Koh Lanta

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Hey guys!!! Happy New Year!!! So sorry were behind weve been busy having too much fun!!

OK so we bounded the taxi shuttle back to the pier for our trip to Koh Lanta, apparently the most up and coming island here. The Ferry over was lovely and warm and we made our way to the front so I could get some bathing in, Paulie was laughing at me as I threw dirty looks all around as people got in my space, dont these people know that its MY boat?? haha. 5 minutes from Koh Lanta and the dark clouds started to ascend.. noooooo!!! It would clear up, of course it would. As we docked it was absolutely throwing it down!! Wed ducked into a cafe and unfolded the map of Koh Lanta we'd just picked up. We'd managed to book a hotel on the internet at the Pier in Phi Phi so at least we knew were we were going. I got a quote from a taxi and they got quite irrate when I went to the next guy and asked if he could do any better. They got into a price war and amist the what seemed to be swearing and numerous nasty words between them the lowest price won and we were very proud of ourselves! 😊

We turned the corner and our transport stuck out, no wonder this guy was cheaper. It was a motor bike with a shed stuck to the side. He started throwing our rucksacks in and we wiggled in beside them... well, It would certainly be an experience thats for sure! First impressions of the Island, It was definetly alot more chilled out. The roads were quieter and we could tell we wouldnt be hassled as much. When we arrived to the hotel there was a certain hippy type feel to it. Small swimming pool, simple and clean bungalows, small chill out tree house room, bob marley pictures, 'no war' sign that type of thing. We loved it. The owner needed a 500 baht deposit - we didnt realise and hadnt been to the bank we said we'd walk and he has said it was a good 15 minutes (which wasnt really a problem to us but on this Island nobody is required to do anything the slightest bit strenuous).

''You can ride a bike?'' he asked Paul
'Yeah mate I had one in Phangan''

And thats all you need to pass your test here! He told Paul he could just borrow his bike, how good is that? Despite it being horribly cloudy and light showers we decided to have a walk down the beach. Unlike Phi Phi we could get around a little better, and this looked like a party beach! Scatters of people lay lazily in hammocks and throws evidentally recovering from last nights party. The front of our resort had a tree with bottles scattered around it in decoration and other bottles of spirits glued to the fence - it sounds tacky but it really wasnt. The working lads were practicing their fire throwing on the beach ''Big Party Tonight Yes?'' I beamed at Paul, its what we do best isnt it? We settled down with a couple Changs on the beach front not letting the bad weather get us down. We made a sand man into a snow man (much to the local's amusement) to entertain ourselves. After a few more we were getting rather merry, those Changs are 6.4% and they creep up on you much quicker than your standard larger! We headed back to get changed and think about dinner.

Changed and back out it was full dark and the place looked lovely. They'd set tables out on the beach and all the pretty blue lights were up. The mini long tail was filled with ice and lots of scrummy fresh sea food including a massive fresh caught today Marlin. They would BBQ up anything we wanted. We opted for the fresh Red Snapper and it was de-lish! With fresh salad and a jacket potato we were back on the Sangsom (this stuff is also very leathal!) It was a good start to the night and we were ready to Party. We made our way back down the beach and visited a number of the bars, tried a number of cocktails and wobbled back up for our Hotels fire show. We passed out in the Bungalow not long after that!

The morning after my head was extremely fuzzy. Of course Mr Morning Man himself was already bouncing off the walls, excited at the prospect of getting another bike. We has emailed Ria and Martin the night before telling them that we were on the Island and we would meet them and go exploring together. They had emailed back to say that their hotel was extremely reclusive and the roads were extremely bad near them so it was difficult for them to get out. Paul undefeated, decided we'd give it a go anyway. Their Hotel was way down south and judging by the map would take us abut 45 minutes to an hours drive. We emailed them telling them that we were on our way and set straight off after an american breakfast (it sounds plush but its literally just eggs, ham streaky bacon and chicken sausage). We were off to a good start it pretty much just looked like a straight road directly south. Paul was driving very well, even when it started to rain again. I on the other hand after being knighted Chief Navigator epically failed and sent us 15 minutes in the wrong direction. Im a dumbass I admit it. We stopped off at a tiny shop to get our bearings and wait for the rain to calm down. We were greeted by a lovely Thai man with a massive smile who likes to practice his English. He didnt want anything from us just to chat. When we left we had a little quiet moment

''Its mad isnt it? These people have nothing. The guys clothes were ripped and falling off him, but he kept on smiling''.

The rain was really hard to drive in, when we got further south we saw the signs for the National Park and knew we were almost there. The road changed drastically from Road to just sludge and I had to get off a few times so Paul could get safely through it - It got much worse and we began to understand why Ria and Martin would find it difficult to get out. Still headed for the National Park we realised we'd come too far, we turned the bike around and spotted Monkeys play fighting in the middle of the road. We stopped so I could get the camera out and take a picture, Paul stopped closer and the monkeys turned to look.. They stared at me menacingly and started hissing

''SH*T PAUL DRIVE DRIVE DRIVE!!!''

They were coming at us and one literally missed my leg by inches! Paul couldnt drive for laughing and I was still crapping myself screaming go go go as they bounded after us. What if theres more? What if theres like an army of them waiting to pounce and eat us for breakfast? Like some kind of monkey epidemic?? Theres trees everywhere and forrest, and the turning we have is worse! We had to ask a couple walking towards the Park as there was no sign for their Resort but it was on the map, we thanked them and warned them of the killer monkeys.

We made it there around 11. The resort was extremely quiet and elegant. We decided it was still only early we could have a coffee and wait for them to arrive around the pool or something. The rain was pretty much still going for it, not like English rain at all, like big fat blobs of it. We were beginning to see the other side of tropical. This Resort was extremely plush with two huge swimming pools and a lovely bar area, sheltered from the rain we wiggled into a big wicker egg stuffed with fluffy cushions and ordered a creamy coffee. My mind started to go into overload and I bombarded Paul, what if they havent got their email? What if they really didnt want us to come? What if we just look like couple of stalkers just sat here to say ''Hi! we just turned up! Hope you dont mind!'' We toyed with the idea and we agreed it best to ask the manager to let them know that we are here. Off he trotted and we waited. Ria came around the corner and greeted us with a massive smile and a hug. Turns out the they got pretty messy with the staff last night and they hadnt read our email but she was so glad we came. Much to our insistance that they really didnt have to they even bought us lunch and paid for our coffees and we were so touched that they were so glad we came.

After lunch we thought it best not to waste the day and we'd go explore the national park, rain and killer monkeys are no match for us no siree! Armed with sticks and umberellas you know, just in case, we took the short cut over the beach. We paid the entrance fee and some guys that were on their way in with a 4x4 truck even let us jump in the back (and we were grateful wed already trecked up a massive hill - hung over to death and in Thai heat, it wasnt good). We went up to the light house at Lanta Viewpoint and Paul fell on the way down (much to the amusement of me and Ria) and strolled over to the trekking path - which we didnt like the sound of! A group of monkeys wandered over the road in front of us but didnt cause us any trouble. We stopped and checked the Map according to the sign it would take us 2 hours to make it all the way around with 4 main points, we all decided we'd make it up to Point 1 viewing point and then head back. As we started lunging up the gigantic steps I think we all realised we'd bitten off more than we could chew but carried on regardless. We heard a rusling noise and I spotted a baby alligator crawling back into the undergrowth. What the hell had we gotten ourselves into here?!!

Onwards and upwards we refused to be defeated. I think the mix of sweating profusely and the pump of adrenaline was actually ridding of my hang over and the others agreed that they werent feeling as grim any more either. The monster stepes were killing us, then we approached the first of many obstacles.. A bloody huge over turned tree in the middle of the path. We considered turning back, do they not check these things? There was nobody about, it seemed it was just us on the trail. Turning back would mean that we'd come all this way for absolutey nothing. We couldnt really go over it because of the angle that it was on, wed end up rolling down the cliff. We'd need to go under it but god knows what was under there - it was dark and cob webby and icky. Beilieve it or not, I was the first to go under. After a quick scramble I made it with terribly scuffed knees, the others followed. Martin is a good 6 foot and it was pretty comical seeing him scramble under too. It was hard work but other obtacles blocked our path, a deathly spikey tree, a termite ridden bridge (which Paul insisted he was going to go over but only tapped the first step and it crumbled) another over turned tree til we finally saw the light and realised we'd gone the whole hog and we came out right outside the entrance. We were all so proud of ourselves it felt like we'd all come out the better side of ''Im a Celebrity get me out of here!'' On the plus side our hang overs were banished but we were all pretty nackard. We said our good byes and left for the journey home.

Typically it started to rain again. The Paths had gotten worse. Paul tried his best but I was holding on for dear life and my breathing was shakey. I had to get off a couple of times, the Path was a horrible orange sludge. Just as we thought we'd made it out the bike went side ways and fell on top of us. We werent hurt and couldnt help but laugh. We made it back fine, nackard but fine. We eat and went straight to bed.

The next day Paul was his usual self buzzing around the room by 6am informing me once again it was 'Road Trip Day' and he was going to get his 'hose Hound' as he kept calling the Moped. We followed the Map to Lanta Old Town which was pretty pants. Our intention was to get a private Longtail out to the 4 tiny islands surrounding this one for a bit of snorkling but an English guy in the travel shop let us know that the visibilty was crap due to all the raining. We jumped back on Pauls trusty 'hose hound' and headed North. It wasnt as commercial here so it was nice to drive by the locals houses and witness abit of pure culture. The weather was so bad at this point we had to retreat to a restaurant for what seemed like forever waiting for it to die down. We eventually made it out for a spot of shopping before it started again. We decided it would be best to head back and have a chill out afternoon, we didnt want any accidents on the slippy road.

Back at the hotel, 1 chang down and we'd dived in the pool fully clothed like true brits in the rain. We dabbled in the art of bat and ball and the bar staff were kind enough to keep fetching us Chang (they clearly thought we were crazy and wanted to keep laughing at us). We eat dinner around 7 pm and chatted about where we'd like to be for New Years Eve. The decision was made that we'd head back over to the Phi Phi's and stay close to the boat and the main village where it was all happening. We booked our boat, thanked the staff (who didnt want to let us go) and wobbled back to the apartment a little worse for wear. I was so drunk whilst ranting on about something clearly not important enough to remember I was still swinging on the dodgy plastic chair, much to Pauls amusement it shattered underneath me. Not my proudest moment but looking back it was really rather funny! Off to bed ready for another early start! Phi Phis here we come.. again!

Adios Amigos! xx

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Comments

[Alicia]

Hiya guys, happy new year!!! I no u will av done summat amazing so I wont ask if u had a good time. When do u come back? Carry on writing!!! X