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Published: April 14th 2006
Happy Easter Everyone!!!
Koh Lipe - our last stop in Thailand. It took us hours and hours to get there. The minibus that we got from Koh Lanta took 2 hours to get to Trang. Then, from Trang, we had to get another minibus that took another 2 hours to the pier at Pak Bara. We then got on the ferry to Lipe that took 5 hours!!!
There is no pier at Lipe so the boats don't dock. Instead, longtail boats come to meet the boat a little way offshore. This involved more tricky maneuvers - as we were clambering from boat to boat!!!
Koh Lipe (pronounced Ko Lee Pae) is one of a group of islands that fall within the Koh Turatao range of islands, but falls just outside of Koh Turatao Marine National Park. So, Koh Lipe has been developed to a small degree (unlike the Marine Park itself). It is inhabited by The Chao Ley Thai people - they have a small village and there is a school too.
We had finally arrived in Koh Lipe (on Sunlight Beach) just before sunset - it was about 6.30pm (after leaving Koh Lanta at 7.30am!)
We managed to get one of the last huts at Andaman Resort. Apparently we had arrived right at the start of a 2 week Thai holiday so everywhere on the island was booked up. After a very confusing conversation with the lady at reception (who originally told us we could only have the room for one night) we realised we could have it for both nights. After talking to other travellers afterwards, we realised that we were lucky. Many people were having to leave the island early because they had no accommodation, or were being offered tents on the beach!!! Although we have camped before, we really did not feel like sleeping in a tent in this extreme heat. Also, there would only be room for our rucksacks in the tent!!!
After settling in we watched the sunset on the beach and had a little wander. Its a really small island with no roads, everywhere is walkable within about 10 - 15 minutes (sometimes through the jungle!) However, on our first night we didn't venture too far as some of the pathways weren't that great for the dark. We were also exhausted!
The following day we explored the
Beach Life!!!
Karen chilling in a hammock on Pattaya Beach (beer in hand!)island and managed to walk around most of it. Pattaya Beach (the opposite side to where we were staying) was gorgeous. The water was the clearest that we had seen anywhere and the sand was like talcum powder! We went for a swim and lazed on the beach (in hammocks) for a while. We also checked out Sunset Beach and walked through the Chao Ley village.
In the evening we discovered a great place called 'Poohs restaurant & bungalows'. We wished we had stayed there. We ate in the garden restaurant (lovely cheap barbequed T-bone steak) and then moved to the bar. An American guy who lives on Lipe was singing and playing guitar in the bar and he was really good. Kind of country music feel to it (even the 'Beatles' Norwegian Wood had a country twist!) Everyone was so friendly, especially 'Pooh' himself - who made it his personal mission to entertain us all night! He took a liking to Karen as he kept being overly nice to her and not me (he was only joking with me though and was a top notch chap!) The bar 'officially' closed (by Poohs wife) but we sat up with
Pattaya Beach
The beautiful crystal clear water at Koh Lipe. Pooh and about 3 others - a really nice German man, A Swedish man and a CRAZY American guy from Louisiana (he had such a deep south accent and called everyone 'coz'!) His name was Will but he called himself 'Will the Thrill'!!!
It was a fab night and we didn't leave until 4am. The beers were flowing and it was all free! Pooh gave us a couple and then Will kept an open tab at the bar. Will was absolutely hammered and ended up being the one who entertained us. Turns out though that he had served in Iraq for over a year (so it could explain a little of his craziness and antics!!!) He has now come away because of the War and he won't go back to his home country until Bush is out of office. He only returned to Louisiana to sell all his possessions. He was a little scary!!! We left him still propping up the bar.
The following day was our last. We were due to get the ferry direct to Langkawi, Malaysia at 4pm (and it only took 1 hour). We checked out and went back to Poohs to have our
Chao Ley Village
The village was in the middle of the island (just behind our resort). last official Thai meal. We had a lovely curry each. We said goodbye to everyone - sad to be leaving so soon - but we need to press on to Malaysia. We will definitely go back to Lipe some time.
Before the ferry left we handed our passports in for immigration to do the necessary! Whilst we were waiting we saw Will stumbling on the beach! He came and sat with us and told us his stories from the night before. We thought he would have just passed out at the bar when we left but he had gone to speak to the monks at the temple. They sent him on his way and gave him a soft drink (telling him it would help!). He had climbed the rocks too and fallen. He had cuts and marks all over his body!
After hearing all his antics, it was time to leave. We were sad to be leaving Thailand - we have had a great time but we were also looking forward to seeing Malaysia and new things.
The boat to Langkawi was fantastic. It was in a large passenger speedboat and only took an hour. We arrived
Porn Resort
Hehe! We thought this might be funny! We didn't stay here and found no Pornography here either!!! ('Porn' means: something really good in Thai) in Langkawi at 6pm (one hour time difference from Thailand).
So, our Thailand travels are over..................
Malaysia here we come................................
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skinny dippers.Jamie&michele
non-member comment
beach life
fair play all looking lovely down there. Just completed our 26 hour hell ride on a local bus to vietnam. Im in Nam mother Fxxkers. sorry about that but Good morning VIETNAMMMMMM. All action hey. Lipe looks awesome hope you love the Pherentians ,think they'll be our best tip so far. im jealous even though we are near the beach too. Nam is drizzle drizzle at the mo. send us some sun xxxxxxxxxxxx BIG love