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Published: January 31st 2010
Quality Hotel
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Well, Rich has already mentioned the mountain trek we undertook with back packs, in flip flops to get to Ton Sai Bay. What I had hoped was just a challenge to ensure we were well deserving of the delights of Ton Sai, turned out to be a sign of things to come! I should have noticed before we moved our things over to Ton Sai that there was not a single overweight person in sight... But i didnt spot the slim, toned masses inhabiting Ton Sai at first glance. I saw the accomodation prices drop and breathed a sigh of relief. After getting settled in our grotty bamboo shack with a colony of ants living in the bathroom we investigated climbing. I have neve climbed outside on real rocks before! We find out that most of the lower grade climbs are back over in Ray Lei and so we get up at a stupidly early hour with the aim of being en route to Rai Lei by 8 am. Turns out that 8am isn't all that early by climbing standards, the really committed
First ascent
Rach looking concerned... guys will be on the rock by 6.30! We find a slightly shorter but much more steep route to get to Rai Lei beach and I am exhausted by the time we make it to the white sands of West Rai Lei. Not to mention traumatised from having to climb down such a steep mountain! I have this great fear of falling, not so irrational when you think about but it makes the trip to Rai Lei very unnnerving.
Climbing was an emotional experience! Despite us going to the 'learner rock face' with all the easy routes I really struggled. I have no upper body strength and almost everyrock had a huge over hang before you could really start climbing thanks to the sea eroding the bottom of all the cliff faces. I was ready to totally quit when Rich forced me up a route we had watched a number of complete beginners do. With some of my confidence restored we handed back our rented gear and to my relief the tide was out. This mean we could walk over the rocks, around the mountain rather than over it to get home. Thank god, I had had enough physical
8a!
Mark shows how it's done challenges for one day!!
The next day we head over to Rob Regger Island for our totally spontaneous trip to a desert island. For me this meant 24 hours of trying to be the 'outdoorsy' type of girl. Peein in the bushes amid spiders and rats, bathing in the sea and sleeping with nothing but a mozzie net over my head and sand underneath me. At the risk of shaming myself compared to Lyndsay, Pam and Janna, the girls around me who seemed more than capable of rising to the challenge I steeled myself and 'just got on with it'. You could even say I enjoyed myself!
We got back to land unwashed but feeling a sense of achievement, I'm sure we could survive on a desert island. Particularly with the help of the survival kit that my friend Jane had given me before I left. Thanks Jane!!
I'm sure it is time I had a day off. So far I have pushed myself to the edge with physical challenges, facing fears and overcoming all sorts of challenges. But just having a day on the beautiful beaches of Rai Lei and Pranang is tough. Climbing. Over the
Groove Tube
Rach onsights a 6a! mountain in the midday sun is a strenuous, sweaty and slippery process. Although we were rewarded with bumping into a friend called Alex. I know Alex's sister Marsha from travelling in Oz years ago! He's from New York but studying in Oz and just so happened to be on the same beach as us for the afternoon in Thailand! Crazy stuff!! We were standing on the beach eyeing the temple that appeared to be worshipping penises with disbelief when Alex just popped over to say hi. Sadly Alex was staying on the other side of the bay and there was no way I was risking life and limb to get over the mountain in the dark to meet for a drink. Sorry Alex!!
Apparently I haven't worked hard enough and it is time for me to give climbing another shot. This time we beg, borrow and steal some gear from Mark and Rob and head up the rock face with The Dutch girls to give the Groove Tube a go. Renowned for being a fun climb for all levels t he queue to gt up the rock was horrendous. It was worth the wait when I made it to
Not impressed
This was supposed to be a day OFF climbing! the top of the rock and looked down at everyone from 25 meters up!! I did it!! My happiness was only slightly dampened after watching Pam, who is technically less experienced than me, get up there with much more ease! Well done hon!
Thinking I could do with stretching out my achy muscles I head off to a yoga class the following morning. Bad idea! The class was way to advanced for me. I ached for days!!! Am I ever going to get to relax on this beach??
Of course not! We decide that we must climb up the mountain to see 'the viewpoint' and the lagoon before we leave Ton Sai. It's about an hour and a half walk and everyone says it's worth it - jut wear decent footwear. We walk over the mountain to get to Ray Lei (which is admittedly getting easier now) and head to the base of the mountain well climb for the view point. 3 meters up and I look down. Bad move!! It's a steep drop down, and it's not like I'm wearing a harness or anything! Eek!!!!!!! I can't do this!!!!! With lots of encouragement from Rich I keep
I'm off!
Rach falling going. Hold onto the rope and don't look down becomes my mantra... This better be worth it!! We finally reach the top and see stunning views of the 3 bays. But where is the lagoon? No one mentioned that the view point isn't the end of the trek. The lagoon isn't visible unless you keep walking and head down into the cavern in the middle of the mountain. At this point, I'd like to reiterate my huge fear of climbing down mountains and my fear of falling... When I saw the first of 3 sheer drops down the rock face that I was meant to negotiate with the help of nothing but a stretch of rope hanging down my heart rate soared, no way! I can't do this!
But I have to. Rich goes first, finding the bestroute and guiding me down the first drop. Deep sigh of relief as I amke the first drop safely. According to people we have met going in the other direction the second drop is the most difficult. Great. I manage, with much guidance from Rich to negotiate my way through a tunnel in the rock and down the next cliff face. Making
it down the final cliff face my heart rate returns to normal I can finally enjoy the beauty of the caverous rocks and the bright blue/green lagoon in front of me. Rich takes a swim to explore before we embark on this mission back up then down the mountain. Feeling an adrenaline fuelled euphoria at having achieved the most frightening and rewarding climb so far it was time for q congratualtory Chang beer on the beach. And guess what! We took a boat back around the bay instead of climbing the mountain back.... Finally - a taste of the easy beach life I expect of a beach resort!!
At least there is no chance of me being too big to fit into my wedding dress, in fact I have lost weight around my hips with all this walking!
Ton Sai is amazing but it's gotta come with a warning. It the the least relaxing beach resort in the world! I was most definately the least fit person on the entire beach!
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adonica
non-member comment
sounds like a challenge
Whoa... sounds like a real challenge, but you seem to be getting through fine. Just think...... climbing up a rock or arguing with commissioners about budget cuts! heehee..... Maybe I'll use some of your mental stategies.... Don't look down.... heehee.... miss you as when you return you'll get all the NHS gossip! x