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The start of Mr Keans Tour
Some huts on the Mangroves10th mar - One Month Away. After 1 Milo shake for brekky and 1 transfer to the pier, my tour begun with Mr Kean (just the name of the business). I was also pretty keen for the tour as it had also been recommended to me by Brad. Everyone on the tour was pretty friendly, there was an Aussie Lisa with her Kiwi partner Dom, 2 girls from Holland and another couple. We headed out on our longtail boat through the mangroves where we actually got close enough to touch them. Everywhere you turned there was a huge limestone cliff darting out of the water and exactly what you'd expect of Thailand. The weather was beautiful and we had the salty sea breeze in our hair. We went through some caves to an open area with mangroves where it was so calm, peaceful and stunning, i could have sat there all day. The motor on the longboat also cut out and we all looked at each other when the driver got on his mobile before trying to fix it! After a few minutes we got going again. At our next stop we were given torches to walk in the cave Tham
Keaw where we saw stalagtites and stalagmites and a cool view at the end of a type of open lagoon/canyon. Some of the stalag's were glittery making me think of myself on a big night!!! I wasn't surprised that there were no instructions from the longtail boat driver on not touching the walls of the cave. Imagine how many tourists do and the damage they are causing! The driver could only say words like "Hong Island", "James Bond Island", "Hello", "Lunch" and "10 minutes" (something all Thai people can say i think!) The driver then left us on island for lunch, apart from the crab that bit my toe in the water and the SNAKE that was on the rocks behind us!!! We did get a nice swim in though. When the driver eventually came back we headed to James Bond Island (famous from the movie) with the teardrop shaped rock darting into the water. This was the only time on the whole tour that it felt touristy with all the souvenir shops selling all sorts of shells that should still be in the ocean! There was also a huge rock that looked like it was leaning on the one
What the?
Our longboat just stopped and he decided to make a call... next to it. Making my way through all the tourists we all got back on the boat and headed to the Muslim Stilt Village Koh Panyee. Whilst travelling throughout the day the driver would randomly slow down and kind of wind his way around the water like a snake. We weren't sure whether he was wasting time or setting up the boat so we could take pictures. Either way i didn't mind. In the village we got 40mins to walk around. Lisa, Dom and i checked out some of the shops only to find that everyone was selling the same stuff. Shells, pearls, sarongs, shells, wooden things, and more shells and it was so so touristy. We bumped into the 2 girls from Holland who told us they saw a monkey and got their photo with it!!! I was in shock as it was a GIBBON and she paid 30B to get the photo. I couldn't believe it, just after i had been to the sanctuary. I told the girls about it and kinda got mad (as i do!!!) but i think they realised what they had done after i had explained it to them. They were supporting the killing
The limestone cliffs
just seemed to be everywhere and mistreatment of the gibbons that belong in the rainforests, i couldn't not tell them. Whilst we walked around we ended up seeing the gibbon where an older lady gave the gibbon to her daughter with a sign and she ran towards us. We didn't even read the sign and refused before she even had a chance to blink. I think she was in shock as i assume most tourists would take advantage of getting a photo with these cute creatures. Then later on we even saw another Gibbon, two in the same village. Completely ripped my heart out.
It was so hot in the village and we then got dropped off a bit further down to where our bed for the night was. Only Lisa, Dom and i stayed so the others went back to the mainland to finish the tour. The place was pretty good and in a great spot. We still had a few hours before dinner so we sat on the balcony talking and had a few locals show us the fish they had in their nets. We then headed back into the village and i saw a huge type of Sea Eagle in a
The Canyon
at the end of the cave tiny cage. Once again my heart was ripped out as it tryed to open its wings to stretch them and it couldn't as the cage was too small. We also noticed that everyone was throwing their rubbish onto the mudflats (all the houses are on stilts, if you couldn't tell by the name Muslim Stilt Village!), which quite surprised me as i thought why would they want to swim and live in their own crap. The smell wasn't that bad, and during a dumb moment that i had, i thought to myself... "they must go down and pick it up regularly"!!! An hour or so later we noticed that the tide was coming in, where it picks up all the rubbish and takes it out to sea (don't laugh!!!) Its quite depressing really, and really makes me wonder sometimes why i bother to put my rubbish in the bin! (don't worry i still do, could never bring myself to drop something on the ground.) So we continue walking and come across a mosque and some guys playing Takraw and soccer out the back. We watched for a while and Dom and i almost got pounded in the face by the
soccer ball. They were playing Takraw in a circle this time and we then went to watch the sunset and saw another group playing soccer, but this game was a bit more full on, playing on concrete with no nets behind the goals (this time the goal size was normal, but they must have to jump in the water to get the ball when it goes out). We then had our yummy dinner where i stuffed myself. We met an American - Alex, and 2 Pommies Robbie and Shaun where we all had some great chats and laughs *. There was a cockroach running over my bed when i went into my room so i didn't sleep very well due to the thought of it running into my mouth while i was sleeping.
11th mar. The light from between the floor boards woke me up pretty early. We headed back to the mainland but saw Khao Khien cave on the way with its rock paintings. When we arrived at the pier we said bye to the 2 pommies and Alex and we headed to see the Buddhist golden cave temple which had some bats inside. Back at the bus
station i said bye to Lisa and Dom and got on my bus. There were not many seats vaccant as they were all being minded. I went to the back row and asked a little girl if i could sit next to her (doing all the hand movements as she just stared at me). I also asked the people around her and no-one said anything so i sat down and none of them said anything. Until a few mins later when a lady came and i realised i was in her seat, so i moved and they all started to laugh at me. I felt so dumb and just stood in the isle with the shits as i didn't wanna stand the whole way. Then a lady (who laughed earlier) motioned for me to sit next to her. Thankfully. When I arrived at TakauPa bus station i had an hour to kill so i grabbed some Pad Thai which didn't taste so good so i didnt finish it. I then get my bus, which drops me off at Khao Sok. Once i arrive i am greeted by a group of men trying to get me to stay at their tree
James Bond Island
but the other side houses and i decided i didnt want a bar of it so i head down the road walking, end up hitching on a motorbike to a place which ends up being the wrong place so i have to walk, anyways to tell it all will take forever...i ended up in a cheap tree house called Khao Sok Evergreen House. As soon as i agree to stay i get running to my room and make it to the toilet just in time. That was at 3:30 in the arvo and i pretty much stayed in my room all night. That damn Pad Thai from the bus station!!! So glad i had my own toilet and my own room. The treehouse actually moved everytime the people next door or myself moved. So i ate ritz biscuits for dinner (dont travel without them) and listened to the frogs and gibbons calling. So nice to hear nature outside again and i even had a frog in my bathroom!!!
12th mar. I actually had a pretty good sleep and then got on another bus to Surat Thani. I would have stayed longer in Khao Sok but i didnt wanna miss the full moon party
which was fast approaching. Once in Surat i bought my night ticket for 11pm that night to Koh Tao, so i had a full day in a town where there is nothing to do. So i call Paul (Brother) and Jo and i struggled to not cry on the phone. I didnt want them to think that i wasnt ok, which i was, but i just got homesick after hearing their voices for the first time. I even got to speak to Aidan (nephew) for a few secs before it cut out. I got off the phone and had locals looking at me as i was balling my eyes out! I then checked my emails and tryed to do some of my online Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages course (TESOL) but failed the grammer course!!! (by 5%!!!) as i was rushing it. Bummer. I then had some dinner where the mozzies were attacking me under the table. The ferry ride was a very weird experience. Everyone has tiny pillows and tiny matresses to lay on and are cramed into the boat. At first there was a mix up with my bed but it all got sorted and i
even had a Pommie to sit next to and chat with. We talked for almost 2 hours before we went to sleep. I also must say that it was a pretty good sleep...
13th mar. It was 7am when i arrived in KO TAO and i went straight to the bungalows Steph and Carson were in. Steph and i catch up while Carson is out diving and when Carson gets back we change into a bigger bungalow and head down to the beach. Koh Tao has a beautiful beach and where we are staying even has a pool. Steph still can't swim due to still having her burn on her leg so Carson and i go in and have our catch up. It was great to see the guys again * and Carson and i laugh in the water about tectonic plates!! I then went for a swim in the pool which was heavinly and just chilled out for the arvo. I met three funny pommies in the pool but i didn't get their names. For dinner we go for a walk and i ordered noodles but they were shit. The woolpack at home is better!!! So i don't
eat it all and i even give my beer to Carson as i was feeling a bit ill. We then headed back to where we are staying and pick a beachside bar (they are all along the beach) to dance and drink in. I shared my first bucket (Vodka) with Steph and i lit this candle parachute thing on the beach and made a wish as i watched it float up into the sky. Both Steph and Carson got pissed and Steph had a crazy episode and even went missing for a while. I did get some good dancing in even though i didn't drink much.
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Robin
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Thailand sure is beautiful...even if they do wash their rubbish out to sea :( I'm going to have to add it to my list of future destinations. And I want to stay in one of those treehouses, looks like luxury. Now...miss enviro nazi....what are the balloon candles things made out of and where do they end up???