Monkeys and Leeches

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This blog writing is becoming trickier with being in a constant group situation and not wating to go off online all of the time - so sorry if I'm missing loads of stuff out.

We spent another day in Bangkok after the trek, and went to a big shopping centre. It was unlike shopping centres I've been in before - no map of shop locations saying where to get everything from - just pure confusion! Me and Aaron arrived first (after walking for almost an hour to get there!) and were so tired and confused we just got lunch. Everyone else then arrived after smartly getting a taxi and Martin and Aaron went to look at DVDs and me, Charlotte and Lydia went to look at clothes. I didn't end up buying anything, but it was fun having a look around.

The next day we got another sleeper train, this time down South to Surat Thani. We're getting used to the trains and they're actually quite comfortable. We did miss the guy who walks up and down chanting 'orange juice' before 6am this time though! This was our first train journey having lost members of our old group and gained part of another group for the second leg. We all got along well - and the journey went fine.

When we arrived at Surat Thani we had breakfast and then got a minibus to the National Park. The journey was fine, we all appreciated the air con though as it's so hot down here! The place we stayed at was lovely - with crystal clear water behind with a strong current and a rope swing which I was never brave enough to plunge from. The strong current was great for the tubing that we did later that day - sat in a rubber ring drifting along and trying not to end up in the trees. Brid was ace with this - her ring seemed to be magnetically attracted to the trees (like Rob's elephant had been previously!) but we all really enjoyed it.

That night we stayed around the accommodation and played some cards and had a nice meal. The next day some of the group hired mopeds - but I'm not convinced about the safety of doing that around here (nor is Aaron) so we stayed around the place again and went in the water and had a relaxing day. We didn't go trekking in the park itself because it was expensive to get in, and the guy there claimed that there were many leeches (Martin said his words were, 'monkeys...maybe, leeches..many!') due to the rainy season and I would not put my fear of them to that much of a test. I know they're meant to be harmless but anything that sucks my blood is to be avoided as far as I'm concerned!

The next day we were up at 4:30am, and on the bus by 5:30am heading back to Surat Thani. We had breakfast again, and then got the ferry to Koh Samui. It's lovely here so far!

(thanks for the spelling help Thom! I'm glad you got some amusement at least)

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Photos

Our view
This is the view from the restaurant, and where we went tubing

Comments

[Thom]

You've used the "small berry" version of 'currant' - which I only mention because of the limitless amusement I enjoyed from reading the phrase "crystal clear water behind with a strong small berry and a rope swing." Yes, I do dwell on the insignificant! Furthermore: ew, leeches!