Thailand

Last day in Krabi. Slept in because of the late night I'd had.

Finally got and had some breakfast, Went outside, way tooo hot. Even the Thais were complaining it was too hot. Quickly retreated back to fan cooled room and wrote some post cards.

Around 4 oclock headed off to the Tiger Temple (Wat Tham Seua) just outside Krabi.

Climbed up 1237 steps (equilavent to climbing up a 100 floors) to the top for some amazing views, monkeys were following us up for a good part of the walk. Started to wonder if telling the nurse when I was getting my jabs " oh no I won't be going near any wild animal". What I hadn't reckoned on was them getting very close to me. The stairs up to the top of the mountain were very steep in places, I think they might of been built by giants or something

After arriving at the top of mountain and getting my breath back the views were amazing. Got our picture taken with some monks. I think they were laughing at us for how tired we looked, they probably climb it lots of times a day to mediate.

By the time we left to go back down the mountain it was getting dark so we had to go down quite fast. You could hear the monkeys swinging about in the trees above you.

Didn't have time to visit all the bits of the temple because the monks were mediating and it was dark and we had to get back.

Had an early night that night

For more info on the temple see below
http://www.krabi-hotels.com/seedo/temples.htm

That was our last day in thailand, off to malyasia tommorow

Arrived in Krabi from Khao Sok around lunch time on monday 5th of June

Dumped stuff in room and headed out straight for food ( this is going to become a theme as you will see later on).

Had some fairly un inspiring pad tai and then hit the shops and then the beach. About five minutes after hitting the beach it rained. Well it is the rainy season after all!!!

Anyway after a nap, went out for a massive bowl of mussels in garlic Yum yum yum

The next morning woke up went for a Pancake off one of the street vendors, more yummy!!!!

Spent tuesday going round all the islands on a speed boat (I was looking very green after a few hours on that thing). Went to phi phi lai and snorkelled in a bay off there. The lonely planet description for that place is spot. All the coral is knackered from boats just sticking their anchors into it and any tranquility is kind of ruined by the numerous other Long tail boats/ speed boats anchored up. The snorkelling was still good though and swallowed far too much water Yuk. The boat then went round to maya bay where "the beach" was filmed. Unfortunately due to feeling very ill from the speed boat and swallowing more salt water than is good for you I crawled off the boat, landed on the beach and stayed there not moving at all until it was time to go. It was about this time I realised that I couldn't find my sun block and was about to fry.

After leaving Maya bay went round to a few more islands and lunch on one of them, (can't remeber its name). Got some good shots of long tail boats!! Sat in the shade trying to apply some borrowed sun screen on to sandy legs. It didn't work, just sort of exfoliated by legs.

Got back on boat and headed off to do some more snorkelling. This time the coral was a lot better cos there was a fixed point for the boat to attach to. Saw lots of colourful fishys, no idea what any of them were though.

Boat made final stop on bamboo island, sat in shade with towel over legs desparately trying not to get burnt. Beach was very pretty though

Finally got back on boat and made it back to dry land. Once in hotel room lathered myself in after sun, which I'd put in the fridge. Luckily only it was only one knee and part of my leg that got burnt as I had sense to keep my shorts and T shirt on while swimming. Must of missed the knee while applying the sun screen/sand. Which incidently I found (the sun screen not the sand) at the back of the boat.

Had the most amazing green thai curry off a street vendor for about 75 pence, unfortuntaley they forget the request that it was not too spicey (the only bit of thai I learnt was to ask for food not too hot), so i blew my head off eating it.

That night went and played pool. I turned into some sort of pool shark and kept on winning which was amazing because I couldn't see properly without my glasses.

Left Bangkok on the 2nd June on the overnight train to Surat Thani.

Arrived in Surat Thani (though the train station is actually in a place called Phun Phin) at about 7 in the morning and had breakfast and then headed off to the Khao Sok national park on a Songthaew (A sort of truck). The Khao Sok national park is one of the oldest rain forests in the world, even older than the Amazon rain forest.

After two hours ish we arrived in the Jungle. Our accomodation was wooden huts (pictures coming soon). I ended up sharing mine with a bird that kept on coming in at night and the cat which kept on trying to get in as well.

Went tubing on the river, which basically involved sitting in a rubber ring and floating down the river for an hour. Saw a couple of snakes in the trees on the way. But it was nice and cool compared to the heat of the Jungle.

The next day I went on an elephant ride through the jungle. It was a bit precarious on the top of an elephant when it is going down hill!!!

Spent the afternoon swimming in the river by our accomdation. The fish there seem to like nibbling humans. On the last evening went on a walk to the temple cave and saw lots of monkeys as well.

Spent the evening playing cards and a very violent game of spoons (a card game that involves grabbing spoons, probably best not ask) with some of the Thai bar staff!!! The evenings were happy hour with cheap cocktails, mmmmm

The toad in the bucket

The next morning it was off to the beach at Krabi

Flew out of london late on tuesday (30th May) night and arrived in Bangkok in the afternoon the next day.

Bangkok is mad!!!! You could literally eat your way around the place there are so many stalls selling yummy food. The first day I was there I looked around some of the markets around the Kho san road area (I think I just spelt that wrong) and stopped for cheap beer when the rain hit. I'm glad i didn't fly in the evening as there was a big thunderstorm.

The next day I went round the Grand palace and the wat po temple that houses a massive reclining budha statue (pictures to follow). I've never seen so much gold as I have in the Grand Palace. Again pictures and further explanations to follow.

At Wat Po Temple

At Grand Palace

Standing Budha

On the 2nd of June we left bangkok to get the overnight train down to Surat Thani. As the Taxis booked to take us to the station didn't turn up we got Tuk Tuks down to the station. They are really mad!! We were jammed 3 to a Tuk Tuk full of luggage and weaving in and out of traffic, on the wrong side of the road most of the time. I was glad the luggage was blocking my view otherwise I would of been really scared.