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Published: February 8th 2017
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First stop, Monkey Beach Yesterday we had a super relaxing day at the beach in Ao Nang, paid 100b to use the sunbeds at massage hut 15 again, this time confident about the free fruit and mats. I had a back and neck massage, 30 not very relaxing minutes. I didn't think that bum would be involved, surely it would stop above my bikini bottoms? Oh no, tried not to tense up. He had both thumbs in my bum, then tried to disengage my ribs from my backbone. A lot of pressing and pulling. Very ouchy!! And it was a him, which I didn't prefer at all, but too late to say without hurting his feelings!
i needed cash from an ATM, mistake, as there is a fee for withdrawals although my bank doesn't charge. 200b for taking 2000b out. Eesh! Better to bring cash in large notes i.e. £50 or 100$ and use the money changers.
We had delicious Indian food again and chatted to a Philippino/Australian girl who works in an international school near Shanghai, travelling on her own, then had an early night. The wifi is v good here and I could use my vpn to watch the BBC and
ITVplayer. Very happy about that!
Today we were up early and down to our breakfast cafe before 8 as we had to meet for our snorkel trip to the Phi Phi Islands at 8.40. Of course a few people were late. While we were waiting we chatted to a group of young female university students from Malaysia, most studying accountancy, so very happy to chat in English and ask questions. I loved them! They were going rafting, quad biking etc, all in their headscarves and modest clothing, was going to get very wet! There were about 16 of us on our trip including one guy who showed up with a beer in his hand. What a wanker, we immmediately judged him. He was giving it loads, arm round the young Muslim girl who was our (fantastic) tour guide. He turned out to be really good fun, Polish, on holiday with his silent (and by the end of the day very pink) Hungarian friend. They met when working at a cheese factory in Cornwall, how random!
We had been unsure about the trip, expensive, would we throw up, was it going to be too much of a rush, but
all unfounded, except the expense. It was great! We stopped to snorkel first, the coral was mainly dead with a few new bits growing, but the fish were fantastic. Lots of black and yellow stripy ones, not afraid at all so you could swim right through them. It was about 40mins to the first place, not too bumpy. Our guide was Nadia, very engaging and funny. If anyone was late she'd shout at them according to nationality - 'Eh, Chinatown!' She was very clear about the time back at each stop. Some stops we just looked and took photos, others got off the boat. We saw where birds'nests are harvested, but just the construction on the outside including a platform where people sleep to stop stealing! The second snorkel stop was not on a beach so we had to go off the back of the boat. The non-swimmers weren't keen and stayed on the boat. Big mistake, as it bobbed up and down for half a hour and they all felt sick. Better risk drowning, maybe, or go in with a life jacket and float around. Again, dead coral, fewer fish but still OK. Now sporting sopping wet sarongs, we
went on to Phi Phi Don for our buffet lunch which was very good. Plenty of it, tasty, nice coffee even. Sam and I walked through to the other side of the island for a look, as we were thinking of staying a few days maybe, although reports said it was full of drunken 18 year olds at night. It was super busy and crowded, EXPENSIVE (Sam did the water/suncream check in the supermarket) and the so called swimming beach on the other side had no water! Or at least none you could swim in as the tide was waaaaaaay out. Probably there are good snorkel trips from there but we weren't particularly keen on diving there, so decided nah! Give it a miss. It was badly hit by the tsunami which went right from one side of the island to the other, the new buildings aren't very attractive.
Back on the boat, luckily the sea was calm again and on to Bamboo Island, which I remembered from doing a day trip 8 years ago. BEAUTIFUL! Stunning sea, interesting creatures in it, shade from trees, gorgeous, despite all the speedboats. Before it was just longtail boats. The v annoying
aspect was all the posy photos being taken, bikini shots, selfie sticks, just look at the lovely scenery, why don't you? It was the nicest stop but we only had 50mins. Nadia said it was 40mins back but it was only 20. When we got back we checked out at the ticket office if we could take a taxi boat there when we come back after Khao Lak but it's only possible by private boat, 3800b, no way! So we'll do some research to see which is best of the taxi boat offerings, Poda, Tub, Chicken or Hong Island (but the latter is an hour in a longtail boat).
It was a really fab day and we are very glad we did it. We were the only English, chatted in Spanish to Pamela from Argentina, travelling alone, looked a bit green, a couple from Malaysia, a mother and son from Slovakia, it was such fun!
For drinks we went again to Tandoori Night's (!) for their bargain wine and beer, talked to a Finnish couple and then some Aussies. Dear everyone, please do not ask us about Brexit as it is EMBARRASSING in the extreme to us! Everyone
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You can just see the tail of the monkey scarpering, having had its little hand in someone's bag does, then moves on to Trump! We ate street food tonight, had been eyeing it up for a few days. The pad Thai was great, and the 'big noodles' were the same jellyfish type I had a few days ago. Sam had spring rolls and very disappointing prawns in a thick coat of bread, deep fried. Cheap though, mine was 80b and cooked in front of me. We couldn't fit a pancake in, what a pair of lightweights! We asked in reception if they have a twin room free next week as we want to come back, but as we don't know which day exactly it was rather a waste of time. Looking forward to not having to get up early tomorrow as our pickup is not until 10.40.
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