So here's the scoop...
8 days in and we've covered alota ground/sea/sky
As a novice backpacker we decided to ease ourselves into the culture by staying in a prebooked hotel in Bangkok. It turned out to be great, cheap by Canadian standards...faking expensive according to thai backpacking standards. Oh well we enjoyed the air con and gym for our first 3 nights. We mastered the train system and bartering at the markets, and toured Wat Pho (which inhabited one of the first Thai massage colleges)
Getting sick of the city congestion and heat...we decided to fly to
Phuket and spend the next 9 weeks island hopping in the south before making our way to Chaing Mai for school.
We arrived in Phuket with only one thing in mind...avoid Patong Beach! We thought Kata beach sounded nice. So after 2 hours racing around the streets of god knows where...our bus driver drops us off in the pouring rain at a random corner. 60 lbs in our packs, and the first 5 rooms were not lucky enough to have someone to
show us around...we finally found the place! Kata Palece...that's right, "ece". Kata brought good food, mellow atmosphere and lotsa rain every afternoon. This suited us fine as our routine...2:30 am-awake, 6:45- finally time we can get up and go for a run, 10 am SURFING! That's right, land locked princess nomore!!!!! This girl can catch a wave.
Although the beach was nice we decided to see what else was in the area. Joining Eric and Nan we boarded the Red boat and took at 5 island tour. A bit of an overcast sky didn't take away from the beauty of 400 islands on the horizon on an 11 hour adventure. Stopping at James Bond Island, a floating Muslim village and canoeing thru caves, I'd say it was a well spent $55.
Although Phuket island was fun and relaxing...we were up for some new scenery after a short 3 days. We ventured over sea to Koh Phi Phi; an island with no roads, and no rules;)
Day 1 rock climbing, nothing better than hanging from a neon rope with the view of the island and both bays.
The isolation and 8pm bed times are starting to get to me...so a nap on the beach this afternoon and a few Leo's we're ready for some social interaction.
Cheers til next time
Beth
Pictures will follow soon