Bye Bye Thailand

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Day 21 - Ko Phi Phi

We got up really early (about 6.30 if I remember) because we thought we were going to Kayak to Phi Phi Leh which is a few kilometers away. However, we got a text message to say that Katie was not quite well enough so we had to pospone those plans for another time. We sat on the beach for the first few hours of the day and played some more bat and ball. Sarah and I had a wander around the shops; I bought a new t-shirt and Sarah bought a necklace for her sister. After the sun had cooled off in the afternoon we headed up to the viewpoint (which was a much easier walk than previous viewpoints) and looked down over the centre of the island. The view was fantastic - Phi Phi really is a very unique (with the two cresant bays) and beautiful place. From up on the hill you could really see why the place was one of the worst affected by the Tsunami as all the power was channelled by the two hills into the town. Also just to top it off there was a bat sleeping (upside down!) under a rock which was really cool.
We had an early dinner and went to an Italian restaurant but I used all my will power and resisted Pizza so it was another Yellow curry for me. Afterwards, Sarah, Phil and I watched Villa (who were robbed by the way) vs Chelsea and the others watched "The Beach" in a bar. We met up after and did another "bucket run" and once again we had a little too much Thai wiskey.

Day 22 - Ko Phi Phi

After a heavy night we were up very early for our longtail boat trip to Phi Phi Leh. Once we had rudely awaken our driver (he was still asleep on his boat) we set off on our 3 hour trip around the Island - famous for the film "The Beach". This is the same island we had planned to kayak to but I don't believe we would ever have made it. The sea was so so rough - the waves looked huge from our little boat. I was definitely suffering from a sea sickness/hangover mix and Rob's sea sickness tablets must be the greatest tablets ever invented to have survived this test. There was also the added bonus of the engine cutting out at regular intervals, taking about 15 attempts before it started again - I think this is why we managed to pay half the going rate for our trip. I was very pleased when we stopped at Maya Bay ("The Beach") to have a snorkel, the swaying boat almost caused my first puke in about 20 years! Phi Phi Leh was of course very beautiful, in particular the lagoon like bay (see picture) that we visited on the way to Maya Bay caused gasps of admiration.
After lunch we all headed back to our rooms for some relief from the sun - Rob and I had our first siester of the trip but I am not sure it was a good idea because I felt much worse afterwards. It was then back to the beach in the late afternoon for a kayaking session. We hired 3 kayaks - Anna and Katie challenged Phil and Jimmy so I drew the short straw of sharing with Rob (well I did not think it would be the short straw until we got going!). It was hilarious because Rob got so frustrated at how rubbish he was, he definitely was not a natural. I think this highlighted further that we may well have died at sea had we hired kayaks to row to Phi Phi Leh, well Rob and I may have. We did all finally make it to Monkey Bay, just round the corner from the beach we were staying at, and we all hopped off to look at the millions of monkeys (we did not name it Monkey Bay by the way - it is the offical name). We think Katie got little bit to close to a baby monkey because about 6 of the larger monkeys started chasing after her into the sea and one reached out and scratched her. Luckily she was not biten otherwise there may have been a visit to the Rabies hospital. We were all alot more careful near the monkeys from then onwards!
It was Rob and I's last night so even though drinking was the last thing I wanted to do, we had a few drinks and a dance on the beach before heading back to our lodge for a good nights sleep before the dreaded night train. It was really sad to say goodbye to everyone and for us all to start going our separate ways 😞. We are looking forward to catching up with everyone at some point in our travels.

Day 23 - Ko Phi Phi - Bangkok

At least we didn't have to get up too early today as we were staying approximately 2 minutes from the pier and our boat was at 9. We got onboard and had a rather uneventful journey although I was glad we didn't sink as they blocked up all the exits with bags. We then had a little wait and got on board our "VIP luxury bus" - not how I would of described it. It was marginally cooler than the sauna bus we were went on a few days before and it took about 1.5 hours less so we were happy. After a short tuk-tuk ride we arrived at the train station a mere 3.5 hours too early plus our train had already been delayed by half an hour. We had made some new friends on the tuk-tuk - a group of 3 from Chichester who were en-route to Australia for a year - so we headed off for an explore.
The town of Phun Phin, where the train station is, is not much of a tourist stop and after we wandered a suitable distance we did geta few funny looks. I did seize the moment and get a new watch strap (mine broke a week earlier) but unfortunately we didn't find anything else of any use, or even anywhere for dinner. This was rather disheartening as it meant another meal provided by 7-11 convenience store was on the cards. We got on the train and this time we had splashed out and gone for 1st class so we got our own little "couchette" - I think the picture sums up the mood perfectly!

Day 24 - Bangkok

After a rather disrupted sleep (I was too cold and Sarah didn't like the noisy, rickety train) we found ourselves back in Bangkok station. We got a cab accross town to our hotel (a really nice one) and were lucky as we could check in already, it was 9am. We decided to do some handwashing and filled up the huge bath and did all our laundry. In the process of doing some really manly ringing out of clothes I manged to rip loads of skin off my thumb and have worn a plaster ever since - so housework can be dangerous!
After all our chores were complete we went and explored the Paragon center, which is one of the luxury malls in Bangkok. It is so posh it even has a BMW dealer (a 320 costs £55,000) and a Porsche dealer inside. We had a nice ice-cream and explored all the crazy shops.
After deliberating what we should do we decided on the cinema (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - very good) and went to the one at the top of the mall. It was really really nice and quite cheap - it was funny watching the adverts in Thai at the beginning. Then we nearly got caught out becuase they started playing the national anthem and everyone stood up. Whilst the national anthem was on they played quite a tasteful promotional video about how great Thailand was. I think we should do it in England!
After the cinema it was time for a late night dip in our roof top pool! We had to dash back on the Skytrain because we didn't have much time before it shut at 10. The pool was so cool and being in the Bangkok skyline was a great way to end our last night in Thailand!

Day 25 - Bangkok

We had a nice relaxing lie-in before deciding to make full use of the hotel's facilities with a quick trip to the gym. We definitely looked the part with our socks and sandles and my pjajama hot pants, but it was that or no gym so we decided to brave it. My first 30 minutes on the cross-trainer in a month was a real struggle, but I blame the harder Thai machine levels. We had to check out by midday so we packed our bags and headed to find some lunch and plane food. We had had our eye on Burger King since arriving back in Bangkok and the temptation was too much so we sucumbed to a Whopper each and all I can say is that it was the best decision ever!
It was then goodbye Bangkok and we got in our final Green and Yellow taxi to the airport. Luckily our plane was perfectly on time and the 9 hour journey seemed like a doddle after our mamouth travelling trips over the last month. Rob was easily amused once he found that you could make your own track list from the albums on offer on the entertainment system and enjoyed looking at a different lonely planet guide!

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Photos

Ko Phi Phi
Playing some "bat and ball" on the beach.

Ko Phi Phi
At the top of the Phi Phi viewpoint.

Ko Phi Phi
Dancing on the beach - plus Phil and I auditioning to be in a boy band.

Ko Phi Phi Leh
The picture doesn't do the size of the clifffs justice in the "lagoon like bay"!

Ko Phi Phi
Kayaking through al ittle cave like thing on the coastline near Monkey Bay.

Surat Thani to Bangkok
This photo sums up the 13 hour train journey perfectly; I was excitied about the prospect of sleeping in a little box on a train - Sarah was not!

Bangkok
Cabbages and Condoms an oddly named and oddly decorated restaurant.

Bangkok
Our roof top swimming pool at night.

Comments

[Sophie]

Wish I was with you instead of all the geeks on level 5 of the library!
My title says it all! Looks like you're having an amazing time (and don't you deserve it after the hell of final year!) and I look forward to making you jealous whilst on my travels next year! Love reading your mamouth blogs, keep them up! Right, I'm off to happy hour in Plug bar, what a treat!! jealous?? lol. LOVE YOU!xxx