging around for months.

I left the new camera battery charging tonight, and already missed out a shot.

I went for a pee after the meal (a starter with meat and leaves, fish cooked in lime and chilli, then some of James' Green Curry), and the urinal had a sign on it :

'Out off work'. Amazing. Sounds like it usually gets paid for what it does.

Tomorrow I have to check out and head to the airport for 4pm, so no doubt I'll sit by the pool (after watching the family head to Chiang Mai), check out, and rush around in the afternoon.

I need to get out of this place. Not because I'm ready for it, it's just that there are too many temptations to spend money. I bought a second external hard drive as well - the first one is full already!

Good night.

Getting ready for the next phase.....

Grand Palace :


Tomorrow I'm flying to Krabi with Jonathan I met in Vang Vieng in Laos. A couple of days later my folks and sister join me.
Ciara left to head back to the UK yesterday as well so it's all a bit changeable for myself, kinda just crossing my fingers that we manage to find accommodation in Krabi!! Everywhere you can book is full.

Bangkok was and will be pretty much trying to avoid consumerism! I've still to buy a new small camera, and have been spending way too much money in comparison to other countries in SE Asia! I went to the Grand Palace again and a massage at Wat Po massage school, but this time got massaged by a lovely young Thai with soft delicate feet, not the big bruiser bloke I got last year!

Anyway, off to change hotels to be at the same one as my folks, so will write more soon - probably from Krabi!

Not sure which one felt more active when this was taken :

Back in BKK!

I arrived back in Bangkok yesterday for the third time this year. Isn't it weird how before, a place used to seem cheap, and now it