Phi Phi to Phuket

We're leaving Phi Phi today and the absolutely wonderful Viking nature Resort. Honestly if you ever come to ko phi phi you MUST stay here, the staff are so helpful and friendly and will usually come and sit with you and chat for ages which is really nice. When we checked out we each got to choose a necklace to take with us, such a small thing but a really nice touch! Also the other night we came back from having a meal in town and as the resort is so quiet at the moment due to it being low season all the staff were sat around drunk singing "no woman no cry" whilst swigging thai sansong from a bucket. priceless, especially when we joined in.

We've got a ferry booked at 2:30pm going to phuket where we are staying in adonis guest house which is owned by one of Niall's friends, Phil. Hopefully going to get a chance to do some cave kayaking before heading up to Chiang Mai on friday/saturday.

Goodbye beautiful island!

Island Living

We've decided to extend our stay in Ko Phi Phi for an extra night so we can relax a bit before we head up to the north where there is more to do/see. The island is lovely, and yesterday we went on a day excursion by boat to various different islands around our one. We got to do snorkelling and kayaking whenever we wanted, lunch was included and we got to swim to the place where they shot "the beach", which was incredible, despite the beach being rammed with tourists it's a marine park, so there are no buildings or shops or people trying to sell you stuff. Ideal really seeing as that's all you get elsewhere. And our tour guide followed with a waterproof bag so we could all take our cameras, which was nice! The day was supposed to end with a sunset boat ride but the weather took a turn for the worst so we had to cut it short and head back to the main portt where we spent the evening hiding from the torrential downpour in an ice cream shop. Eventually we made it back to our hotel where we discovered the roof of our cabin/bungalow had been leaking so not only did we have no stable electricity as the fuse kept blowing, our room stunk of damp and some of our clothes did too. This was an annoying end to the day but it cant be helped, today we're in a nice clean room and drying off. We're heading for Chiang Mai on Thursday, either by a cheap internal flight or a coach/train and there we hope to go to an elephant sanctuary and do a hill tride trek and sort out our bloody Chinese visas (which are turning out to be such a headache). Also going to catch up with an old friend from college who happens to be living there at the moment. Let the good times roll!

Peace.

Ko Phi Phi

We've made it to Ko Phi Phi - the most beautiful island in the world ( it says so on the postcards you know). It's really lovely, very relaxed compared to the bustle of all the other islands and the mainland, and the taxi was a longboat. The life of luxary! Tomorrow we are going to go snorkelling and kayaking. Very exciting. More to update soon.

Peace.

Bangkok to the Beach

Finally seem to be in an internet cafe where people aren't hoarding round you to use the computer and you can feel free to write and check emails without a mad rush! So I'm a few days behind travel writing. So let's go back.

Bangkok. Wow. What a city, and I don't mean in the best way. Obviously it has it's good points and the people are lovely, but they are hard to find within the sweaty hub of street stalls, tut tuts and taxis. and it really really stinks. we stayed there for 2 days where we met russ and decided our next move down to the islands. Lots of people write about how much they love Bangkok and it's diversity but I found it too hot, too busy, too smelly and there are far too many people trying to rip you off. especially when you happen to be the two whitest girls around. there are some cute side streets where you can find the most beautiful bags and jewellery, but places like khao san road and the surrounding areas are mental. everyone wants to show you something/sell you something so by the time we were on an overnight coach to the south you start to feel relived that you're not in such a trapped, enclosed place.

So we booked the overnight coach to Ko Phan-nan for the infamous full moon party. It was meant to take roughly 8 hours on the coach and 5 on the boat, but typically our bus broke down. At 4am. On some random roadside. Therefore we all piled off and waiting an hour for the next one to show up. Finally made it to the boat and then onto the island, which, again was really really busy due to the full moon (anything up to 30,000 people can attend). Thanks to recommendations from friends we didnt stay in the main party area of Hat Rin, we stayed further up the bay in a place called Ban Kai, in the suitably named 'beer bungalows'. You literally openened the from door to our bungalow and stepped onto your own private beach. Breathtaking. There were loads of other bungalows for no one else seemed to use the beach as much as we did, which seemed such a shame but I guess better for us. Spent a few days sunbathing,reading and washing Bangkok off us before descending on the full moon party. We met some girls in a restaurant that night and ended up going with them and having a whale of a time. There's so many people it's insane, and the beach where the party takes place is very long and white and the sand was amazing. Everyone seems to have face paints and fancy dress (photos as proof) and we spent the evening drinking from buckets, watching people skip over burning ropes and slide down burning slides and dancing on podiums. Then we all watched the sunrise on the beach before heading home. A VERY good night. I would receommend to all.

Now we're currently in Krabi for the night in a really nice guesthouse (although there was a cockroach on the floor in our room. dead i might add) before heading to Ko Phi Phi tomorrow, which is apparently the most beautiful of all the islands. It's hard to upload photos so for now I'm just saving them to the camera. Let's hope I don't sit on it.

Peace and Love folks.

Island Hopping

Can't write much as im in a hostel's internet cafe and thwe bloke has just told us he's closing up. Currently in south thailand island hopping, more to come including a big post about the amazing full moon party last night! wow.

Sawasdee

Hello all (sawasdee in thai), after 2 flights and a taxi ride we have FINALLY arrived in Bangkok. Well, we arrived yesterday morning at around 8am and have slept and ate ever since. Not much more. The flights were alright, we ended up in Mumbai for 2 hours where lots of indian men kept taking photos of us in the airport (started to get a tad annoying). Felt like Lady Gaga from the paparazzi video! Also, our "hotel" is not as it seemed on the website. I mean, for 10quid a night it's what you'd expect really, but the photos on the website lied! Anyway, I will upload some photos asap, if i can find my camera cable that is. I've got a strong feeling I left it at home, which means I won't be able to upload until I get back. Big bummer.

Bangkok is insane. Very very busy, lots of westeners, on Kho San Road people will try and sell you anything, clothes, jewellery, shoes (mum you'd love it), even english university degrees. I could have just got one here! We spent last night in a rooftop bar that had a bloke doing open mike with his guitar. He spent most of the time singing Kings of Leon covers and that kind of thing. Very chilled. Today we slept a lot and now we're going to go to the Chinese embassy and sort out visas before visiting a few temples and booking a bus to take us to the islands tomorrow. It should take about 10 hours but costs nothing so is the best option. Will update again when we get down south.

P.s It's also raining. If it wasn't for the heat I'd think we'd never left the Uk!

bon voyage

so the time has nearly come to board that flight and take the plunge. i am a mixture of nerves,excitement and have those big massive butterflies in my stomach, but this has been a long time coming. although it's been sad saying bye to everyone and leaving bath it's something i definately need to do and have been wanting to do for ages. so here we go, wish me luck! i will update this blog with photos and stories of where we've been over the next few months so everyone, even those without facebook (yes that means you dad) can read it. hopefully i won't bore you to death.

massive love to all.