Advertisement
Published: January 22nd 2009
Edit Blog Post
Off to our first stop in Thailand, the island of Ko Lipe. we are picked up at 8am to be taken on a very packed mini bus to the harbour. When we arrive there we have about an hours wait for the speed boat. Once we get going the journey was about 45mins, very fast and huge waves spraying up the sides of the speed boat. We dock by a floating barge and unload our luggage and then have to load it back onto a longtail boat to take us up to the beach as the speed boats cannot get onto the beach. We are directed over to the immigration desk to reclaim our passports. Not really knowing where to go next, we couldn't find anyone to take us by boat round to our accommodation which was round the other side of the island so we put our packs on our backs and started walking. We finally arrive at Castaway about 15 mins later feeling totally exhausted. We are able to check into our room which was a 'Breezy Bungalow', 2 storys-a bedroom upstairs with opening doors overlooking the sea and beach- with a mosquito net over the bed-downstairs is the
bathroom and storage space.
We head for the beach for a much needed swim and then lunch . After lunch Bill is off diving, no time wasted there-Sue has a very peaceful afternoon on the beach listening to the waves at her feet. A very pleasant first day in Ko Lipe.
Our second day on Ko Lipe, Bill is off to Marine Park to dive in the morning followed by another session in afternoon at local dive sight. Sue topping up suntan, such hard work on the beach!! In the evening we walked across to Pattaya Beach and had a nice meal but there were lots of cats around and Bill got scratched, he shoudn't have ordered fish!! We then walked further along the beach and stopped at the Monkey Bar with reggai music playing. Very relaxing evening looking out at the sea and stars. 😊
Bill up even earlier today to dive at 8 Mile Rock with a promise of seeing Leopard Sharks! after a one and a half hour boat ride with huge waves of about 6ft he arrives at site but there is no buoy so they have to set the anchor down which
Long Tail Boat
But only the pretty front bit took another hour or so. Finally success and in they went. There was a very strong current and the water was very murky. Bill and his buddy were last up and they couldn't find the anchor line, drifted and came up 50m from the boat, they tried to fin back but it was against the current. Bill made it to 25m from boat but was very tired and signalled distress and started to drift away again. the boat dive master jumps in with a line and gets within 15m from Bill so he has to swim like crazy to reach the line and get towed in. Totally exhausted Bill finally gets back on the boat. Not deterred he goes back in after lunch for another dive. We decide to stay in resort to eat tonight but not before Bill has done his night dive on the local reef. A very tiring day for Bill. 😉
The next day more diving for Bill and a 1 1/2 hour thai massage for Sue followed by yet more sunbathing. In the late afternoon we go off for a sunset cruise on a Junk boat - the boat is quite new but built
in the old style. More beers later and sunset nears - the skipper turns the boat so that the side is facing the sun and everyone gets thier cameras out. There is no cloud and the sunset is spectacular. We get off the boat the way we got on - a longtail boat taxi to shore and its off to Jungle Jacks for more drinks and dinner.
Last two days on Ko Lipe and Bill is making the most of diving and Sue still soaking up the sun. We walked round the peninsular about 6 oclock to sit on the beach with beers and watch the sun set again, something you never get tired of doing. Then off to the Pooh Bar, a very friendly bar with a good atmosphere for Long Island Teas and Vodkas, then a walk back to Castaway along the beach by torchlight.
A very good six days on a fantastic small island.-Up early Friday to catch the ferry up to Koh Mok to meet our good friends Karen and Wayne.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.196s; Tpl: 0.015s; cc: 10; qc: 52; dbt: 0.075s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Sally and Colin
non-member comment
Can't believe it!
It was great to catch up with you in Sydney and seems amazing that you are still enjoying your adventure whilst we are back in Grim UK! Have fun