So after our not so great guesthouse experience in Phi Phi we decided to treat ourselves in Koh Lanta. We stayed in Lanta Residence & spa. According to the website there is a sushi restaurent and spa- there was neither, but there was a rooftop swimming pool,lovely spacious rooms with balconies and ac so I was more than happy. After so much partyig before, during and after the wedding everyone was ready for some serious r 'n r so we spent the next few days just chilling at the beach and pool. Koh Lanta has a really chilled vibe with nice little local restaurants. The whole island is based around 2 main roads that run on either side of the 30km long island. For me the best places were the little shacks of bars and restaurants that run off the main road down little dirt paths. Long beach, in the centre of the island on the west side is where most of the action is. We spent most of our time in a beach bar/ restaurant called 'Somewhere Else' They had little bamboo huts that could fit up to 6-8 people, on the beach front where you could sunbath during the day and have dinner and or drinks in the evening and so could quite easily spend the whole day and night there, which we definitely did a few days.
Now at this point the group was getting smaller by the day. By day 7 it was just me and the happy couple, so after a great night on the town with the new Mrs Crutchley- we were all bound for Bangkok the following morning to go our seperate ways.


Now there is a strong argument that traveling in Thailand is now almost too easy. Traveling by bus & boat from the islands to Bangkok is the perfect example of this. You're picked up from your hotel in a minibus taken to an office or port where there stick a label on you like a package to be shipped saying paid for and the property of x company or perhaps more aptly 'if found please return to...' Now after around 4 minivans and a collection of coloured stickers any kid would be proud of we eventually made it to the coach to take us to Bangkok. And despite the hour or more delay along the way we arrived at 5am way ahead of schedule. So after a sleepy farewell to the happy couple who were eventually getting peace to go and start their actual honeymoon in Cambodia, meand my new found Dutch friend from the bus set off to find some accommodation.

I really wanted to stay in Rambutti the street running paralell to Khao San road which is much cleaner, less hectic and has much nicer places for cheaper than khao san, however after quite a few knock backs I ended up in old faithfull koh san in Top Inn- right in the centre of the madness. No rest for the wicked I had to go straight to an internet cafe and book my flights to Burma for my visa application. So all booked off I went to the embassy to queue for nearly 2hours to leave my passport and apply for the visa.

It was the last of the wedding crew Cyrie & Spencer's last night in Bangkok so we arranged to meet up for drinks in the sky bar in the state tower, which features in ' The hangover 2' Its a gorgeous rooftop restaurant and cocktail bar with great views over Bangkok- really worth a visit!

And then as if to come full circle, the next night I bumped into Dave the Dutch guy I'd befriended on the bus and we had a very typical Khaosan road night. At one of the fine establishments we visited (Guliver's Travels I think) we met a Thai girl who was drowning her sorrows with a bottle of whiskey to herself. Apparently her English boyfriend and dumped her for her friend and she was broken hearted. So we as the good samaritans that we are took it upon ourselves to cheer her up and help her out with the whisky (for her own good of course!)

Anyway after lots of fun, a little planning and one approved visa I was all set for Burma!