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Published: April 26th 2009
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23rd April
Today was fundamentally governed by our afternoon trip to Railey Beach, Krabi. After brekkie we managed to spend a short while on the beach to relax and let the day unfold. We then ate at the local market and chilled in a bar for some shade. The trip across to Krabi took 1 and a half hours in which the majority of time Nik and I spent trying to avoid the sea spray in the blustery winds. So blustery in fact that 2 canoeists were stranded out at sea desperately waving SOS signals for help. Fortunately our boat responded and saved them. We gave our water to the rescued couple and they immediately guzzled it down as they were stranded for hours. When we arrived at East Railey Beach we were transferred to a long tailed boat for the short ride ashore. We then waded through shallow and muddy mangrove waters to the beach. The tall rock faces towering over Railey were breathtaking. There jagged sides with patchy orange sediment added to the shipwrecked feeling whilst we waded. Once ashore we were recommended accommodation called Cabana and followed signs inland. Unfortunately my limited vocabulary can not truly describe the
surroundings but perhaps picture a wooden bungalow on stilts in the heart of fresh island jungle with steep untamed, orange, skyscraping cliffs surrounding us. Further imagine the symphonic jungle sounds blending in with reggae tunes from a nearby bar and your on the right lines! As we took the short downhill walk back to the mangrove beach, many fireflies drifted past and signaled with their illuminating pulses. The shadowed steep cliffs were simply incredible as they outlined the cloudy night sky. The cheaper East Railey has relaxing bars stilted along the beach, but has limited budget food. We did find a nice Thai candlelit restaurant. Candlelit because it lost power! After a good meal, we met with a young English couple and went to the beachside Bamboo bar in the evening. We both looked forward to the enchanting coastline of Railey the following day.
The next morning we went down to east Railey still in ore of the incredible landscape surrounding us. We sampled a pancake from one of many pancake stalls before setting off through the honeymoonesque classy resorts to west Railey Beach. Yet again we were astonished by the beauty of this mainland “island.” Its jagged cliff
faces hypnotically offered numbers of postcard pictures in conjunction with the blue sky seeping through the clouds. As we relaxed on the beach for the day we occasionally sat up to remind us of the beautiful location. Arguably becoming more picturesque later in the day when the low tide gradually revealed a girthy uninhabited beach. Pale green butterflies majestically flew passed and white crab darted from their small sandy holes shaping small intricate patterns with their movement. The tide also revealed a rocky route to neighbouring Ton Sai beach where I proposed a shortcut back home, which Nik disagreed with doing! Nik was right! It was anything but a shortcut. After we clambered across the sharply eroded rocks watching the fauna play in the shallow waters we arrived at Ton Sai beach where the 90 degree cliff overhangs were being challenged by keen rock climbers. I then expected a short trip back home but ended up trekking through mountainous jungle! Nik wasn’t best pleased as her worn sandals further hollowed in the terrain and it was primetime for mosquitoes yet we didn’t have any repellent! Consequently Nik was bitten approximately 25 times within the 25 minute journey constantly whimpering throughout
the trek. With my natural insect repellent (or perhaps BO!) I didn’t get bitten once, to Niks dismay! On the plus side whilst flopping down the deep jungle path I startled a meter long monitor lizard, leading to a short stand off before it headed tree bound to imitate a branch. Finally hot and bitten (on Niks behalf) we made it home. In the evening we ate beside the mangrove trees and then went for a drink at the bamboo bar again. On our return walk, we heard the deep voices of monkeys as they howled in the jungle. Afterwards we walked along our pineapple plant lined path to chill on our balcony for the rest of the evening.
The next morning we headed to Phranang beach, South of Railey Beaches. We stopped for some noodles and pancakes before walking along the mangrove beach at high tide. The walk to Prahnang was further incredible as you walked along limestone caverns displaying stalactites and thick vines curling vertically, offering resemblance to the ropes that rock climber’s use up the challenging cliffs. The beach was just as stunning as Railey West beach the previous day. On the left was a huge
scarred cliff faces complete with enormous stalactites dropping towards the sea. On the cliffs, there were more holey high rise caves than the hollows you get in a good cheddar! Across the soft sand to the right was a tall vegetated island, once a headland joining up with 7 or so islands further in situ together out at sea. It was a perfect location for Nik to have a beachside massage, stretching her legs in various shapes like a mirrored reflection of the stalactites on the cliff faces, Nik described it as heaven and tried to persuade me to have one, however I turned down the old man from straddling me and rubbing oils into my arse. Later in the day we had some fresh pineapple then watched the hierarchal body language of monkeys as they visited the beach in search of an easy snack and a chance to play on the plush hotels. Nik then took advantage of a local beachside BBQ for some finger licking chicken. Late in the evening we watched some very staged yet entertaining Muay Thai boxing at a local bar.
26th April
We planned to go to Krabi Town for a bit today,
but unfortunately Nik had a migraine in the night, which may have been triggered by her "heavenly" massage. Therefore we haven’t done anything today in aid of Niks recovery. We did move from our hot fanned jungle room, for an air conditioned luxury one for a bit more comfort. Finger crossed to get all the way to Malaysia tomorrow.
Thailand done… Stage 2 complete. Malaysia and Indonesia next
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Julie
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Baywatch
Well done on being Thailands answer to the "Hoff" and Pamela Anderson life saving out at sea lol Enjoy Malaysia and take care XX