Sawadee Ka

The catamaran journey to Koh Sumai took 4 hours Cait thinks these were the worst 4 hours of her life! The sea was very rough and despite taking 2 Sea sickness pills she still managed to fill a little plastic bag. As the sea was so rough we had to disembark at a different pier than planned; rob used his best haggling skills to get a taxi for the wiery travellers. After trying to get a good price the driver came back with a great line "your in Sumai now" it was then we realised we would have to settle for tourist prices and off to Hutcha we went.

We were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at Hutcha that the stagnant river running through the resort was not a sewer! We were shown to our superior villa which boasted air-con fridge, TV (which had the CSI channel) and an outdoor rain shower. As soon as we got in the room cait insisted I hang up the fairy lights and that we put our Christmas cards up around the TV, this year we had a Christmas TV instead of Tree. After a quick worship of the sun gods and dip in the pool we had speedy showers ready to meet Fi & Mark. We all went for dinner in a pink thai themed restaurant overlooking the sea in the next bay along. Rob's curry was very spicy and Fi had a whole crab for the first time.

The next day was Christmas Eve so after spending the day by the pool we went to Chaweang for the usual Christmas eve drinks. In Chaweang we met up with Sarah and another couple we met in Vietnam, Steve & Sarah. Before drinking we thought we better line our stomachs, we found a restaurant that served a whole meal for only 40 baht.

Waking up on Christmas day with slightly fuzzy heads we exchanged Christmas presents; we set ourselves a 10 dollar limit. Rob got me the best present which was a photo of me and my family at Mum & Dad's 25th WA in a coconut shell frame. We managed to make to breakfast before 10 for once where we had poached eggs. We then went to the pool wearing the angel and reindeer headbands mum had sent us. We arranged to meet the others at 2 to have a traditional Christmas lunch in an English pub in Chaweang but despite getting a taxi in plenty of time we were 40 minutes late as usual. To our surprise, and delight it was LUSH!! I had 2 yorkshire puddings that I'd been craving for the last 4 months. There was even cheesecake for desert and magners at 5 quid a bottle! After finishing our feast we all waddled outside to get a taxi back to the resort where we had wine and cocktails.

The next few days we sat by the pool ate chips with garlic mayo, tasty curries and drank vodka.

We left Sumai on another boat heading for Koh Phangan on the 30th Dec. this boat only lasted an hour luckily so Cait was not ill but felt it! We arrived at our private beach resort and were shown to our bungalow, oh no back to basics!!

As usual we spent the next 2 days lounging around. On NYE Sarah came over from Sumai to meet us. After a few vodkas and dinner we got in the over crowded pickup truck heading for Haad Rinn where the Full moon party of the year was about to take place. Somehow we managed to get to the centre of the beach party without paying to get in. Maybe this was due to using hideously smelly toilets in a party hotel that looked trashed already.

A bit of Dizzee rascal and thai whiskey buckets later we battled our way onto the beach for the midnight countdown.

After some fireworks, some stuff we don't remember and about two taxis we eventually got back to our resort a little worse for wear.

We woke the next day around noon with very swore heads so we watched two movies in bed and then managed to get up properly around dinner time.

On the 2nd and 3rd we did the usual until around noon when the heavens opened. Luckily today the clouds parted whilst we went on an elephant ride. After a bit of persuasion from the guide, I rode on the elephant's head which was a magical experience. We'd been back at the bungalow just long enough to eat marmite sandwiches when again the heavens opened and it still hasn't stopped.

Last night we went to the town along the coastal road and Rob stupidly let me go in the shops and I was allowed a new nail varnish and some chop stick holders; when I told him I 'needed' to go to Tesco he put his foot down by guiding me towards an Italian restaurant. I managed to confuse the waitress, who was Italian, but Rob eventually got his pasta HEHE

Tomorrow we have another 4 hour boat journey to endure, FUN! As we head to Krabbi.