ANDY AND ANA, KHAO LAK, THAILAND. MAY 5th 2014.

This part was an unscheduled stop on our adventure.  We knew that Dee and Nicole would be around SEAsia at the time we would be but hadn't figured out a place to meet but knew that our paths might cross.  So with less than a week to go we booked a flight to Phuket to meet up with the girls whilst they were only ‘down the road’ from us in Bangkok.

We headed back to Bangkok airport to catch our last minute flight to Phuket to make  the journey easier to Khao Lak.  It would've been a mega 12-14 hour bus from Bangkok and time was short so we decided that a flight would be in order for this part of the journey.  We landed in Phuket and were picked up by an air-conditioned minibus  taxi just for us! (organised by Dee and Chris – thank you very much!) and transferred to Khao Lak – luxury, travel as it should be ;) 

We knew that we were heading to Villa Mangosteen but hadn't really done any homework into where it was.  As we drove through the countryside, rubber plantations and watermelon farms we were wondering if Dee had played a trick on us!  10 mins later and we had arrived at the resort which is tucked away from the main drag and has 8 bungalows surrounding a big pool.

We were met by Nicole as Dee was taking an afternoon dip in the pool, so we headed into our base for the next 5 days and popped our swimmers on to join Dee.  We were introduced to Chris and Nok – Dee’s cousin and his wife who both run the resort (which luckily for us was in low season and had only a handful of long term guests there) and their daughter Nuong Noi who had only taken her first steps the day before we arrived! 

The afternoon consisted of swimming and relaxing in the pool to try and escape the immense heat.  We had a good catch up before getting ready to head to the night market with everyone.  Chris drove us all down in the back of his pick-up truck and Dee and Andy were nominated the air-con seats aka outside.

Once at the market we had a look around, bored Dee and Nicole with our knowledge of what the local foods were and then headed to grab some grub ourselves.  Once done with the market we headed to the bar to join the gang and have a few beers. Andy stopped to get a new battery fitted to his trusty running watch, only to pay for a local to dismantle and destroy it!

Travelling Khao Lak style

Maybe the man who owned this stall broke Andy's watch on purpose as he played shop-keeper with Nicole pre broken watch

Dee getting to know the locals

The following day we spent the day in the pool and locally in Khao Lak.  Dee said that she would be cooking breakfast and she treated us to a good old massive fry-up.  Bacon, eggs, mushrooms, beans and toast were the order of  the day – yum. We headed out to Mars Bar for lunch to reunite Andy with the humble burger and I had some falafel, some of the first non Thai cuisine that we've had since crossing the boarder from Laos. We played some darts – yes you heard it right, darts.  I think Nicole gave up, Dee got distracted and Andy conceded defeat to me (Andy: only because food arrived!)!

Mr P, we were assuming that this wouldn't make the menu at 6oz burger (new restaurant opening in Southsea soon - so look out for it! www.6oz.co.uk)

Next day Chris said he’d show us around the area and get us orientated with Khao Lak and its surroundings.  Khao Lak was devastated by the tsunami which hit on boxing day in 2004 and there are a few memorials to commemorate those who lost their lives.  It’s amazing to see how far the area has come in 10 years, once the tsunami hit the area was pretty much under water and coastal areas were destroyed.  Hop forward 10 years and you can still see the signs of the tsunami but the local people have rebuilt their communities and have created a very desirable location for diving tourists to visit. 

One of the shipwrecked boats now serving as a memorial to the tsunami

Me and my favourite lesbian

I guess these two are each others favourite lesbians...

Dee needed some dental work done – think she was having her false teeth remade- so we headed to a local town where Chris knew she could get it fixed.  Whilst she was being seen to by the dentist we popped into a very pleasant coffee shop next door for food and drink!  Chris told us more about life in Thailand and his adventures to date – a very knowledgeable and friendly guy.

Dee looking a little nervous at the entrance to what we've been informed was the dentist.  She disappeared for around 45mins and came back very quiet...

We then headed out to a monastery on top of a hill where we had to drive through woodlands, this was great fun being in the 4x4 and Chris is an expert in navigating and driving through the small forest lanes and bumpy hills.  We reached the monastery and had a look around, the scenery was amazing with colossal trees, a waterfall nearby and a small cave with a large population of bats.

Andy looking for the bats, we found them soon enough!

Once done there it was back to another spot where Chris said we’d get a good view of the area.  It was spectacular, the weather was hot and it was a clear day so we could see for miles.  Great spot for a photo opportunity J  

What a view, the scenery isn't bad either!

'nuff said!

Back to the resort and we jumped in the pool after our days exploring.  That eve we played cards forcing Nicole to teach us some card games in advance of the next 6 months on the road.

The next morning we had an early start as we were heading snorkelling!  A full day on-board a big boat with divers and other snorkelers where we would be provided with food and drink and tuition.  Dee and Nicole had just finished their diving course on a liveaboard boat which is where you stay on-board a boat for x number of days and dive until you’re qualified!  Andy was going to be doing his course the following week on Ko Tao so the snorkelling day was great for us all.  

Getting ready to attack the biscuit box on the table... 

Bye bye coast, hello islands

Yummy breakfast, one of many good meals served on the boat, alongside the pineapple biscuits which we ate pretty much all day

We headed out for around 2hrs on the boat to Ko Bon which is close the Similian Islands and in the same national park as this premium diving location.  We met our guide –Dom, who talked us through the ABC of snorkelling and what we might see under the water and then got our equipment ready.  We were dropped off just away from those who were diving and set off for our first hour in the water.

Who loves snorkelling? Ana loves snorkelling! Is it true... not really but I had a great time, just look at my face :)

It was great fun even for me who is a massive wimp and hates getting sea water in my mouth to the point that I cough and splutter like an idiot getting more water in my mouth!  Dee bought her underwater camera so we also got some good shots under the sea!

Much better, all kitted up and ready to go

So we just jump off around here?

That dolphin like creature is Andy who'd just jumped off the top of the boat (I said I'd take a picture of him doing it, humm... could you just jump once more?)

Chris in his natural environment, that man is a bit like a fish

Andy getting used to life underwater

Dee's snorkel selfie!

I think I picked up the OK signal, OK

Back on board the big boat for lunch.  The food served on the boat was brilliant and plentiful – something for everyone and food and drink available all day.  Refueled and it was time to get back into the water for our second hour of snorkelling.  We were hoping to see some manta rays but one of the guys running the boat saw some fishermen nearby which hindered our opportunity.  The area is a national park and therefore fishing is illegal, so he and another guy set off in a small dingy to pick up the fishing nets that they could see and reported the fishing vessel to the authorities.

Apparently Dee is quite buoyant. Can't see why, can you?

Back on board again to be served more food and to start the 2hr trip back to the coast. 

A lazy start the next day and we’d decided to head to the beach.  We set off on mopeds to the coast and parked near a little restaurant.  We jumped into the sea and played around in the waves, until I got stung by a jellyfish!  Arrgghh, it felt like I had been whipped at the back of my legs.  I got out to see the damage and a big red rash had appeared at the back of my knee and stung quite a bit – not enough to ask Dee or Andy to wee on me!  With my new souvenir we headed back on the bikes via a takeway lunch and back to the resort to catch up with Nicole. 

Hitching up her shorts to trek across the beach...

Andy found a new friend

Andy and Dee playing in the sea! I've retreated to the shore due to my mega jellyfish attack, aka sting

Yep, beach bum

Our last evening was spent having dinner with Dee, Nicole and Chris at a local restaurant before heading back to pack for our next move.  Another early start and Chris dropped us off at the bus stop (which after lots of asking around was a small hut opposite a 7Eleven) and the girls came on the moped to see us off.  It wasn't long before our bus to Surathani arrived and we said our farewells to the girls who were moving onto the next part of their adventure – Cambodia.

We needed to catch our bus to Surathani in order to catch a ferry to Ko Tao.  Bit of a mammoth journey to do in 1 day but after a few days relaxing it was time to get back into travel mode.  We arrived at the bus station and had found online where the ticket office was for the ferry so made our way there.  Once we’d arrived we were told that the ferry company had moved (of course) to the new bus station (which we stopped at on our way into the bus station we got off at).  So we flagged down a tuk tuk and asked to head to new bus station,  After driving into the old bus station and then to the seafront the driver headed to a mate of his who spoke English to clarify where we wanted to go.  At which point his fare inflated by 5 times the original quote.  So we jumped out of his tuk tuk and walked our way to the nearest ferry booking service just 5 mins up the road.  They informed us they had no ferries to the island but would call ahead to the company that does and book us tickets and flagged down a shared tuk tuk to the new bus station.  Result.  So after a Luang Prabang style jumping in tuk tuks to the wrong places we finally arrived at the Lompryah office for the next sailing to Ko Tao.  This involved getting a bus 1hr to the Donsak Pier and then joining the ferry which would get us onto Ko Tao by around 7pm that evening.

The ferry journey was pleasant and easy to do,  On route to Ko Tao the ferry stopped at Ko Pangnan and Ko Samet so it was pretty busy with people heading to the islands for the full moon party later in the week (Andy wanted to go but it clashed with his dive course...).

12hrs after waving goodbye to Dee and Nicole we arrived on Ko Tao.  Hurrah A-B via 4x4, bus, foot, tuk tuk, foot, tuk tuk, bus, boat and another 4x4... Easy!