Day 57 – 63

16.08.23 – 21.08.23

I can’t believe it’s been over 6 days since my last blog!!  😳

To be fair I have been trying to spend every possible minute with Rebecca & Chris.

I think I said in my last post that the weather wasn’t being particularly kind, well that kind of continued for a few more days, with some days really wet and windy! But we managed to get a couple of days of sunshine before Rebecca & Chris left.

It’s been such a pleasure to just chill and relax with everyone. I think initially we were all a little conscious that this was everyone’s holiday and that we ought to be “doing things” but eventually we all realised that what we wanted to do was be together and relax, so the weather then stopped being as much of an issue and we had fun whatever we did!

We have laughed a lot!!  We have had shirts and Jackets tailored with lovey Rabi at Andy’s Tailors, we have played UNO, seen beautiful sunsets and eaten lots of delicious food. ❤️😍

On one of the dry days we decided to go to Railay Beach. As I mentioned in a previous blog I’d been, and the experience of getting in and out of the Longtail boat wasn’t ideal! 😬However it’s a gorgeous place and I was sure that this time things would be fine. Especially as I had Chris and Rebecca to help.

We walked down to the Longtail Boat pier and as before we had to clamber across the bumpy concrete wall, which I managed, Chris then helped me step up and onto the boat and all was great! I was feeling smug and happy seconds before stepping down into the boat straight onto a pile of coiled rope, which slid and I went with it! Landing on my arse in the bottom of the boat with my right arm wrenched back. 😳😬 Honest to god I was more annoyed that I almost made it than the sore shoulder and bruised arm!  I am a bloody liability! 😂😂 

We made to it Railay and disembarked without further incident.

It is such a stunning beach, and Rebecca, Chris & Anita loved it. We walked through the little shopping area past loads of Monkeys to the West of the island and sat by the lagoon with cold drinks just chilling and looking at the wildlife, butterflies, birds, fish etc. 

then we walked to under the stunning cliffs to a sheltered lagoon where we had a fabulous sea dip, whilst watching people rock climbing. 

We then had a yummy lunch on the beach 🏝️ before heading back to Ao Nang, I’m pleased to say the return journey was incident free as well! 😍

We have found a fabulous little restaurant near the hotel, called “Kodam  Kitchen” and have returned there a few times. The staff are amazingly friendly and seem to have taken a shine to us! The food is excellent and the cocktails are strong! We have had such fun evenings there, ending with free drinks and a stumbley walk home (Not Anita, who is a little more sensible than us!) 

We have visited the night market and developed a liking for the ice cream rolls and peanut butter & Nutella Rotis! Yum! 

Sadly our time together came to an end on Saturday morning, when Rebecca & Chris flew back to Australia where they both start new jobs on Monday! So incredibly proud of them both. 

It was very emotional when they left, not helped by the fact that the previous night at “Kodam Kitchen” was a bit Boozy. This also didn’t help me as I had a 3hr bus ride to get to Koh Lanata! 🙄

The minibus arrived at 10am 30 minutes early, so our goodbyes to Rebecca and Chris were a bit rushed.

The minibus then travelled all over Ao Nang picking up other people before depositing us all in a little office somewhere in Krabi, where Anita and had to sit and wait for 90 minutes before our minibus arrived, this then also,stopped everywhere picking up more passengers before finally heading to Koh Lanata at around 1.15! 

You come across to Koh Lanta on a Car Ferry then across a road bridge, which was lovely and scenic. 

We were dropped off first and the hotel looked good, the views are stunning. 

Unfortunately as it’s Low Season things are quiet, and when I say quiet, I mean totally empty, ghost town quiet!! 😳👻 This is Low Season, but it’s been Low Season everywhere in Thailand but Koh Lanta is ridiculously quiet. Kerry you’d love it, there are more cats than people! 😻

Our Hotel has approx 50 rooms and there are 4 guests!! This also means that the Hotel restaurant and pool bar are closed, the Walking Street that’s supposed to be by the hotel is closed, there are very few Ferries or Boats to other islands, 90% of the shops, cafes etc are closed!! It’s a bit bonkers. The first night Anita and I went out to find somewhere to eat, it was empty we half expected to see tumbleweed rolling through the streets! 

The big problem with this is a that I’m supposed to be staying here for 5 more days after Anita leaves. I really wouldn’t want to be here alone. So we looked at changing our hotel and went to see another one further down the Island, which online looked great but in reality wasn’t! The upshot is we are staying put at Lanta Pura and I’ll leave with Anita and head back to Ao Nang later in the week. 

The wonderful receptionist/manager, Bee has been so incredibly kind and helpful to us both and we’ve found a couple of places to eat and it is incredibly relaxing and peaceful, so after our initial reticence we are embracing the chilled Island vibe! 😎😎🏝️🤟

The other 2 guests are a lovely young British couple, Megan & Georgia, sadly they left this morning to continue their Thailand adventure, so I guess it’ll be just Anita & I! 

We managed to find an Irish Bar to watch our fabulous Lionesses. A great evening and proud of the team, but well done to Spain. 

Koh Lanta is stunning, the sunsets are insane. I’ve seen some beautiful birds and lots of Fish Eagles.

We have a little trip planned to the Phi Phi Islands tomorrow, it’s on a Speedboat so hopefully it’ll be accident free…..🙄

I have added a couple of pics of the cute Dusky Leaf Monkeys.

I will try to be better at posting.

Missing everyone.

Books read 22

The scent of rain & lightning. Nancy Picard. I enjoyed this book. Thank you Laura. ❤️