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Published: February 10th 2009
Packing light haha!
.....getting our packs together in Garden Bay!OK Everyone here is a Blog update written by Terry....therefore the reason for any spelling or grammar errors. Wow...where do I begin. I am sitting here at an internet caffee on Ko Phi-Phi Don. The temperature is 34 degrees, the sweat is running down my back and I have a cold Chang (beer) in front of me. I guess the best way of telling about our trip so far is to start at the beginning.
After spending the night at our good friend Lynda B's at the Riverhouse in Vancouver it was off to the aiport via Lynda B's taxi. Of course being on Pollock time we arrived three hours early for our flight. Our trip was booked using up some of our Aeroplan miles collected over the many years of flying. Therefore the airline was Air Canada. Well as usual they lived up to their motto to start with being of course"we are not happy until you're not happy". After switching gates and planes twice we finally got in the air. We were delayed two hours and we only had an hour layover in Seoul Korea before our connecting flight so we knew we would not make that. We
Air Canada
We're not happy until you're not happy.
did not know what we would do once we arrived at Seoul, but low and behold when we disembarked there was a sign for Mr. & Mrs. Pollock to go to a certain gate where we would connect to Bangkok. Wow I must take back my comments about Air Canada. We got on to our conncecting flight and arrived in Bangkok with our backpacks.
After two flights and 17 hours of flying time we arrived in Bangkok at midnight. Observation: The airports over here are spectacular. Clean,large and efficient. We grabbed our backpacks and then a Taxi. We had booked a hotel in Bangkok near Kosan Road. For those who don't know Kosan road is a city in itself. Mitch it was everything and more of what you told us about. Anyway our taxi driver didn't know where our hotel was so just dropped us at the entrance to Kosan road at 2:00 in the morning. We wandered up and down Kosan Road for approx an hour asking directions to our hotel. With the help of some locals we finally found it. Unfortunately due to us being late they had given up our room. They managed to find us
Bangkok at last!
We relax and try a Thai beer....it hardly feels like 3 a.m. one at a sister hotel about a 5 min walk. After a quick celebration drink we hit the sack...our first night in Bangkok.
We awoke to the sound of Roosters crowing and locals outside our window talking. What we have found is there is no day and night over here as everything goes on around the clock. We spent the morning viewing the sites around our Hotel. We originally had planned to stay 2 nights in Bangkok but decided 1 was enough as we were anxious to get to the Islands.
We booked a flight to Krabi which is on the mainland but is the Hub for traveling to the islands on the west coast in the Andaman Sea. We arrived in Krabi at 2:00 in the afternoon. We felt we needed to find a hotel right away to get settled. We are learning that this is not always the best thing to do. We now realize that perhaps wandering around and seeing the different hotels that are available is a better idea. Anyway we found a place called the City Hotel. They had two rooms available, one with A/C and one with only a fan. We
chose the one with A/C of course. The room cost us 850 bot which is around $30. We spent a couple of hours wandering up the pier and visiting all the local markets.Along the way we saw our first Monkeys..cute but I wouldn't take one home. We were anxious to start eating some traditional Thai food but were not ready to start eating at the local street vendors yet. So guess what we had for dinner...Pizza. Talk about being adventurous. Our hotel was located on a small street which we thought was the main street of Krabi. When we went out for dinner we walked around the corner and there was the main street...6 lanes of traffic and major shops and stores for a half mile on both sides. Oh my if we hadn't have gone for a walk we would have thought Krabi was this little, little town.
The next day we were scheduled to catch a boat to Ko Phi-Phi don to meet up with Alicia so we booked our ride to the pier and our Boat trip right at the Hotel. For those who don't know Alicia is traveling over here with her friend Stacey for
3 months so we thought it would be Great to get together in Thailand. Our bus was to pick us up at 8:00 am to take us to the pier to catch our boat. Of course being on Pollock time we were in the lobby at 7:30 am. 8:00 no bus. 8:30 no bus. 9:00 no bus....By this time of course we are getting a little frustrated as our boat was leaving at 9:00 and Alicia was waiting for us at the dock at Ko Phi-Phi. Finally at 9:30 our bus arrives and off we go. Another couple was on our bus as well. When we get to the Dock they get out and the driver tells us to stay on the bus (van). We drive through the jungle for 15 minutes and finally stop. He tells us to get out here where we will catch another bus to the Dock....confused oh yeah.We go up to one of the people from the company that is organizing this and he advises us that we have missed the 9:00 boat...no kidding, and the next boat is at 1:30. Kelley then blows a Gasket and tells them that they have been lieing to
Phi Phi
The bay as you enter Ko Phi Phi Don.
us all morning about when and where they will be picking us up etc. etc.
Needless to say after insisting that they do never lie and that it was just a mistake they managed to get us back to the Dock and on to a Boat for Ko Phi-Phi at 10:30.
We get on the Boat which hold approx 100 people. About 10 of us sat out on the Bow while the rest for what ever reason sat inside in this dark smelly cabin. As we cross the Adaman Sea I think we found out why. Picture these large boats crossing this large body of water but as you approach a boat coming towards you the captains try and get as close to each other as possible . I guess the idea is to try and spray the people sitting on the Bow and create a little excitement. Anywat the trip over to Ko Phi-Phi Don was about 1 1/2 hrs and was absolutely beautiful.
As we approached Ko Phi-Phi the view was absolutely spectacular. The mountains and the color of the water was everything and more of what you see in the travel magazines and TV. We
Terry and a pal
Only one dog on the beach and many places he could have chosen for shade! got off the boat and there waiting for us was Alicia and Stacey. The only thing that could have been better was if Mitch was here with us.
We hadn't booked any place to stay so Kelley,Alicia, and Stacey headed off to find a place for us while I sat and guarded the luggage.......of course while enjoying a cold beer.
For those who don't know Ko Phi-Phi was one of the islands hit hard by the Tsunami a few years back. Basicaly the whole town was destroyed with a loss of over 100 hundred lives. They are still rebuilding but there are not too many remnants of the devastation that took place. Observation: The people here are very hard working. We have met a young waiter at one of the restaurants who has told us lots about Thailand and the people. He asked how old I was and was surprised that we were doing what we are doing for our age. He mentioned that the average lifespan in Thailand is 64. The reasons mainly being that the average people never take time off work their whole lives and also their diet. Even though they have year around
Phi Phi Viewpoint
I just had to go to the top to see what I could see! delicious fruit their main diet is Rice and Chicken and we have seen this for ourselves. Chicken in the morning,chicken in the evening, chicken at supper time.....and rice.
The girls came up with a good place for us to stay. A bed (no sheets...don't need them) a shower (cold water only...who needs hot water in this heat) and also it is up high on the mountain overlooking the village and the ocean(in case of Tsunami)
Yesterday was our first real relax..no travel..enjoy the place day. We booked a day long snorkeling/tour around the surrounding islands trip on a Longtail boat. For those who don't know a long tail boat is a wooden boat with a 4 cylinder car engine mounted on the outside to a 12 ft long drive shaft.. The whole engine and drive shaft is manually maneuvered by the captain . The throttle is a string that he manipulates for fast and slow. Doesn't sound like much but boy can they maneuver the boat. There are hundreds and hundreds of longtail boats here as they seem to be the main mode of transportation.
What we thought would be a Great day was even more. The
snorkeling was spectacular as the water is so clear and the different types of fish absolutely amazing. Our driver/captain said about 3 words the whole day but took us to some unbelievable areas. I know we think that in Canada we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth and we do, but believe me this area is also spectacular. The limestone cliffs and mountains meeting with the aqua blue crystal clear waters is amazing. We visited different islands throughout the day. One island(Bamboo Island) did not have any hotels,cabins etc. only 7 or 8 tents that you could rent right on the beach. I thought Kelley was going to come out of her shorts when she saw the tents. She even convinced me that we should maybe stay there for a night. It has been many years since she got me into a tent but it would be hard to say no to this locale.
One of our stops before sunset was at Maya Beach. Maya Beach was made famous for those who don't know by a movie a few years back called "The Beach" starring Leonardo Dicappreo. The movie is B grade but the scenery
Bamboo Island!
Bamboo island tenting possibilities. The national park offers this camping option...almost tried it
...maybe on the next island :o)
in the movie is exactly what it looks like in person. Highly recommend the movie just for the view. We stayed out on the water until the Sun had gone down and what a sunset. We had a Great Thai dinner and then off to bed.
Today was a very busy day for Kelley and Alicia as they went Scuba Diving ( I will let Kelley tell you all about that) For Stacey and I it was a relax catch your breath day. I spent 4 hours sitting on the beach and just enjoying the weather and the view. Speaking of view there seems to be lots of European people here so beachwear attire is everything from long shorts, to Speedos to .................................you guessed it!
We were thinking about doing the camping thing tomorrow on Bamboo Island but instead I think we are going to move on. The girls are off to Ko Phangan for what they call the Full Moon Party. Mitch advises Mom and Dad that this would not be the place for them so we are off to the island of Ko Lanta. This island is supposed to be a little less touristy and laid
back. I think we will find a small cabana on a beach somewhere for a few days.
Well I hope everyone at home is fine. I must admit that this is my first 2 star/backpack type vacation and so far it is wonderful. It is hard to figure out what day of the week it is and if it wasn't for the watch on my arm time is also amiss. I'm off to find Kelley as I'm sure she will want to add to this and also some pictures.
all the best
Terry and Kelley
*ps thanks to Brenda and Gord for looking after Chevy while we are gone..............we hope they have him trained by the time we get home...
PS Well first I have to thank Terry for doing such a great job on the blog. Alicia and I had a great day scuba diving....saw a leapard shark, huge sea turtles, amazing reefs and fish galore. We bought the DVD so will have the details of our dives to treasure back home!
Will be sad to part with the girls tomorrow. It has been great to rendezvous with them over here! Well I
Snorkling fun!
Alicia's arm, Stacey's underwater camera and amazing sea life! must say it is midnight here....as finally sat down and cleared up email, checked out facebook and now read Terry's entry....I guess I will just say good night from Thailand! luv, K
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Mitch
non-member comment
Holy SH&*
Well, I officially regret not meeting up with you guys. I'm so happy for all three of you. I love you all so much and can't wait to hear the stories. Sounds like an incredible time. love you Mitch