We went on a big boat to the edge of the beach and then had to get on a longtail to the shoreline. This was pretty annoying as some people do not seem to understand how to not rock a boat (its not that hard really) one guy nearly tipped it when leaning over to take a photo. You get a bit wet on the jump out of the boat but Ash was the perfect gent and carried the big bags to the beach. We walked around looking for somewhere to stay and found a treehouse type room for 800 baht but it was very hot being on the 3rd floor. We have found Thailand not as cheap as people make out. 'Oh yeah you can travel on 10pound a day' okay, if you dont drink, hardly eat and stay in bed bug and cockroach infested accom, yes. But what kind of quality of life is that for 3 months? We would rather be at home, we are here to enjoy ourselves!!!

It was very hot so we walked around, got a 100 baht cocktail and explored a bit before diving into the pool of the sister hotel which we were supposed to pay to use - oops! No one asked us to pay so we continued using it for the time we were there! We went for tea and found the place not a backpacker haven as advertised in the lonely planet but full of middle aged european tourists. We sat in a beach front restaurant which had terrible service, rude waiters, overpriced food and to top it off they bought us a raw chicken. We headed to a hippy bar on the walk back from the west beach to the east beach and found the place full of white women with their stoner, dreadlocked thai lovers (unusual?!) and then went to a bar called the last bar which came recommended by a friend. The bar was cheap enough, pretty packed and although it was a bit 18-30 there was a good live singer and then the best fire show we have seen so far over here.

The next day we found ourselves a bit fed up, we found that we could not afford the trip to the khao sok national park as we had wanted and found ourselves a bit homesick. It sounds funny to everyone at home but getting on boats and turning up in strange places with no idea where you will sleep that night, carrying huge heavy bags in tropical humidity, finding yourself annoyed at package holiday makers and pretty lonely with dodgy tummies is a recipe for home sickness! We both craved a bit of home comforts, finding ourselves obsessing over the thought of eating oatcakes, sunday lunches, real chocolate and baked beans! We settled on the idea of heading back to koh tao which has been our favourite place so far and to settle somewhere firmiliar for a week before we tackle vietnam and loas. We booked the bus and boat trip there for the next day, spent the morning on the beach which was terribly hot and sweaty but very beautiful, huge cliffs and green sea. Then we cooled off in the pool. That night we went for a all you can eat bbq buffet, eating sea bass and red snapper cooked to perfection, and unlimited salads, rice, potatoes, etc. It was a bargain at 180 baht. We went back and watched a film and had an early night ready for our 6am start for our journey the next day.

We liked Railay but missed the company and fun times of meeting fellow back packers. The beach was amazing but felt far too busy, the lonely planet promised reggae bars and hippie travelers but maybe we will never to trust the lonely planet again, we keep finding crap information in the guidebook book but still refuse to throw it away!