Phi Phi to Aonang

The massage on Phi Phi was amazing. Slathered in coconut oil the ladies really got to work on all our sore muscles. Let me tell you- this is not relaxing if you have tense muscles, but you do feel good afterwards!

Tee had an afternoon nap and I made my way to the beach. I read my book, enjoyed a swim and just relaxed. It was the perfect alone time.

We then went shopping when it had cooled down somewhat and If the stalls had had more western sizes, I would have bought more things!

We stopped at a Sports Bar and had some real western food, it was great!!

We had to check out the next morning, but were only boarding the ferry at 3, so we made the most of our air-conditioned room, found a pizza joint on the beach with free WiFi and then made our way to the ferry

At least this time it was airconditioned!

I have not started on my Novel for November Novel Writing Month, so I put a good hour or so into beginning it. I have to finish this challenge, it would be really fun!

Our hotel in Aonang is amazing. The island is pristine, the people are super friendly and their english is very good. Prices also seem to be higher here.

We enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant and then made our way to the pharmacy for Aloe Vera oil for me and a McFlurry for Tee.

Oh and I bought myself a pair of nailclippers! I had left mine behind an my nails have been irritating me! I even had a dream about nailclippers! :-p

This morning we were up early for our elephant trek through the jungle. The asian elephants are a lot smaller than the African elephants, but nevertheless, these gentle giants are still daunting when you stand next to them.

We went for a leisurely walk through the jungle. Our bare feet rested on their backs and it was an amazing experience to feel the thick skin and hair under our feet. We got a chance to pose sitting on her neck and I really hope that these animals are treated well. A few trainers seem to be a bit harsh and you can see a few marks on their skin from the bullhook, but I sincerely hope they were superficial. Our trainer said he did not use the hook and it was only there for emergency. He seemed to really love the elephant though. But unfortunately he only works there, doesn't own them.

We came back to our hotel and had another sleep. It is incredible how the heat drains a person!

We are off to do some shopping in a bit and then all meeting for our final dinner tonight

There are some good people in our group, but then there are some really loud, obnoxious people. We try to avoid them!

Right, I have shopping to do, so I will say cheerio for now!!

Paradise that is....

... .....Phi Phi Islands


After an extremely long wait on a stuffy boat, we eventually arrived on the Phi Phi Islands on Monday. A walk through the town to get to our hotel was a fun way to see the area and see what was up for sale.

The islanders are not as friendly as on Phuket, but at the same time also not as insistent at trying to get you to buy something.

I finally got to see a gorgeous wood carving for the wall and I really want it, but I am not sure whether we will be allowed to take it back into the country.
Arriving at our hotel- The Bay Resort - we were awestruck. Literally on the beach. The sea sand leads right up to the stairs of reception to check in. Our room is on the 1st row and as I type this I am lying on my bed looking out at the tree covered mountains and the gorgeous sea with the little wooden boats sailing by. The water is sparkling turquoise that leads into a dark blue. Oh my goodness, we have arrived in paradise!

We can swim on this private beach whenever we want to,we just have to roll down the hill!

Our first night we had a group dinner buffet style at the hotel overlooking the water.


I never thought I would say this, but I am getting a bit tired of the rice and curries and prawns (yes I have eaten prawns almost every day!) I have been craving some pizza!

 Afterwards we visited a place called Hippie Bar and watched the Firedancers perform their magic. Its a great show to watch. The bartender also gave me a free Mojito- score! :-)

Yesterday we took a boat tour out to all the islands. The speed boat collected us on the beach and off we went. With stops at Maya Bay (the famous beach in the movie The Beach) and Monkey Island (where people can feed the monkeys) Bamboo Island (no bamboo in sight) and also Viking Island, we got to swim in each areas seas and watch the little yellow and black fish devour slices of bread. These fishes are not scared of you and swim literally 3cm in front of you.


The scenery surrounding us while swimming was breathtaking as the magnificent rock faces rose majestically out of the water around us.

You could feel their presence as they watched over us and marvelled at all they have silently seen before us.

Do not diss our hats - they saved many a sunburnt nose!

Practising: - This is my expression if I were a rich snob who owned her own boat

Exhausted at the end of the day, we nibbled on fresh pineapple and watermelon pieces as we were dropped back on our beach. A few hours to recover and find ourselves a white tshirt and we joined the group for a western style dinner. After some huge pitchers of cocktails (Tee and I shared the Sexy Beach) and Towers (literally) of beer, we began writing and painting all over each other. The things that came out were hilarious:-

"I am gay- and not in a happy way"

"Rub and tug- 5 Baht"

"I can Ping Pong better"

"Does this shirt make me look gay"

"I like to Phi Phi (pee pee)"

Fan: - Mandatory in the heat of Thailand

We paged through a tattoo book and I was so tempted to get a little chinese sign (Love) on my hip. I've been wanting to do it forever and to get it in Thailand would be awesome!

We made our way to another bar called Slinkys and watched an even more spectacular Firedancing show. Around midnight we made our way home and showered and fell into bed. Exhausted!

Today is a go slow day. We dragged ourselves out of bed to quickly get breakfast and now we are relaxing. We will be going for a massage just now - I would like the coconut massage- and then some bits of shopping and then lounging on the beach to try get a tan.

I have been slathering on the 20SPF sunscreen and as a result I am not tanning. As you put it on, you have a swim then you re-apply and so it repeats! Its just too hot to lie still for long enough to get a tan!

Bond, James Bond & Simon.... Cabaret that is

After an on-time wake up (with me stressing the whole night about oversleeping that I got no rest) we finally boarded our speedboat, led by a very enthusiastic guide- Nush - we were on our way!


Zooming over the water and watching the clusters of islands go by and thinking to myself: we are finally in Thailand, now it feels real!

We had so many photo opportunities that I filled up my memory card!

We stopped for lunch on some floating restaurants and did a bit of shopping (I thought there would be better shopping later, but there wasn't) and I wish I had bought more!

We docked at THE James Bond Island used in the Roger Moore: Man with a Golden Gun.

The rock jutting out of the water is enough to make us camera-weilding tourists turn into a group of rabid dogs frothing at the mouth as we all eagerly try for our 5 seconds to pose for a photo to capture the memory!

Later on to Naka beach where we got to swim and laze a bit on the beach and our picturesque day was complete!

One damper for the day: Tee got a fish bone caught in her throat, which was not fun at all, she finally only managed to dislodge it when we got home and all seems to well in paradise again.

In the evening we watched a show called Simons Cabaret. I've never seen such gorgeous costumes and stage sets! All the performers are men, turned ladies. You can't help but marvel at their beauty.

Apart from 2 of them (one had a man's legs and the other had a very muscular bum) the rest were so ladylike and poised, you found yourself forgetting that they were once men!

The choreography was a bit off, but the show is definitely worth seeing. Photos were prohibited, so I unfortunately have nothing to show but my memories.

So far I have noticed a huge difference between the Thai and Malay people: the Malay people are for the most part (taxi drivers excluded) a very calm and peaceful nation, the ladies are true ladies. The Thai people are very coarse, very loud people.

Having said that- I love that the life in Phuket seems to be so laid back and simple.

We are on to Phi Phi tomorrow and we will see what that has in store for us.

Somewhere in between all these tours, I still need to catch a tan!