Life in a treehouse
Trip Start
Apr 18, 2005
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4
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Trip End
Aug 06, 2005
Khao Sok National Park, Thailand
Thursday, July 7, 2005
So we found a nice little place to stay in Samui, fairly pricey but it was nice to have an air conditioned room and a hot shower for a change. After 10 days of diving Rich decided he wanted a well earned lazy day, staying well away from water so I booked myself on to a kayaking trip around the marine national park near to Samui while he stayed in an chiled out for the day. It wasn't a bad trip but wasn't the best either. We did some snorkelling- I braved getting back in the water even after the trigger fish incident- but the water wasn't all that clear, full up with the bread they were feeding the fish which I'm sure can't be good for them There were loads of other tourist boats at this same spot too so it felt a bit overcrowded. Next we went into the national park, lots of craggy, limestone, mountainous islands poking up out of the sea. We stopped at one of the islands and did a spot of kayaking around the area but unfortunately the wind was quite strong and it looked as though it was going to storm so we couldn't stay out long. We spent some time exploring the island and then went over to a different island to see the Emerald Lagoon, a huge lagoon completely encircled by mountains. It's the lagoon that features in the book 'The Beach' in case anyone has read it! It was an absolutely stunning view and really made the day worth it.
The speedboat ride back to the bay was horrrendous, really, really bumpy, I clung onto my lifejacket reaaly tightly and closed my eyes much of the way much to the amusement of the Chinese tourists also on the boat!
We moved on from Samui the day after that in order to head to Khao Sok national Park on the Western side of mainland Thailand. The trip should only have taken about 4 hours including the ferry crossing but after four bus changes and the ferry it took about 9 hours! Real pain in the arse and the only reason it was so slow was because we kept getting taken to different places where people tried to sell us travel packages. In the end we were on the public bus which we could have started out on anyway.....ho hum!
Kao Sok is really beautiful, very tranquil. We're staying in a treehouse which is loads of fun, if leaving us very vulnerable to the many mozzies about! I have a swollen elbow and foot again from the little buggers whereas Rich is again getting away virtually mozzie free! We walked to the national park today, about 2km from our treehouse and did one of the trails through the park. So much fun, I felt like a proper jungle woman! Especially as it's raining a lot here at the moment so all the paths were muddy and the rivers very full- so much fun! The river crossed the footpath at one point and Rich thought we would have to go back but I got all 'Indiana Jones' and decided we could cross it but as it was my idea I had to go first while Rich watched! In conjunction I had to carry the backpack and both camera's as rich has developed a habit of falling over as soon as he stands in water!We both made it over and I want to do it again!
We're heading to Krabi tomorrow and then onto a place called Railley Beach, which we've had recommended to us a couple of times. We're then going to make the trek down into Malaysia which will be a mamoth bus journey.
We can't believe we'll be home in about a month, it's going so fast but we're having the best time! Sorry this has been a bit of a long one, hope you're still awake! xxxxxxxx
