Week 10 - Back to Koh PhagNan - Black Moon Party!!!

So as I was saying before, the Black Moon Party is similar. Same rave paint, similar set up. Just smaller and on a smaller beach on a different part of the island. So we got rave painted up and headed to the party. Lots of fun. We took the rave paint with us and helped other people rave it up as well. Haha. So some of them may not have wanted raving up but they looked better for it anyway... and even after our long long day we stayed until sunrise. Well it was almost sunrise and we legged it down to sunrise beach where the magic happens. We met a guy called Anthony in the cab to the beach. Remember him because he crops up in the story later on.

The next day we went sunning ourselves. And had a chilled evening.

The day after that we were meant to be heading to a different beach for the night, which we heard was really beautiful, but we had spotted a day tour that we chose to do instead. It involved waterfalls, elephants, tour round all the island. So the next day we got up nice and early and started on our day trip. We headed to the tour guide office where we were fiven the light breakfast as advertised. And light it was. A banana and 2 biscuits. Pffff. That's not even a snack!! Haha. Then we headed to a chinese temple up the mountains somewhere. This was followed by a waterfall that had dried up as there hadn't been any rain for days, and then we were taken to a Buddhist retreat centre. That's where the sign in the picture is from. I was thinking about doing it but all the standing and sitting looked a bit tough. We then went to a viewpoint which showed us a stunning view of the island and of Koh Samui which was just over yonder. And then to the elephant camp. Where we fed and had an elephat ride. I'm through with those though. I'm not sure I reallt agree with it all now. The elephants look pretty sad. And then for the fun snorkelling afternoon part. So we were dropped off the beach and hoisted in to a longtail boat. We moved out round the corner of the island and the heavans opened. But really really opened. It got a bit silly after a while so the tour guides called the rest of the day off. We were really disappointed as we couldn't do it the day after as we were moving on. So after much fuss, we managed to get a better refund to what they were offering. I won't go in to it but we worked as a team didn't we Sarah. They were trying to rip us off ever so slightly.

That night was some fun and games on the beach. Fire stuff with fire limbo. I realised how NON bendy I am, haha. We had a trip up to the mountain bar, which is a bar on the side of the mountain and had a really tasty shake :)

It all wasn't such a great idea seeing as the next morning we were getting on a boat to Koh Samui...

Week 10 - Last night in Phi Phi and journey back to Koh PhagNan!

So after a lot of resting up that day (we didn't really get that much sleep on the beach), we met up with the others that we had met on the camping trip and had some food. Stephen decided that the next day he was going to head to Cambodia, so it was the last night all together. We just headed back to the Reggae bar and played some killer pool. Noone got hurt though...

Saying goodbye to Stephen was a bit odd seeing as we'd spent the last 3 months travelling together, but we might cross for a day in Bangkok the week after.

Me and Sarah had checked in to some really cute little huts which we later found out got surrounded by frogs in the night. So we felt like we were staying in the middle of a pond when they all started croaking in chorus in the middle of the night. We were pretty knackered though so it didn't really bother us too much!!

The next morning, we got up nice and early, checked out of our hut and headed back to the pier. The journey then went as follows:

1. Boat to Krabi

2. Open air bus to Krabi town

3. Smaller open air bus to another bit of Krabi town

4. Bigger bus for 2 hours

5. 40 minute drop off an wait

6. Bigger bus to the pier - it went at snail pace. They did play the newer version of 'The Italian Job,' but once people had realised how long we'd been going for and had actually missed out boat, they got a bit angry and asked the driver. He then said it was fine and we would be going to a different pier to get the boat to Koh PhagNan for 7pm (only 1 hour later than expected). This seemed to shut people up.

7. Boat

When the boat docked, we let out a sigh as it had taken longer and it was now around 8.30pm. We were then told we weren't even at Koh PhagNan, but were at Koh Samui... the next island along.

8. Another boat to Koh PhagNan. This boat took a long while as well.

9. Cab to our guest house.

We got to our guest house, which we had pre booked online, for about 10.30pm. They didn't have our reservation. Surprisingly calmly we just found another place down the hill a bit and settled in quickly. It was Saturday night and we had travelled here on that day so we could get over to the Black Moon Party. It's similar to the full moon party but just on a different beach. And there's no moon...

Week 10 - Camping on Maya Bay ie. 'The Beach'

We waited on a bench for the other people on the tour to show up. I was feeling a little ropey from our night out so not the best time to be going out on a boat for the day but never mind. We were well looking foward to it. They turned up and we all introduced ourselves. There was 6 of us for the day trip - Bram, Amani, Chris, Stephen, Sarah and me.

First stop was monkey beach where there were monkeys. A few got off the boat and went to investigate. The monkeys did come out, but they weren't as cheeky as the stories we had heard. Apparently one guy told us that a monkey had jumped on to the boat and stole a fag and a bottle of beer. I think he was just trying to tell a funny story though...

Next stop was the cliff jumping. I totally chickened out. Err I mean, I stayed on the boat and volunteered to take pictures. I wasn't the only one though. Sarah stayed and so did Amani, so we left the cliff jumping to the boys. I do regret it though. It's one of those things you should just push yourself to do. Although the ropeyness didnt help but that was totally my fault. So we watched as the boys climbed the huge mountains. First was the 6 metre jump which they all did a couple of times. It looked bloody high though. Next up was the 20 metre jump. Stephen had enough, but the other 2 boys braved it and returned to the boat with all limbs in tact. Bram did complain of an aching bum for the rest of the day though! Sorry Bram, had to get that in, haha.

Next stop was shark watching. I'd seen one before on Koh Tao so I wasn't phased. But the sea was so choppy here. It kept crashing across the rocks and you were being bobbed about everywhere. The thai tour guide bloke held on to me and Amani and we foated away with him to search for the sharks. The water was really dark and really deep so it was hard to spot any apparent movement. What I do love about snorkelling is that you can actually hear what the fish are getting up to. If you listen carefully you can hear them nibble at the corals, it's really funny. Anyway the thai guide suddenly pointed and sure enough there was sharky, just sharking around. I found myself shaking, not sure why. I felt pretty safe. Next thing we know there are 10 on the things. All in a group (pretty sure that's not the word for it) swimming about. It was really cool although I think I let out a bit of a yelp. After all the shark watching we headed to the lagoon. This is another top 3 moment (I think I have more than 3 by now though) of my trip. We slowly drifted over the coral and we were faced with the lagoon. It was just superb. And i'll never forget our tour guide doing a back flip in to the lagoon and shouting "WELCOME TO MY LIFE". Because that really was his life. Lucky bastard. We were the only ones there, and so it was so peaceful. We swam about and enjoyed the tranquility of being amongst the mountains and being in the lagoon. Sarah, Amani and I swam over to a tiny beach. Amani swung on a random bit of rope. And me and Sarah decided to come up with a song that whenever we hear it, it will remind us of that moment in the lagoon together. What was it again Sarah - Mysterious girl?!!! Haha. Not sure why that popped up as Peter Andre was nowhere to be seen, but that's what it is!

Then we went on to do some snorkelling. Stephen had a fit because a jellyfish touched him but we were told the were harmless. And then on to THE BEACH. I hadn't seen The Beach (the Dicaprio film) at that point but I was reading it. And I preferred it that way. I had everything that i hoped for in my own imagination, and it actually fit what I had imagined, it was great!!! So Maya Bay is where The Beach was actually filmed so it did carry some magic to it. We rocked up on our longtail boat, and went and put our overnight gear in one of the 3 tents that were already put up for us. After a swim in the sea and time to dry off and explore, we got our dinner. Panang curry and vegetables. We were so hungry by then, it was so delicious. Then we went and sat in a group and had a few drinks and chatted. Oh by the way there were other people here by now. There was about 15-20 peopl in all. A couple of the thai guys played their guitar and smoked their pipes, and one of them disappeared and then came back with a lobster to put on the BBQ. Apparently he'd just dived in to the sea and pulled it out.

It was a really fun time, just chilling and getting to know people who were on their travels as well. The guitar was handed around and I played my rendition of Leyla... NOT. Bram took it for a little while, although insisted he could only play intros. Which he was right about. Every time people started getting in to the tune, he would stop. It was like that bit in Phoenix Nights - "Walking on the moon....". And every now and then me and Sarah popped down to the beach to have a wee. It was quite a task as it was pitch black down there so we probably peed on a couple of rats. A few buckets and some more BBQ later, and we all grabbed a sleeping bag and headed down to sleep on the beach. But first things first a quick dip in the sea. I'd just been reading about the phospherous in my book. It's just the shrimp and when you move it in the sea, it lights up. So we sat in the sea, waving our hands about the water. It was so dark, so the sparkling shrimp is all we could see, it was really cool. Then a quick dry off and in to our sleeping bags. There were actually millions upon millions of stars up above. I counted them so it's no exaggeration!! It was just stunning. We fell asleep, but me and Sarah woke about an hour later. Waking up and having those stars as the first thing you see is brilliant. Another picture tucked away in my travel memories. We did hear a storm in the distance and weren't sure whether to head for the tents but didn't bother in the end and it was fine. And then we watched the dawn arrive.

At about 6am we all got up and then there was some breakfast waiting. We got our stuff together and were then taken back to Phi Phi. It was SUCH a fun 24 hours, and anyone who is going to ever go to Thailand I would suggest getting down there. It's not to be missed.

Over and out.

Week 9 - Back to Phi Phi we go!

So we waved Rachel off and then went and caught our boat. It was lovely and hot and we chatted and caugt up on our gossip on the 2 hour trip to Phi Phi. We arrived and it was as beautiful and as hot as before. Sarah cracked me up with her "I can't see because there's so much sweat in my eyes" comment. Haha. Sorry Sarah but it did make me laugh. I have to report comment like that!!!

We eventually found some accommodation, dumped our bags, I managed to perspire all over the bed (lovely) (oh by the way Im grateful to you Sarah for not putting these shots on FB - keep them in our memories yeh!!!) and then we headed out to find Stephen, who had been all on his tod for a couple of days. We caught up over noodle soup and heard about his solo adventures. Then we went and had snoozes on the beach and then went and got ready for a fun night out in the Reggae bar and Hippie bar. On the way home I managd to make pals with a kitten. Not sure why, Im not usually that keen but it was sweet i guess. I'd still prefer an orphan...

The next day we stuck to our plans of going for an adventure tour and then a night camping on 'The Beach', something that I will tell you all about on the very next page...

Week 9 - Sarah arrives and Rachel leaves

So me and Rachel hopped back on a boat and headed back to Krabi where we would go to another beach call Ao Nang and wait for Sarah's arrival that evening. Now Rachel, what I later found out (don't put 2 blonds in charge of travel) is that we could have got a boat straight to Ao Nang for the same price and got a cheap tuk tuk to our hotel which would have taken no more than 5 minutes. If that. Instead we went to Krabi, and then got fleaced for a taxi to Ao Nang. So let's remember that one for the future, haha. But what a great taxi

ride it was eh Rachel?!!!...

So we chilled by our lovely hot pool, and frazzled our pants off because it was so super hot. We had to sit in the pool to read as the heat got unbearable. It could have been due to the factor 2 oil I had applied. I was now on to the hard stuff.

That evening we got a cab to the airport to find Sarah had already arrived and was waiting by the door. I practically bowled her oer with a long run up and a jump as I was so excited to see her. We usually probably go about a week without seeing eachother at home, so 8 weeks had been pretty long for us!! YAY. Sarah had arrived!! We went and dumped her bags and then took ourselves to a bar, and introduced her to the joys of buckets.

The next day was Rachel's last, so we just chilled by the pool and had a walk along te beach and then went for a nice meal in the evening. We were all up early the next morning to wave Rachel off, and Sarah and I had a boat to catch - back to Phi Phi, HURRAYY!!!!!!!

Week 9 - Phi Phi

Ko Phi Phi is considered to be one of the most naturally beautiful islands in the world (in fact, there are six islands in Phi Phi). They lie 50km south-east of Phuket and are part of Hadnopparattara-Koh Phi Phi National Park which is home to an abundance of corals and amazing marine life. After the tsunami, approximately 70% of the buildings on the island had been destroyed. By the end of July 2005, an estimated 850 bodies had been recovered, and an estimated 1,200 people were still missing. The total number of fatalities is unlikely to be known however local tour guides cite the figure of 4,000. Of Phi Phi Don residents, 104 surviving children had lost one or both parents.

Phi Phi is my favourite island in Thailand. Just the size and friendliness of people, and the beauty of it all. I loved it there. As we arrived, it was mid day and the mid day heat was incredible. Not in a good way. In a real hot way. We shuffled up to an information travel place and just booked one night somewhere as none of us had the energy to look around with our backpacks in the heat. Walking through the town, I couldn't really imagine that the Tsunami had hit Phi Phi so hard as it had been built up really well in just 4 years. Lots of little bars and shops. It was quite touristy but you didn't feel overwhelmed by it.

It was our last weekend together, and with only 2 weeks before my birthday I had started to moan about getting really old... so on the Friday we were all getting ready to go out. We had moved guest house by now, and there were no plugs sockets in our rooms (!), so the girls were all doing their hair in the front entrance. I was getting all flustered over nothing, and Rachel was hurrying me along to come upstairs to the others' room. So after some more phaffing I went up there to arrive at a room full of balloons and a cake with candles and having happy birthday sung to me. It was wicked, thanks guys!! We had some pre drinks in the room (although we had to keep the door open because of all the smoke from the candles). The pre-drinks involved 2 MEGA buckets. I don't think I've explained the concept of a bucket yet...

... in Thailand, they serve buckets of drink. Similar size to a bucket you would buy for sandcastles. And inside the bucket they have a half or quarter bottle of either vodka or thai rum (Sangsom) with a can of coke, diet coke, or red bull to accompany it with. Me and Rachel's eyes nearly popped out when we saw the mega buckets. There was 7 of us though so we're not raving alcoholics or anything...

... so there we were in the room, playing more games and drinking our mega buckets with mega straws, ready for a top night out. Lots of dancing, watching fake thai boxing in the Reggae bar. And I bought a new frock as well. I had to. It called out to me in the shop. "Annnyyyaaaaaaaa... AANNNNNNNYYYYYAAAAAAAAA". Just wish someone had told me how short it was!!!

So our time in Phi Phi (you say it 'pee pee') was spent lazing on the beach, watching a tropical downpour, chilling out watching films in the film place, eating a gorgeous fish dinner in a fish restaurant (Garlic, I think it was called), more lazing, a night doing a quiz night, a couple of massages... this travelling lark is hardcore. Then it came to Sunday when the group dispersed. Hollie, Rosie and Sam were going on an overnight trip and we would not see them the next day as me and Rachel were heading back to Krabi to meet the next installment to the group.

Just a few things to remember from this place though, which you won't get but it's more for the memory.

1. The Krabi man

2. The bloody chicken - ok so maybe i'd rather forget this one. We got some chicken off a street stall and it actually started bleeding when we bit i to it...

3. Billie picking up a random chair on the way home from the Hippie bar (which we didn't qute make), and using it to wait for her con on the cob then eat her corn on the cob by the street vendor. Corn hasn't got blood in it so it was ok. Judging by the picture above it wa pretty darn tastey, haha. Sorry Billie, that picture makes me lauh so much I couldn't not post it on here.

4. Stephen getting lost and making friends with Kittens.

5. More bats