69 – 71

27.08.23 – 28.08.23

I now been back in Ao Nang for a couple of days on my own and it’s not been too bad an adjustment.

I think I arrived on a very busy weekend. The music and food festival I mentioned seems to have attracted a few more people and I think the weekends are just busier in general. The hotel was also quite busy. 

It would seem that my RICE technique with my ankle is working and it feels much better the ice is especially helpful. The barman at the pool bar is now familiar with my little plastic ziplock bag, which he fills with ice every day! 😀

I met a lovely family on holiday here from Kettering, they have been travelling around and we’re looking to move off somewhere else so I’ve recommended Koh Lanta as they would like some peace and quiet. I haven’t seen them today so I’m assuming they’ve left. I hope they enjoy it! 

I am kind of second guessing myself now about coming back to Ao Nang 🙄😬 In an ideal world if I hadn’t got a flight booked from here to Bangkok I think I would have gone to Phuket or possibly another Island. It’s always hard to know. I would have also liked to stay at Railay Beach but honestly trying to get on a Longtail Boat with a backpack and a big Case I’m pretty sure would have have killed me!! 😂 I did look at a hotel at Railay that had its own Speedboat, it’s called Rayavadee and it’s gorgeous but it’s also about £400 a night!! 😬😳😀

I think I need to allow myself a few days to chill, especially while my ankle is healing, so that’s what I’m going to do! 

On Saturday night I walked down to the beach and sat at a little bar/shack near the hotel. It’s was so lovely, they were playing Bob Marley (the actual Bob Marley, I’ll come back to this point later!) the sunset was beautiful, I had a couple of Long Islands and simply enjoyed being in the moment. Once the sun has gone down you can see all these green lights on the horizon, which look a little eerie but are in fact Squid fisherman 🦑! 

So, the music here!. Most of the hotels and bars play music and it’s all a very similar playlist but not by the original artists! 😢 It’s usually in a much higher pitch and I swear to god if I never hear Mileys “Flowers” or Bebe Rexha “I’m good” again I’ll be happy, which is a shame as I bloody love these!! 😫

I’ve also developed a liking for the Thai ice creams that they make on a flat frozen surface and chop everything up with a bit of milk! My favourite is Strawberry & Mango! So yummy! 

At least the weather in Ao Nang this time is a bit less Wet! 

The Thai people are incredibly friendly and welcoming, but I’m starting to wonder if there’s actually a subtle attempt to lower the number of tourists by stealth? They are doing this with a combination of: 

Slippery Floors, on every floor, in every single hotel! 

Pools and pool steps in the same colour making the steps invisible to the naked eye! 👀👁️

Steps everywhere, all weird heights and depths that just appear in random places. 

Slippery pavements, the Thais tend to use motorcycles so they aren’t using the pavements as much, sneaky. 

Longtail Boats, enough said! ⛔️

Then there is the general health & safety or lack thereof!! 😂😂😂

Seriously it’s been a mission to survive this far with only limited injuries! 😍😂

PS. I made a surprise appearance in the Daily Mail yesterday! An article about Jamie Oliver’s 15 Restaurant Graduates. One of them, lovely Ben Arthur is a friend who’s done Pop Ups at Coffee on The Corner and they obviously used a photo from one of those nights! I was most surprised to be reading then suddenly see my own face! 😍❤️😂

I think that’s it for now people. 

Happy Bank Holiday Monday in the UK, I guess this means it’s raining or snowing today!! 😂😂

Books read 24

Verity by Colleen Hoover. Excellent I enjoyed this. Thanks Laura (?)