Day 108 (Sunday 23rd March 08)

Early start to be ready for the taxi down to the pier at 6am. Got some good pictures of the moon and then the sunrise. We were waiting around for a while as to keep up with Thai tradition the taxi driver was late and didn't turn up until about 6:30am so we had a very speedy drive to the pier! Picked up our tickets and got on a smaller boat than we had come on. Arrived in Ko Samui and found out we had to change boats to a big car and passenger ferry. Lugged our bags across and onto the boat and as we couldn't find any seats just sat outside on the floor in the heat. Arrived in Surat Thani at about 10:30am and were put on buses back to the place they had got us to wait for 2 hours on the way out. We were told that the bus would be leaving for Phuket at 11:30am so we didn't think we had long to wait, grabbed some food and went to the toilet and then waited. All the other buses going to different places that we meant to be leaving after us slowly started disappearing and all of us waiting to go to Phuket we still left there. Eventually at about 1pm all of us were piled into 2 trucks with people hanging off the back and headed off. Everyone was hoping we weren't going to be travelling all the way to Phuket in this! Luckily we got dropped off at yet another place and had to wait again! We were then all put into minibuses for the drive to Phuket. Em and Mark went pretty much straight to sleep with the 4 hour drive ahead of them they knew it was best to try not to watch the driving! Unfortunately Mum and Dad stayed awake and started getting very nervous about the driving! Shortly before our driver stopped for a break, after about 2 hours of driving, Mark and Em woke up and we all saw another bike accident that had just happened. He looked like a goner but as we looked back we saw he had got up which we all were relieved about. By the time we stopped Dad was ready to punch the driver's lights out as his dangerous driving was getting Dad annoyed. It wasn't long before we were on our way again and the rest of the journey only took about an hour as the minibus driver was going quite fast! We were all glad that it wasn't us sat in the front of the minibus as the couple that were looked white with fear. The girl even let out a scream when our minibus driver and the minibus driver infront thought it would be a game to see how close they could get to each other. We were dropped off on the highway near the airport to then find our own way to Lotus Lodge, were we were staying. Mum and Dad were very glad to be out of the minibus and that they had made it there in one piece! Tried calling Stephen to pick us up but had no luck in getting through to him until we had found a taxi and were on our way, luckily he directed the driver and it only took 5 minutes. Very pleased to have arrived and checked in, leaving our bags and heading straight for the swimming pool. After a nice refreshing swim we had showers and got ready. Then got a lift down to Nai Yang beach in search of something to eat. Wandered along lots of the restaurants looking at all their different seafood and found some massive tiger prawns and crayfish. Picked out the ones we wanted settled down at our table with some massive cocktails. Mum, Dad and Em had Mai Tais that were bought out in pineapples which were really good. The tiger prawns and crayfish were delicious and we had a really good evening.

Day 109 (Monday 24th March 08)

Up early as there are lots of things we want to see before Mum and Dad go home on Friday. Had picked up lots of leaflets the night before of the different things we could do. Decided the easiest way for us to be able to see all the things we wanted to see after speaking to Stephen was to hire a car as they did give you insurance here! They couldn't drop off a car until 12 noon so after we had breakfast we had a look on the internet and then went for a swim. Headed off once we had the car with Dad driving after much protest. The minibus the day before had put Dad off driving over here. Made our way to Bangthao Beach to find the elephant and horse riding that we had seen. Found it without too much problem and went off to do the elephant riding first so that Mum and Dad could have a go. They were both very nervous about it but once they were on and moving they felt much better about it. Once they had finished feeding their elephant it was to the horse riding. Mum, Dad and Mark a bit nervous but we were soon on our way down to the beach on the horses. Had a very nice ride along the beach and in the sea. Em and Mark went off for a bit of a trot to start with but Mark's horse didn't want to go very fast at all. Once we turned back along the beach to head for home Em's horse just wanted to gallop! Mark decided that he wanted a go too but the most he got was a trot after many attempts with Em trying to help. All dismounted once off the beach and a truck was waiting to take us back to the riding school while the 4 guys that had come down with us took the horses back. Had a much needed drink of water and then headed off to find the Phuket Fantasea. We wanted to book for that night but it was already 5pm when we turned up to book it and the pick up would have picked us up at 5:15pm so there was no chance we would make it. Settled for the next night. Em then had a go at driving after not having driven for 4 months and never having driven an automatic. Went the scenic route back to Lotus Lodge and saw lots of nice beaches along the way. Once we were back got ready and back down to Nai Yang beach for some more massive prawns! Again very tasty.

Day 110 (Tuesday 25th March 08)

Had another early breakfast and set off with Em driving and Mark navigating to find the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre. Got very lost! After a long time driving around seeing lots of amazing scenery and then asking someone we eventually found it. Very sad to see what some of the poor gibbons had been through and obviously it is very hard to get them back into the wild. After seeing the gibbons we then made our way up to the waterfall right next to the gibbons. It was a long hot walk up and again not much water but nice to see. By now it was about lunch time and we went back down to the car and drove onto Phuket town. We wanted to find where there was some good souvenir shopping but didn't have much luck. Thought we had found a shopping centre and parked the car but soon found out that it had moved since the Tsunami. Our "friendly stranger" who informed us of this was very keen to take us to where we could do some shopping or for us to follow in our car. As we were running out of time before we had to be back to Lotus Lodge to get ready for the Phuket Fantasea we said we would follow. When he said it would only cost 20Baht we knew he must be taking us to a dodgy gem shop. We were soon proved right so had a quick look around and moved on. Gave up with finding anywhere to do some shopping so Mark took over the driving and we made our way slowly back to Lotus Lodge stopping at Bangthao beach again to look at a couple of shops and getting something to eat. Then realised we were running out of time so made our way back to Lotus Lodge and got ready for our pick up. Decided not to take cameras as it said no photos were allowed at the show. Arrived at the Phuket Fantasea and it looked amazing. Started walking through the shopping area and there were so many nice things to buy. Bought some presents and realised we were running out of time for the buffet so made our way to the amazing building where the buffet was. We were all starting to wish we had a camera as the structures they had built were fantastic. After a good buffet and wine we went into the building that they have built to look like the Angkor Wat to see the show. As you walk in you have to give in all cameras and phones that have cameras so it was now we were pleased we didn't have the cameras. Then you passed through an area where there were many different photo opportunities. It was sad to see the baby elephants and baby tigers being forced to stay there for many people to have their photo with. Only just made it into the show before it started. The show was amazing but the parts with the animals in were hard to watch as it was clear to see how scared they were. We all thought that the costumes and dancing were fantastic but could have been better if they didn't include the animals. On the way out picked up our photos and got our drop off back to Lotus Lodge.

Day 111 (Wednesday 26th March 08)

The plan was to do a fishing trip today so had our breakfast and set off with Mark driving and Em navigating to Ao Chalong pier. Took only about an hour and we were there. Found ourselves a fishing boat to go out on and were soon on our way for some big game fishing. Had the whole boat to ourselves which was really nice and we had the run of the boat. Stopped off at an island nearby to pick up our lunch and carried on out to sea. Soon after the deckhand started setting up the rods. Once he had finished this he then sorted out our lunch which was lots of rice with vegetables, omelette and some chicken. Very nice to get lots of sun out on the sea. Soon saw lots of fish jumping out of the water and before long we landed our first catch. Mark reeled this one in and we waited for another tug on the lines. Dad was up next as we soon had a second one. We then carried on trailing for a while seeing some other big boats netting and people swimming in the nets to make sure the fish didn't get out! We were also lucky enough to see some dolphins slightly further out to sea. It was Em's go for our next bite on the rod but unfortunately at the last minute the fish jumped the hook! It wasn't long before 2 of the reels were going so Em had another go in the seat bringing in another fish while Mark took the other bringing in his second fish. After a while of things being quiet the deckhand asked us if we wanted him to cook one of the fish to try. We were all still full from lunch but of course said yes. He gutted the fish and stuffed it with herbs and spices and cooked it in the wok. All of us said it was probably the best fish we have ever had! To our surprise one of the reels then started going again so it was Dad's second go. Unfortunately this one also got away. By now it was about 4pm so they started heading slowly back towards land. On the way back seeing some more dolphins. Mum, Em and Mark were sat on the bow when they wondered where Dad had gone as they hadn't seen him for a while! Mark went to investigate as we thought he was on the fly bridge. Sure enough he had snuck up there for a sleep! Sneaky Mark took some nice photos for evidence! Ha Ha! A very enjoyable fishing trip and lots of sun! Em took over the driving and Mum suggested we go back along Patong beach to have a look. Driving through by the beach we found a massive market! Mum was very happy! After a while of driving around with all the crazy Thais we found somewhere to park and walked back towards the shops. After a while of shopping we headed back to the car stopping for something quick to eat on the way. It was then back to Lotus Lodge for beer and backpacker!

Day 112 (Thursday 27th March 08)

Last day for Mum and Dad! Up and had breakfast and drove up to the airport as Mark and Em wanted to find out if a bus went from there to Krabi. Found out our best bet and cheapest was to get the public bus from along the highway. We then went down to the beach. Stopping at Nai Thon as this was meant to be a nice beach in the day. Decided we had seen a nicer beach the other day and headed further along the coast to Layan. Had a lovely swim in the sea and just getting ready to sunbathe when it started raining! Couldn't believe it! Luckily it didn't last long and we were soon lying in the heat again. Walked up to get an ice cream and had a nice relax on the beach. Dad went off to try and find somewhere good to snorkel without much luck as nothing was a good as it had been in Koh Pha Ngan. Left around 5pm to go and find somewhere to fill the car up with petrol and then back for our last swim in the nice pool at Lotus Lodge. Then Mark drove us down to Nai Yang beach for The Last Supper. Had lots of nice food - mussels and tiger prawns. Won't be anymore of that sort of food now were are going back to backpacking! Back to Lotus Lodge to finish of the beers we had bought and the chocolate Mum and Dad had bought over. What a wonderful, fun 2 weeks we had!