Bangkok to Krabi to Ao Nang to Ton Sai.
In the Bangkok airport while trying to find my flight to Krabi, met Ploi, a new friend. She lives in Bangkok and was on her way to Krabi to catch a little boat to the island of Jum to hang out with her friend for a few weeks. We were both waiting at the wrong checkin counter so we had issues in common right of the bat. At the Krabi airport I ran into Thomas and Sylvie from Switzerland (Thomas had turned 40 in Hanoi). They were just back from three weeks in Burma. We last saw each other when I was heading to Halong/Sapa so that was kind of neat. Ploi and I jumped on the bus for Krabi and met up with Janice in a downtown hotel.
The weather had turned and a big rain storm developed, soaking all of us as we looked for a restaurant for dinner. Ploi asked around in Thai and we found a great cheap place and had a great dinner before wandering around the night market. It was really nice to have a local explain all the different types of fruits and vegetables. We stayed the night and in the morning went our separate ways and I hope to see her again in Bangkok or somewhere else.
Janice is very excited to be back in Thailand and was like a little kid as we headed to the beach. We took a minitruck to the next big town of Ao Nang where we caught a long tail boat to Ton Sai beach. This and the neighboring beach, Railey are said to be the most beautiful beach area in al of Thailand and it is really lovely. the water is bright turquoise and over 30 degrees so there is no shock when you get in or out. We were a little worried about the weather as others had told us that it had been raining a few hours ezch day here as the rainy season begins, but so far so good.
Janice had found us a great little bungalow and it is quite fancy, especially after the basis thatched hut of Laos. The area we are in is a mecca for climbers from all over the world and the specific neighborhood we are in is inhabitanted by numerous climbing schools. The limestone cliffs raise straight up from the sea and the climbers of all nationalities can be seen hanging from the cliff faces. It is really hot and humid as well so their athletic prowess in he heat is remarkable. I think with this climbing culture comes a real old hippy feel with lots of drugs and Jimmy Hendrix and Bob Marley bars in the jungle. We are really right up in the jungle - we only have power from 7 pm to 7 am, by generator and we have monkeys overhead in the tree canopies and the sounds of circadas and other jungle sounds feel the air. They have huge lizards - Monitor lizards -running around, over the path in front of you and they are the size of small crocodiles so it can be quite alarming coming through in the dark. Frogs of all shapes and sizes are jumping in and out of the trees.
The other thing big here is snap line performing. The local guys do circus type acts on tight ropes strung across the trees - jumping up onto the line which is suspended about 40 inches off the ground. They do fire juggling acts while balancing and dancing on these lines. It is a competitive sport and really blows the balance beam out of the water. An international rock climbing and fire performance competition is slated to be held here in a couple of weeks.
Today we rented kayaks and went out for the day around the islands and over to Railey. So nice to kayak in such warm water and we able to jump in and cool off. I got a little sunburned because I bought a new bathing suit yesterday and it is really skimpy - what the hell - so some new skin got the pleasure of sunshine today. This area of Thailand is popular with Swedes so, my bathing suit does not look out of place as many of them are topless and the men in speedos.......you can always find someone with a better body and someone with a worse one so I figured I might as well join the mix.