James Bond Adventures

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So our new place came with a hammock after we were starting to get serious withdrawal syptoms! It was nice to be in a beach hut again but we weren't too keen on the resort. The beach was fine but very much aimed at the two week package holiday market so a far cry from what we have become used to. On Wednesday we embarked on a visa run to Malaysian border, in order to leave the country and re-enter and extend our stay in Thailand. !6 long hours by minibus and ferry, it was a tough day but we survived. The minibus driver took great pleasure in driving like a Grand Prix driver and we were grateful to make it back in one piece! The highlight of Samui was a day trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park. A collection of over 40 beautiful tropical islands clustered together to explore. The first hike was too a hidden, salt water lagoon, the inspiration for Alex Garlands book 'The Beach.' This is unseen from the outside and connected only by a narrow underwater tunnel where loads of fish, including baby sharks swim in and can't get out. We got to see loads of different fish just on the water's surface. The best part of the day was a "nature trail" which involved us climbing up a mountain face with only a dubious rope for support! it was approx 500 meters (near vertical!) and was extremely tough although the view from the top was quite phenominal. it was definatly a one in a life time view, of the cluster of islands. One of the James Bond films began on the beach of this island, although for the life of us we cant find out which film it was, poss Doctor No, though we cant be sure! also we are told that Mission Impossible was filmed here too. Anyway when we got over the view it was time to head back down. Quite a major event attempting to climb down, obviously we were fully equiped in sandals! All elegance and grace was lost on us as we ended up decending most of the way on our honkers in the style of your average two year old! We had very muddy bums by the end. We used muscles I never knew existed! Very sore the next day! We were relieved to make it down and were treated to the view of some wild monkeys in the trees at the bottom. The last few days were spent recovering on Chaweng beach, buying "something, something" and were unsuprised to find everything was 'same,same" a common phrase when they want you to buy. We enjoyed haggling on the market stalls and got some good bargains on some dubiously labelled items! We spent our night times on our porch playing cards and chilling and were often joined by our pet gecko who lived on our roof. We attempted gecko talk to the best of our Doctor Dolittle abilities but to no avail...I honestly don't think he understood english lizard talk! still we will keep trying! We are going out for the day snorkling tommorow to see which other weird and wonderful marinelife we can encounter, maybe this time we'll get lucky and see a shark. I am seriously contemplating smuggling a bloody steak but Kyle says this won't help...well it will help me if I get the sudden munchies! We miss you all, thanks for the emails and messages (even those unpublishable ones!) lots of love Nic and Kyle x x

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Photos

Nic climbing to the viewpoint
Seriously all this way and not even a mars bar at the top!!!

the top of the mountain
amazing view!