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Published: December 29th 2008
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Swimming Hole
This is from the Koh Yao Noi snorkel trip. This swimming hole was awesome! Alright, some catching up first.... Koh Yao Noi, first night there was my Christmas Day (your Christmas morning)... It's a tiny Muslim island, about an hour or two via a very local-style ferry boat from Krabi. The first day we arrived, it was lightly raining and the local tour guide informed us that the island is not good for snorkeling, swimming, restaurants, or anything really. It's just a place "to relax" they said... As soon as we arrived at Pasai Cottages I was a little hesitant, the bamboo bungalow had walls that did not reach to the ceiling and the walls and ceiling were thatched... so while it was technically indoors, it was much more akin to camping under a tarp.
The American couple (teachers living in Kazakhstan) and the Australian couple (touring the world for 8 months) decided to rent motorbikes for the grand sum of about $6 for a few hours... I've always heard how dangerous they are especially b/c there are no helmets, but decided to give it a go! I rented my own bike and learned how to ride it pretty quickly (although I never exceeded 50 km/hr)... the island is small enough that most of
the vehicles are motorbikes, and there are hardly any tourists. It's like a mini road wide enough for two cars...The island is covered in a thick, rich green jungle... we also rode through about a mile of Para rubber trees Was beautiful. Stopped off for some sunset pictures and also for some fresh juice and tea...
I hung out with the group at the bungalow's lobby/palapa/restaurant for dinner and a few drinks. The staff was VERY friendly and polite. I had about two beers to help me relax into the idea of returning to the bungalow, and then left the others and retired to my "room". Grabbed supplies-- alarm clock, water bottle, sleep sheet (thanks Iz, I use it all the time), head lamp (everyone here says "torch")...Switched on my Ipod, the "going to sleep" meditation podcast, and fell asleep... for a little while at least. Awoke sometime in the night to chickens or roosters or something running around outside my room.... fell alseep to vivid nightmares of snakes in my room... then awoke to a Muslim prayer or something they were saying REALLY loud over the whole island... then had more nightmares... there were SO many living things
moving around in my room (hopefully )outside of the bug curtain. Not little bugs either. HUGE animals and stuff living in the thatched walls.
Woke up, hardly rested but thankful for daylight, and had some breakfast. When the others awoke, we hoped on a longtail boat on the beach just a few feet from the bungalows and went snorkeling for the day. Much fun and very beautiful beaches. I didn't actually snorkel though b/c after my rough night I was kinda in a bad mood. When I realized that, I told Toon to please help me switch hotels! Haha, that's one of the benefits of not being a "starving" backpacking traveler! Helpful as always, she set me up with another hotel nearby, though seriously it was like a 1 or 2 star place by our standars. Lan Sai Village or something. They had a Muay Thai boxing camp attached and were on the beach. I got dropped off there after dinner, and was happy in my room (this is ironic b/c out of all the places I've stayed on my trip, this one had the most visible bugs) AM SOO happy I switched hotels. The next day the Australian
Pineapple Juice
Some juice on Phi Phi island couple told me they had found a snake in their bungalow (Auzies are tough though) and the American couple told me they'd found a toad.
We finally left the Muslim island (which had signs reminding us to dress modestly) and took another very local style "ferry" to Phuket. An old lady had fainted and they had her laying down on the boat floor, which was kinda sad to see.... BTW, have not been motion sick at all in Thailand... anyway Phuket is absolutely crazy. It's hard to remember it is an island b/c it feels like a huge, overgrown, polluted city. While I loved my hotel, Karon Living Room (the best of the tour hotels) I didn't like Phuket and was happy to only spend one night there.. the beaches were completely packed and disgusting because of this!
My last night on the tour was a day before the tour officially ended. I was really happy that Toon moved up the tour's "farewell dinner" to my last night. The group called this "Chelle's Night" and said that I should pick what we do!! I decided to let loose for one night and "party" a little with everyone. Toon
Farewell Dinner
I told you this area has a lot of wierd sex scene stuff... paid for us to have Tuk Tuks to Patong (crazy party street) and we went to bars, played silly games like big Jenga, hammering nails into wood, etc... and even went dancing. I really had a great time!!! Felt really special and was happy to feel so included in the group 😉 BTW, Patong is not a G-rated place by any means. It's filled with "girlie bars," where you can take home any waitress you want. Yuck! Aside from the drink though, we had a pretty PG-13 night 😉 Hugged everybody goodbye and that was the end of my tour!
NExt morning I woke up at 6 in the morning for my solo voyage to Phi Phi island. Took a crowded ferry to Phi Phi and am loving it here.... Phi Phi is super touristy but SO much better than Phuket b/c there are no cars on the island. Ton Sai Village is filled with narrow streets, touristy shops, dive shops and restaurants. I've wandered around quite a bit and it's really great! Sampled street food, Thai pancakes with banana and sweet milk. Checked into my awesome hotel and really love that too!! PP Palmtree Resort. It is one
PP Palmtree
Now this is more like it!!! of the top places I've ever stayed and is directly next to the whole village. This morning I woke up early, had the hotel breakfast buffet, explored more of the island and layed by the beach and by the pool for a while. Then, joined an Adventure Club snorkel trip and got to see things like Moray eel, damsal fish, something needlefish, pacific lionfish, puffer fish and like ten thousand other fish and coral (including some electric blue huge starfish that our guide Andy said would kill you if you touch it). Beautiful! It's so colorful and amazing down there! Went to Maya Beach and snorkeled all around Phi Phi Ley. This trip was more official, as we had wetsuits and fins and the guide was in the water with us!
Ok this is getting long, LOL. I have more time to write when I'm alone! I have no problem traveling alone, I like spending my days alone... however, when it comes to night time get bored shopping, and it feels a little awkward to eat at restaurants alone (hasn't kept me from eating though!) I think that if Tim was here with me, there would be no way I'd ever come back home!! Even though it's rained here every day, it's still fabulously beautiful! Perfect temperature.
Tomorrow I leave here at 2 p.m. on a ferry to Phuket.... I don't arrive in Nashville until 2 p.m. the following day.... so 24 plus 13 for the time change. I will be traveling for 37 hours by the time I get home. Wish I'd gotten some ambien, I plan on taking a bunch of Dramamine to get some sleep!!! Love, Chelle
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