It seems ages since we have updated the blog entries and I suppose to those waiting to read it at home it has been.

We decided to leave Chaing Mai and head down south for that much needed beach time but before we could start that we had to catch another overnight train to Bangkok where we decided this time we would just spend the one night. We were happy that we had picked to stay at the same hotel as before and we confident that all would be fine, that was until we got there. How come it only happens when you're away that within the space of a few weeks they can nearly build a new hotel outside your bedroom window with drilling and banging going on for what seems like 24 hours a day? We a bad night sleep on the train and then in the hotel in Bangkok also we boarded another train to go south, then had a mad scramble with the touts all trying to tell us where the buses went from to get us to the port. We finally worked it out for ourselves and boarded the oldest bus in the world with far too many people on it for safety.

We had studied the Rough Guide book on Thailand till we were blue in the face looking for a decent resort in koh Samui and boy did we find one.

Koh Samui-

Harry's bungalows in Maenam on the north of the Island were just what we were looking for a nice bungalow with only a few minutes walk to the beach and the nicest pool. The staff were great and the food wasn't bad either, heaven!!

We even found a restaurant called sunshine were the chef was called Pooh, luckily her food wasn't. We had a week in koh Samui doing nothing except we had a little ride out to another resort there to buy a few bits and bobs. The stay there was pretty uneventful and just like your standard 7 nights beach holiday you could have anywhere in the world.

We then decided with would head further into the bay of Thailand and try koh phangan. In search of that perfect white sand beach. We had selected a resort called Dreamland from the internet. When we arrived at the port there was a driver holding a board with our names one we felt very special.

Koh Phangan -

The Dreamland resort lived up to its name and was truly a dream, with the exception to the room we had selected. Standard fan rooms when the outside temperature is in the mid 30's and very high humidity don't go together. After a painful night we moved to an air con room, much bigger with a view to the sea from the terrace, in fact only 15 steps and we were on the beach. It was all we could hope for and more and as our confidence grew and we decided to have some fun and hire a kayak. At this point we had been told by many people it was easy and the book and staff all said it was fine and you could go to the next beach and everything.

Kayaking for those that don't know is like canoeing in the sea. Well after 40 mins of us trying to get in the thing and loads of shouting, temper tantrums and all some stranger ran over to say we needed some seals on the front and back else we would keep sinking. I'm sure had after everyone in the restaurant and on the beach was laughing at us and none came to help before we must have realy made there day. We finally got that sorted and then made our merry way across the ocean thinking we could make the next beach which the guide book and everybody says is easy......

Well about half between the two we decided that our balance wasn't going to hold out so we turned around to make our way back to our resort. A big wave came and I do mean a very big wave came and tipped the Kayak over and us two out of it. Luckily we had life jackets on but as we couldn't touch the ocean floor I was getting in a bit of a panic Little Andy tried pushing the Kayak which was capsized and was really heavy, while having to hang onto the oars as well. After a while and from exhaustion and thinking "I'm going to die in Thailand" Little Andy took my oars as well he helpfully suggested I make my way over to some rocks to have a breather.

I got to the rocks exhausted. Unfortunately there was no way I was going to be able to climb them as they were bigger than we first thought and covered with very sharp shells. The water kept wooshing up and pushing me into the rocks then the tide would pull me under the water again. I had no idea if I was up or down inside or out all I know was that even if it killed me I was going to make it on to the rocks. Thinking this was it I started to scream for Andy as I could not take any more my arms had had enough and I had so much sea water in my mouth, up my nose it was too much. Like the true hero he is he throw away the paddles and came swimming over. Now the rest is a blur and I can only go by what I have been told by Andy and the people on the beach. He grabbed me round the neck and said if we wanted to live we had to push away back into the ocean, we both started being bashed against the rocks and dragged under. With a superhumam kick Andy kicked us off the rocks. Andy kicked and yelled and swam and dragged me to wear I could stand.

Thinking we had a lucky escape we both noticed the lovely blue ocean was turning red. Andy went back for the Kayak and was thinking of trying to retrive the oars but gave up as some oars are not of the same value as our lives.

Relieved to be on ground we could walk on we made our way back to the beach. When we got on to the beach my injuries soon became aparant. A bad deep cut to my thumb and foot,down my right arm, on my left hand and deep cuts on my left wrist. My hands looking like they had gone through a meat grinder with bits of skin shredded off. One arm, my hands and feet look like I have gone 10 rounds with a vicious cat and have loads of scratches. With cuts to my chest legs and feet as well we know how serious this all was.

Luckily for us two strangers on the beach went out to retrieve the lost oars (they had been watching from the beach and were having a jolly good time). I needed to go to the local doctors/hospital as infections from sea cuts can be nasty. I have been properly disinfected and have to put coverings and iodine on my cuts for a couple of days. We are both relieved to be alive even though the incident did shake us up.

We are feelings loads better today and have decided ocean activites are not for us and are now looking for Mountains to climb instead.

We now leave here tomorrow later than we wanted but I needed time for my hands etc to heal.

More updates soon.

Love to all xx