Sunday 1st February - Bans resort

Went for breakfast to the Darawan, nice restaurant on the hill. It was quite sunny although it was early so we sat inside. Unfortunately it was a sitting cross legged (yoga pose) as the table legs were only about a foot high, Thai style. This proved a little difficult for Sam eating a full English (Thai version). After breakfast we headed off to the beach dropping the laundry off first. It'll be ready to collect at 4 tomorrow washed and ironed for the princely sum of £1 a kilo.

Now I thought it wasn't too much of a walk last night, but it did seem quite a way this morning. There was a really steep slope and Sam said, 'this would be lethal in the frost' lol. We thought we had booked 3 nights at Bans but discovered when we arrived it was only 2 so we took Michael's advice and strolled along the beach looking if there was anything else we fancied. We found Sairee cottage just off the beach and it was quite a bit cheaper at £30 a night (almost the same as some campsites)! So we booked in there for 2 nights from tomorrow.

Sam had a swim In the sea but surprisingly it was freezing. Well that's an exaggeration but too chilly for me. We headed back to the bean bag beach hoping to see the sunset but just before, it became really cloudy. So just had a drink there. Then back to the room to get ready to go out and managed to have a little chat on Skype to Pauline and Tom who are waiting for news. We ate at the same restaurant we had breakfast but as the sun had gone in, we sat outside. Had a posh meal of steak for me and fish for Sam and some wine. We had bread with dips to share for a starter and that cost more than our lunch with drinks. We Intended to go back down to the beach but It was already after 10 and I didn't feel like the hike there n back so we went home and I was asleep in 5 minutes!

Monday 2nd February - On the move again Sairee Cottage Resort

Didn't have to be out of our room at Ban's till 11.00 which fitted in quite well with the 12 o clock check in time at Sairee cottage. Sam was getting dressed and couldn't make out why his shorts felt funny. On closer Inspection, he had them on back to front!! We sat and enjoyed the view at Bans before heading off and pulled the cases the 10 minutes down the road and got shown into our room a little early. It's much smaller than the other room but very nice in a garden setting and only and stones throw from the beach and the pool. The other nice thing is that they have deck chairs for guest use right by the sea. There are hardly any beach chairs and no umbrellas on the beach so not comfy reading your book but great today. Took me awhile but I finally took the plunge and it was as they say "lovely once you're in"

We had a plate of nibbles, spring rolls, onion rings, tiny chicken legs (I hope it was chicken) and a little fish cake all washed down with a pina colada. Ah, life is good. Sam may have got a little too much sun as he's looking a little over pink.

Had a sit outside our room and had a glass of wine (smuggled in our case from home) before heading out. Walked into town and had a mooch around then went to the restaurant on the beach for tea. 2 chicken kebabs each with salad or baked potato or chips glass of wine and a beer £8, bargain. Then we went down to the beach to watch more crazy fire performers.

Tuesday 3rd February

Breakfast not included in room tarrif but there's a nice little cafe by the pool so we had it there. Then off to the beach. Not much to report today just lots of chilling, catching up with reading, couple of swims in the sea and a swim in the pool too! Thought I'd leave off having lunch today as I feel pretty stuffed but still managed to polish off a packet of Crisps and a passion fruit mojito.

Sams booked us in the resort for another 3 nights as it's really nice here then we'll go straight to fairhouse villa on Koh Samui and take it from there. We haven't anything booked after that so can play it by ear if we move to another part of Samui or go somewhere else. Still planning on going to chang Mai then another beach resort before heading home. Also booked a full day boat trip round the island tomorrow with snorkeling and lunch included. Pick up at hotel at 9.30am. The sea is surprisingly chilly (well for me it is) so lord knows what I'll be like jumping in tomorrow to snorkel. You'll be able to hear me from home.

Wednesday 4th February

Went on a boat trip around the island today stopping at 3 bays for snorkeling and landing on Koh Nang Yuan. I managed to get in the water without much fuss . Think the dropping in, in the key! Mango bay had the most fish and I took a couple of the biscuits off the boat to attract more fish as there hadn't been that many before. OMG. I thought they were going to eat me! They swarmed all round me and some of them where huge, well really big, anyway. I was screaming into my snorkel and it reminded me of when we were snorkeling with Rita and Ian one time and the bloke off the boat stuck some bread on Ian's mask!! Haha, still makes me laugh thinking about him trying desperately to get it off.

Koh Nang Yuan island is said to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world and we can see why. We had 2 hours here which gave us time to walk up the 230+ steps (seemed like more) to the view point. It was stunning. We walked back down and found a big rock jutting into the sea, which was a bit in the shade and had the benefit of some breeze so we sat on there. Must've looked a good spot (we did have to hop over a fence to get on it) as someone shouted over to us to ask if we wanted a photo as it looked so beautiful.

The island is gorgeous with a little spit of sand in the middle and sea lapping on either side.

I've been surprised at the temperature of the water here. I thought it would be really warm like the Caribbean but it's much cooler. Good once you're in though.

Got back to the resort and had a shower. This shower is fabulous. Like a rain shower, I almost want to stay in it all day. Then a cocktail before our meal. I haven't felt very hungry really so just had a corn on the cob (followed by another cocktail) n Sam had a chicken pad thai. It was a bit quiet on the beach tonight so I went for a massage. Went for the oil one this time instead of the thai and it was lovely. Only problem is they don't have the bed with a hole in for your face so it does put a bit of a crick in your neck. No good for you Rita.

So off to bed now for another day in paradise tomorrow