Wandering Scotsman

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!

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!)

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!