Friday, 27 February 2009
A Busy Few Days
Make yourself comfy, this could be a long one.
So... After arriving on Phang-nan we got up early and went for a walk, supposedly to a waterfall then on to a secluded bay and a fishing town. The waterfall didnt exist, or more to the point it was a bit too dry, but it was a nice bit of scenery anyhows. So we continued on, saw a couple of elephants then arrived at our secluded bay, this was really nice, for the first 15mins we were the only people there, a few more people arrived but it was still beautifully quiet. We had lunch in the fishing town, which was infested with flies then headed back as the sun was setting. We had decided not to stay another night as we wanted to do lots on the west coast. So that evening we caught a night boat to the mainland then got a bus across to the west coast and krabi!
Our first day in krabi consisted of wandering about aimlessly and getting our bearings, we went to the night market in the eve which is epic! Main meals for 60p, satay sticks for 10p, big chang for a pound! Met a couple of aussies that evening at a bar called western bar and irritated them by trying to do a kiwi accent. The next morning we monged a bit then got a midday longtail boat to Railay, which was stunning, huge limestone edifices sprout out of the sea, and the beaches were pristine white. I sunbathed for a bit and had a swim, it was the most remarkable location for a swim ever, shoals of baby fish swimming round your ankles while huge cliffs towered over your head. Spent a lot of time watching the sand crabs playing football, i will post a video of that just below later so you can see what i mean.
Night market again that evening then the next day we went shopping! Lloyd got a spectacular diamond encrusted gold watch for....... 4.50 and i got some gold police sunglasses for 3.50, pure cheap fake tat. Watched a movie in the evening then night market again.
Then yesterday, was one of the best days yet. We rented out scooters (cue mothers cringing) and scooted up to a temple (or wat) called tiger cave temple, saw some monks, and a troop of monkeys frolicing about and doing other naughty monkey things. We went to a buddah statue where people light incense sticks, i lit one.... then a monk came over and said "you must light three, one is bad, one means people die!"...... crap. So we frantically tried to light two more incense sticks, however the cieling fan that was on to keep westerners cool kept on blowing out our matches, the monk was getting increasingly agitated, and we were beggning to strike 3,4 and 5 matches at once to try and light these incense sticks. Both us and the monk were sweating now, the damn ceiling fan wasn't even cooling us down! Eventually, using a bundle of 5 matches we got three sticks lit, and swiftly left!
Next stop was to walk to the summit of a 700m limestone lump, 1300 steps, in 30degrees heat. Sweaty! But the view was well worth it, ill post a video from the summit here later. You could see well out to sea, it was truly stunning. After a rest at the top we descended the steps, this was a lot scarier than going up, but a lot easier on the legs. Re-hydrated at the bottom then hopped back on the scooters and headed over to a national park, there we saw a nice waterfall, not as spectacular as it would be in wet season, but at least this one had water in it! Trekked through the jungle for a bit, and saw nothing but flies. But it was good fun non the less, We got back on the scooters to head home at 6ish and rode off into the sunset towards krabi and the delights of the night market. After pigging out on two main meals for 1.20 we collapsed into bed for some well earned rest. A thoroughly enjoyable day over.
Today has been a lot more relaxed, just had breakfast, going to chill out for a bit longer, then head over to a beach called Ao Nang and maybe watch some Muay Thai boxing. Catching a bus to Singapore tomorrow morning at 6am, so the next blog will probably be coming from Australia! Speak to you all then.
Rich
So... After arriving on Phang-nan we got up early and went for a walk, supposedly to a waterfall then on to a secluded bay and a fishing town. The waterfall didnt exist, or more to the point it was a bit too dry, but it was a nice bit of scenery anyhows. So we continued on, saw a couple of elephants then arrived at our secluded bay, this was really nice, for the first 15mins we were the only people there, a few more people arrived but it was still beautifully quiet. We had lunch in the fishing town, which was infested with flies then headed back as the sun was setting. We had decided not to stay another night as we wanted to do lots on the west coast. So that evening we caught a night boat to the mainland then got a bus across to the west coast and krabi!
Our first day in krabi consisted of wandering about aimlessly and getting our bearings, we went to the night market in the eve which is epic! Main meals for 60p, satay sticks for 10p, big chang for a pound! Met a couple of aussies that evening at a bar called western bar and irritated them by trying to do a kiwi accent. The next morning we monged a bit then got a midday longtail boat to Railay, which was stunning, huge limestone edifices sprout out of the sea, and the beaches were pristine white. I sunbathed for a bit and had a swim, it was the most remarkable location for a swim ever, shoals of baby fish swimming round your ankles while huge cliffs towered over your head. Spent a lot of time watching the sand crabs playing football, i will post a video of that just below later so you can see what i mean.
Night market again that evening then the next day we went shopping! Lloyd got a spectacular diamond encrusted gold watch for....... 4.50 and i got some gold police sunglasses for 3.50, pure cheap fake tat. Watched a movie in the evening then night market again.
Then yesterday, was one of the best days yet. We rented out scooters (cue mothers cringing) and scooted up to a temple (or wat) called tiger cave temple, saw some monks, and a troop of monkeys frolicing about and doing other naughty monkey things. We went to a buddah statue where people light incense sticks, i lit one.... then a monk came over and said "you must light three, one is bad, one means people die!"...... crap. So we frantically tried to light two more incense sticks, however the cieling fan that was on to keep westerners cool kept on blowing out our matches, the monk was getting increasingly agitated, and we were beggning to strike 3,4 and 5 matches at once to try and light these incense sticks. Both us and the monk were sweating now, the damn ceiling fan wasn't even cooling us down! Eventually, using a bundle of 5 matches we got three sticks lit, and swiftly left!
Next stop was to walk to the summit of a 700m limestone lump, 1300 steps, in 30degrees heat. Sweaty! But the view was well worth it, ill post a video from the summit here later. You could see well out to sea, it was truly stunning. After a rest at the top we descended the steps, this was a lot scarier than going up, but a lot easier on the legs. Re-hydrated at the bottom then hopped back on the scooters and headed over to a national park, there we saw a nice waterfall, not as spectacular as it would be in wet season, but at least this one had water in it! Trekked through the jungle for a bit, and saw nothing but flies. But it was good fun non the less, We got back on the scooters to head home at 6ish and rode off into the sunset towards krabi and the delights of the night market. After pigging out on two main meals for 1.20 we collapsed into bed for some well earned rest. A thoroughly enjoyable day over.
Today has been a lot more relaxed, just had breakfast, going to chill out for a bit longer, then head over to a beach called Ao Nang and maybe watch some Muay Thai boxing. Catching a bus to Singapore tomorrow morning at 6am, so the next blog will probably be coming from Australia! Speak to you all then.
Rich
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Exploring Koh Tao and arriving in Phang-nan
So.... what have we been up to since the last blog. I got up early on friday morning to skype maddy which was cool. Then me n lloyd walked across the island to a secluded bay, was a nice walk, but very hot! and we were both sweaty sweaty men. As we left our side of the island a dog started trotting alongside and stayed with us all the way across to the other side. Had lunch then started walking back, i went up to a viewpoint and got some cracking pictures of the island. Came back and jumped in the sea then caught a ferry to Koh Phang-nan, got a cracking bungalow for 4pound a night, two double beds, hammocks outside, and a hot shower! Although the toilet doesnt flush. Had a big lie in this morning, going to have a bit of a chill day today i think then go for an explore tomorrow.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
Scuba Scuba Scuba
Hello again, We are both now qualified open water scuba divers! Had our last two dives this morning, it was amazing. Uncountable numbers of fish were swimming around us, up to our faces, nibbling on scabs. Big fish prowled around the coral where the young fish try to hide looking for a quick meal, eels darted out of cracks to snap up littleuns. We even saw a sleeping singray. The colours are amazing too, i wish i could have taken photos down there, but there was an underwater video. If you can purchase it in digital format i think i might. Heading back to the dive school in a few hours to watch the vid and have a few celabratory beers with our group. Which has a Spaniard called havier, who quit his job to come here for 3 months, an American couple called james and sam, and a French Canadian called rene. Just gonna chill out tonight get a good nights sleep, then do some exploring tomorrow, treck through the jungle to the other side of the island maybe. Then off to Koh Phang-Nan. Hope you are all well, Blog soon.
Rich
Rich
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Tuk Tuk Ride
A First person view of the terrifying Tuktuk ride through the streets of bangkok.... Fun tho!
Monday, 16 February 2009
Palm Trees and Pina Coladas
Hello again, we have covered a lot of ground since the last blog, so ill start where we left off. Saturday evening we went out on Khao San road to a few bars and found somewhere to watch the England Vs Wales match. The pub was full of welshmen and was a really good atmosphere, good fun despite the result. The next morning lloyd was feeling a bit worse for wear after eating some dubious meat on the way back. So while he monged out in the hostel i went for a bit of an explore around bangkok.
That afternoon we got on a 7hour bus to the south, arrived in the town of chumpon at midnight and managed to find a room for 2pounds. We booked a ferry to Ko Tao island in the morning which involved getting a taxi at 6am, so only got about 4hours sleep. As most of the bus journey had been in darkness the morning taxi ride was fantastic, away from the grime and smog of bangkok the land is dripping with vegetation. Deep rich green plants and trees are sprouting up from every avaliable square inch of land.
The ferry itself took three hours and we arrived in Ko Tao at 10am, and it is gorgeous, i feel like i am on the lost island, slightly more populated mind. Walking off the boat there were large shoals of small fish swimming in the crystal clear water, and a dip ion the sea is like taking a warm bath. We booked a scuba dive course which starts tomorrow morning so an early night is on the cards tonight. Ill try and put a load of pictures up soon too. I have been taking plenty.
Blog Soon
Rich
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Just a few things too clear up!!!! Jet airways may have a silly name bt is the most outstanding service i have ever witnessed, the one game richard felt competant at was something beneath me and i thought it best to let him win, when he was sleeping (sleep is for the weak) i was posting high score after high score.
Currently searching the web for real cases of jetlag, so far i have not seen any evidence, as a pair of scientists we can safely say it is for soft people from the south of england, and some parts of wales.
In airport security we discovered for ourselves how rude the french are, and also how long a man wearing a red blazer and cowboy hat can keep me amused for.
Currently a bit tired as there is still some blood in my reed bull stream, temples were what you would expect really lots off people praying, monks reading the paper and americans generally making a fool of themselves, or maybey they were being friendly, its too early to tell.
Tuk tuks are the most thrilling way to travel well worth the eventual 80p (because witter folded) never has death stared me so close in the face, made a little bit more comical by another drivers fake horn (he was making a strange horn sound) and a pair on a moped keeping up with us even though the driver was incapacitated and the passenger was carrying the drivers crutches.
Heading south pretty soon for the beach and a bit of peace loving every minute speak soon,
Dave
Currently searching the web for real cases of jetlag, so far i have not seen any evidence, as a pair of scientists we can safely say it is for soft people from the south of england, and some parts of wales.
In airport security we discovered for ourselves how rude the french are, and also how long a man wearing a red blazer and cowboy hat can keep me amused for.
Currently a bit tired as there is still some blood in my reed bull stream, temples were what you would expect really lots off people praying, monks reading the paper and americans generally making a fool of themselves, or maybey they were being friendly, its too early to tell.
Tuk tuks are the most thrilling way to travel well worth the eventual 80p (because witter folded) never has death stared me so close in the face, made a little bit more comical by another drivers fake horn (he was making a strange horn sound) and a pair on a moped keeping up with us even though the driver was incapacitated and the passenger was carrying the drivers crutches.
Heading south pretty soon for the beach and a bit of peace loving every minute speak soon,
Dave
Hello from Bangkok
Well.... I am currently sat in a bar in bangkok, blogging away. This whole ordeal started on thursday travelling to london, where we met up with jack, lloyds mate. Had a few beers in a pub, lloyd beat me at poo head (a card game mother [1-0]). Then got a good nights sleep. Up at 5:30am to go to heathrow. I conveniently forgot the directions jack had wrote so we walked for 10mins in the wrong direction. But we got there in the end, flight was on time, and very plush! Personal TV with movies on demand, and games, where i beat lloyd at scorpian racer [1-1].
Transfered to bangkok from mumbai, managed to get an hours sleep on the plane, and despite only having that one hours sleep (lloyd practiced games instead) we both defeated jetlag, as its now 9pm ad we are going strong.
Arrived in bangkok, it was a big shock, lots going on, got instantly jumped upon by tuktuk drivers trying to take us to places we hadnt heard of. But managed to escape and find a nice hostel. Dumped our bags and went for some street food, very tasty! Red bull is 30p btw so that helps with the jetlag. Oh yes and we are constantly reminded that the No1 rule in the hostel is NO PROSTITUTES IN ROOMS!!!
Went out in the afternoon and had a tuktuk ride, after being offered a 20p fare, looking horrified we attempted to barter down to 10p, with no success. Walked off in disgust, we found someone else and ended up paying 80p! Went to a few temples, took photos, drank cheap beer. So! Thats our first day, it was all very exciting and random, more of the same tomorrow then heading south. Blog Soon, hope you are all well. xx
Rich
Transfered to bangkok from mumbai, managed to get an hours sleep on the plane, and despite only having that one hours sleep (lloyd practiced games instead) we both defeated jetlag, as its now 9pm ad we are going strong.
Arrived in bangkok, it was a big shock, lots going on, got instantly jumped upon by tuktuk drivers trying to take us to places we hadnt heard of. But managed to escape and find a nice hostel. Dumped our bags and went for some street food, very tasty! Red bull is 30p btw so that helps with the jetlag. Oh yes and we are constantly reminded that the No1 rule in the hostel is NO PROSTITUTES IN ROOMS!!!
Went out in the afternoon and had a tuktuk ride, after being offered a 20p fare, looking horrified we attempted to barter down to 10p, with no success. Walked off in disgust, we found someone else and ended up paying 80p! Went to a few temples, took photos, drank cheap beer. So! Thats our first day, it was all very exciting and random, more of the same tomorrow then heading south. Blog Soon, hope you are all well. xx
Rich
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