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Published: March 22nd 2006
Sairee Beach
Sairee Beach just before Sunset.The start of the Islands.......
We managed to get a nice comfy air con seat on the boat from Chumphon to Koh Tao. It took a couple of hours - mind you we were constantly being hassled by guys trying to get us to stay at their resorts. Some of them were gorgeous and we would have loved to have stayed but they were well over our budget!!! Koh Tao is excellent for diving so loads of people do their PADI there and resorts offer discounts. We had decided not to dive though because we just wanted to relax.
Arrived at the pier which was manic - people everywhere. We soon got in a taxi to a guesthouse though. The full moon party was on in Koh Phangan the night before so apparently Koh Tao was filling up really quick as people were coming straight over to Koh Tao in the morning (the morning we got there!) Great!!! We didn't struggle too much as it was still early in the day but there was a distinct lack of choice - definitely no beach-front bungalows left! We got a nice beach bungalow about 100 yards away from the beach at
'Blue Wind' resort, on Sairee Beach (the largest on the island).
We soon freshened up and had a cold shower!!! We hadn't washed for 48 hours when we arrived (the longest so far!!!) Walked down to the beach and it was gorgeous - bright clear water and lovely views. It was certainly worth the long, long journey. We had a look around and went for a swim in the warm sea. Then, watched a beautiful sunset on the beach after. Later on in the evening we went to the beach and had fresh barbecued fish which was delicious. You go to the bar-b-q and choose which fish you want - they weigh it and tell you the cost (soooo cheap!) and then they bar-b-q it for you with a tasty sauce drizzled on top. We had Tuna & Blue Marlin - very tasty!!!
In the evening the beach bars all put cushions and rugs out on the beach and its all lit up with candles/flames so it looks great and there is a really good atmosphere. We released a lucky lantern after our meal which we watched go miles up into the sky. We made a wish as
Beach
One of the more secluded beaches on Koh Tao. it went (ahh - fingers crossed!!!)
The next day we hired a moped and took ourselves round the island to explore. Its a really small island so didn't take too long! We found some more secluded beaches as Sairee Beach was a little too crowded for our liking (still not loads of people but a few too many!) It was good on the bike - Jamie did all the driving while I clung on the back! We went up to the north point of the island to get a photograph of the idyllic looking Koh Nang Yuan. There was a hilarious moment as we were clambering over the rocks that were really close to the sea. Jamie went quite far ahead and I was telling him to be careful because they were getting slippery. Next thing......I hear a scraping noise and turn around........and.............sure enough - Jamie is sprawled across one of the larger rocks he had just tried to jump on to!!! I couldn't stop laughing but he was laying still because he thought he would slip more if he tried to get up!!! Finally he managed to get up but then hesitated for a while because the only
Twisted Fire Starter!!!
"C'mon baby light my fire!" option he had was to jump back to the rock he had just come from (and risk slipping again!) He braved it and jumped.......and......SHITE...slipped again!!! Course - I'm all sympathy and stand on my rock laughing (completely unable to help)!!! He went to get up, fell and his (very expensive Diesel) sunglasses fell off his shirt into the water!!! He scrambled forwards and shoved his hand down and luckily recovered them (just!) A couple more jumps back and he made it to where I was standing - safely - but with a bleeding arm, cut foot and scuzzy shorts!!! Trauma over, we head back to the bungalow on the bike!
As we are heading out again to the beach (this time on foot), we take a detour to get a drink and we're strolling past another beach bungalow and I see a face I recognise. I pull my sunglasses down to get a better look but just think I'm being silly because the person doesn't seem to know us. But, as we get closer, I realise that it is Jamie and Michele from sunny Duston, Northampton!!! How bizarre!!! We are so surprised to see each other but its really
Karen and the Lucky Lantern
Our lantern struggling to light. nice to see familiar faces! We had only discovered the cut-through that we were walking through earlier that day and they had just arrived on the island (after the full moon party on Koh Phangan). We arranged to meet for dinner and were excited!!!
We had a great evening together. We went for food and then moved on to a bar and were drinking whisky buckets - whisky, coke and Red bull!!! By the end of the night we had had far too much whisky but also a really good time!!! We were 'tanked up' (a phrase stolen from Jamie & Micheles travels!)
We spent one day visiting Koh Nang Yuan - a couple of superb looking islands off of the North tip of Koh Tao. The two islands are joined up by a sand bank in between. It looks great but is spoiled somewhat by the resort on the island and the numerous dive operations surrounding it. They charge for 100 baht each just to enter and take all plastic bottles off you (including our large bottle of full water we had just brought before going across - cheek!!!). Therefore, its quite an expense to go there
Jamie and the Lucky Lantern
Jamie and the lit lantern - "you know when its lit because its alight!!!" and also use any of the facilities there. It was full of rich tourists which really spoilt it. However, we did manage to have a sun bathe and snorkel for a short while but it is not really worth the trouble going there.
The next few days were spent just chilling on the island, on the beach, wandering around and the evenings were spent with Jamie and Michele chatting all about each other's travels and future plans. I know we have said it already but it was so good to meet up with familiar people and spend time with them (just a shame it was quite short). We also each said that we were glad of the same sex company for a change - both the Jamies glad of male company and me & Michele glad of female company!!!
So, because it was quite busy and very touristy (& too expensive) we decided 4 days/nights was enough. We spent our last evening with Jamie and Michele on the Saturday evening and said all our goodbyes - feeling quite sad. They were leaving Sunday too but, unfortunately, going in different directions. They have finished their beach travels we are
just starting ours.
KOH PHANGAN
Next step... Sunday morning - another early start and we go to the pier. We catch the boat at 9.30am to go to Koh Phangan - took about 50 minutes. Headed to Emerald Ocean guesthouse in Ban Tai (recommended by Jamie & Michele - we have some useful tips as well now!). We get a bungalow in a prime position right on the beach (cheaper than Koh Tao too) and the staff are lovely.
We hired a moped again to explore the island. We head to Had Rin (the 'busy' part where the full moon parties etc take place). The roads are scary and we kind of regret setting off by bike. They are really steep - up and down all the way and windy. We make it though and spend our time looking around Had rin.
After freshening up back at the guesthouse we decide not to get back on the bike (we had to come back from Had Rin to our guesthouse in the dark and it wasn't a pleasant experience!) So, we get a taxi to back to Had Rin. Liverpool are playing Newcastle so we find
Karen at the 'Fateful' Rocks
Karen being cautious at the rocks - while Jamie heads further out. a nice packed pub and settle down to watch. Good result too so we are happy. Have some food and then check out the beach bars of Had Rin. We get a taxi back to Ban Tai. There are all sorts of parties all the time on Koh Phangan and tonight there was a Jungle Party in Ban Tai (just up the road from where we were staying). We get a lift up there and then - we must be getting old - because we didn't want to pay the 200 baht each to go in so we walked back down the road and went to bed!!! (Jamie was feeling slightly 'dodgy' in our defence!!!)
The next day we still have the bike so we head in the opposite direction to the busy town of Thong-Sala. We decided just to stay the one night in Koh Phagan so we wanted to leave on the night boat. It is a nice island and we could have stayed longer but we are just itching to get to the Andaman side of Thailand! We buy our ticket to get the night boat at 10pm and then a bus transfer to Krabi town
Daring Jamie!!!
An ice cool Jamie on the rocks!!!! Yeah right - just recovering from the sunglasses rescue (spot them perched on the bag!) in the morning. The rest of the day was just spent at the guesthouse watching dvds and reading in the cafe area because - we're sure a lot of you will be glad to hear - it was pouring with rain, and lots of it!!!
We leave in the evening for the boat. The rain had stopped! The night boat was full - there were loads of people. Apparently it was a Thai holiday due to the elections as well so it increased numbers. We were all crammed in like sardines (unfortunately we can't show you a photo because the camera broke!) - Thais on one side and travellers (foreigners) on the other side. Mattresses are lined on the floor and you have about the space of one single mattress for 3 people!!! The boat was quite rocky too so, all in all, another unique experience! We managed to get a bit of sleep (some Mad Welshman was kicking me in the head all night!!! - Jamie). It left at 10pm and got to Surrathani (on the mainland) at 4.30am (we were told it would be 5.30am!) We then get transported by tuk tuk to a nearby cafe/travel agency
Just the 4 of us!
Jamie, Jamie, Karen & Michele (spot the whities!!!) and we have to wait there 2 hours before catching the bus! They do put 'The Beach' on dvd for us though. Jamie is feeling really unwell and queasy so it wasn't good (poowee!!!). We get picked up at 6.15am by a truck, driven round the corner, and we board the bus to Krabi. The bus leaves at 6.30am and arrives at 10am. It was not too bad a journey and the bus had Air-con and there was some great scenery outside too - but it didn't stop me (Jamie) from spewing up several times!!! It was into a 7-eleven carrier bag though thankgod (where would we be without 7-eleven and those useful plastic bags!!!) A sweet Thai lady handed me tissues and bossed Karen around (telling her to rub my back - it felt nice!!!) The plan for us was to catch a boat to Railay straight away but Jamie was still sick (full of aches and pains too) and the camera was broken so we needed to buy a new one. So, we have stayed in Krabi town for 2 nights instead. Its actually quite good and we managed to buy a very snazzy new camera!!! Glad to
2 Jamies, 2 Buckets!!!
Jamie & Jamie with their Whiskey Buckets. say Jamie is feeling a lot better too (although still poorly as he keeps reminding me!)
The plan is therefore that we get the longtail boat to Railay in the morning......................................................................................................
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jamie and michele
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bucket heads
hey guys the travel blog is awesome. thanks for puttin us on it. its a great read and the photos are Great. it really was a shame we were going in different directions hey. hop[e your better and enjoy the west side xxxxxxxxxxxxxx TANKED UP all the way