Day 103 (Tuesday 18th March 08)

Luckily Em woke up at about 4:15am to ask Mark the time for about the tenth time that night as we were meant to be getting off for our stop at 4am. Em stuck her head out the door to see if there was anyone in the corridor to ask if we had missed our stop. Fortunately for us there was another couple heading to the door and they were also getting off at Surat Thani and said that it was the next stop. We all got our things together quickly and headed out to wait by the door. We were starting to think we had missed our stop after waiting for a while but then one of the attendants appeared and said that it was the next stop. It ended up that the train stopped at about 5am and we all got ushered along to a little cafe and sat outside until the bus was ready to take us down to the pier. About half an hour later the bus picked us up and dropped us off at what we thought was the pier. We then found out that it wasn't and that we would be waiting here for another 2 hours for another hour long bus journey down to the pier. Even though we were all hungry we still resisted the temptation of food as wanting to get a bit closer to where we were staying before we risked getting ill! We watched the sunrise and a lot more people get dropped off at the same place and eventually at 8am we all piled onto buses to take us to the pier. It was straight onto the boat at the pier and we left our bags on the top of the boat and went down below to grab some seats before they were all taken. The boat was packed with tourists. We couldn't resist the food any longer and Mum and Dad had a roll and Mark and Em got potnoodles, not wanting to risk any uncooked food. The boat arrived at about 12 noon in the blistering hot heat. We had to make our way through the crowd to find our bags as they were chucked off the boat. Then met up with the guy picking us up from the Royal Orchid Resort and walked down to his truck. Another 20 minute journey and we were checking in to our huts and dumping our bags so we could chill out! Mum and Dad were a bit shocked as it was nothing like what it looked like on the internet but Mark and Em were used to this. Had a shower and then popped down for something to eat. Spent the rest of the afternoon chilling out and Dad went for a snorkel. Then in the evening went down expecting to have some nice fish and prawns. To our disappointment they hadn't caught any that day so we couldn't but they promised some the next day. Ended the day by playing more backpacker, Mum and Dad getting very into it!

Day 104 (Wednesday 19th March 08)

Bit of a lie in this morning after our long journey and short night's sleep on the train. Had some breakfast with Mum and Dad and then lay on the beach while Mum went for a foot massage and Dad went off exploring. Found it very hot to lie out for too long so when Dad came back we left him with the bags and went off along the other beach to where it was nicer for swimming. Had a nice refreshing swim and lay in the sea and then wandered back to meet Mum and Dad. Em and Mark decided to buy some masks and snorkels as Dad had said how amazing it was the day before. Then all headed back along the beach, left Mum with the bags and Dad, Mark and Em went off snorkelling. Saw some amazing fish and coral and soon realised that this was the place boat trips bought people from all over the island to snorkel. Walked along back to the resort and got and ice cream, went for a shower and read our books. Then down for our promised fish and prawns. We weren't disappointed this time and had some very big and tasty prawns as well as delicious fish.

Day 105 (Thursday 20th March 08)

Lazy morning this morning, then went and met Mum and Dad for some breakfast. Walked over to the sand bar that connects the main land with the island and left our things with Mum and again went off snorkelling. Again saw lots of amazing fish and coral but got a bit worried when we saw a load of bubbles moving in a weird direction but towards us slowly. Once it was a lot closer we then realised that it was a diver so we had a sigh of relief, panick over! Em and Mark headed back slowly towards Mum while Dad carried on. When we were nearly back Em felt something on her leg which made her jump and scream. Funnily enough it was Dad with the underwater camera running it up her leg and succeeded in making her jump. Back on the beach we chilled out watching the world go by until the sun started setting. Very nice and relaxing. It was then back to the bungalows to chill out in the hammocks and read our books. Later we had a shower and went for some more prawns and fish with a few beers, and played some more backpacker!

Day 106 (Friday 21st March 08) - Full Moon Party Night

Up earlier today to have some breakfast and be ready for the taxi that leaves at 10am. Got dropped off in Song Thala (the town) and had a look around at the shops and a little market. Had to resist buying anymore of the nice things as we had already filled Mum and Dad's spare suitcase. As we wanted to see some of the island asked around to see if we could hire a car. Found out we could hire a jeep but then after found out that they wouldn't give us any insurance for it. Quickly decided against it and knew our only option was to bargain for a taxi for the day. Starting bargaining with one of the guys and quickly found out he had a very strange idea of bargaining. He gave us a price and we said a price that was slightly lower to which he said no and offered an even lower price. We were very quick to agree and soon on our way to Haad Rin up and down the very steep roads. Once we arrived had a look around the town and Mum found an Oakley shop where she bought some very nice new sunglasses and some new lenses for her old pair. While the new lenses were being sorted out we went for a drink as it was so hot and then wandered further up the road and bought some hammocks. After we had picked up the sunglasses we then went back towards where our driver had dropped us off and then headed off in the direction of the beach where the full moon party takes place. Having a quick look we could see that there was already lots of people there getting into the swing of things but still lots more to come as there is normally around 10,000 people. Back to our taxi and we went back along the steep roads to stop again in Thong Sala to buy some fishing rods that we had seen cheap as hoping this might give us some free meals in Oz! It was then onto see the waterfall which was dry! Even though it was dry we could see it would be very impressive in the wet season. Next stop was the Chinese Temple which again was amazing and the scenery around was beautiful. Our last visit was a Wat so that Mum and Dad could see what a Thai temple looks like. Got dropped back at our resort and we chilled out for a while and then starting wrapping some of our things to go home and trying to pack everything into the suitcase. Had a shower and then down to have some cocktails with Mum and Dad before having yet more fish! Then took some more beers out onto the beach and sat for a while watching the stars and relaxing.

Day 107 (Saturday 22nd March 08)

Up earlier again today to finish packing everything into the case before we move on tomorrow. Whilst packing everything away we also packed all our valuables into our backpacks as planning to go off in kayaks today. Didn't realise until it was too late that we also packed away the padlock keys so couldn't get them out. Tried to work out a way of getting them out without breaking a padlock but with no lock so gave up and went for some breakfast with Mum and Dad. After we had finished it was back to try and pick the locks of the padlocks, with no luck we had to saw through one padlock with Mark's penknife. Need a new padlock now! Went back down to the restaurant to hire 2 kayaks and left our things with Mum and she didn't want to come out. Dad went off in one kayak and Mark and Em in the other, both with a fishing rod each that we had bought the day before. We headed off round the island and Mark soon realised he was onto a good thing with Em rowing and him fishing. Mark took over when Em's arms got tired! After we had gone round the island we then headed to a beach we had spotted that you could only get to by boat. After a nice swim Dad had arrived to and we went off exploring. Dad decided he wanted to get a coconut off one of the trees. He found a big bamboo but couldn't reach so found another long bamboo and lashed the two together. After much exhausation he managed to get one down! Mark then decided he wanted a go. His rice and vegetable diet had weakened him but with a joint effort from Dad got another one down. It was then in the sea for another refreshing swim and headed back to the beach to meet Mum. Chilled out on the beach and in the sea and then went back to the resort. All got an ice cream and asked the guys to open the coconuts for us to try. We then went back for a shower and Mark and Em went off to use Skype further up the road. When we got back to the resort we found Mum and Dad enjoying cocktails so decided to join in! Again had something nice to eat with the champagne that we hadn't been able to drink in Bangkok as Em was to ill to celebrate the engagement. A very nice relaxed evening.