Heading to Koh Phi Phi from Ko Tao..haha well this was an interesting experience! We just made it to the pier before the boat left having just done a night dive and completed our advanced diving course. Byron and me put our packs on a mound of luggage and stepped on board..all we could do was laugh! It was row upon row of thin narrow mattresses not even broad enough to match my shoulders..sitting down on the lower deck where there was no fans, next to the toilet, and literally on top of the engine..we all laughed at the situation. Well atleast we were in it together! It was so hot on the lower deck I was sticky with sweat lying next to Byron and a big german dude. The crew literally tried to pack as many people on the boat as possible as there were mattresses everywhere, folded over as there was clearly no room what so ever for its entire length. Watching films about slave ships it was obviously no where near as bad but that was probably what I would have compared it to..definitely no night cruise like it suggested haha!

People around me started to move to the upper decks because of the noise of the engine, it was very load especially at the start but once it got going I did kind of get used to it. I just plugged in my iPod and my awesome Beats head phones (thank god! they are literally my life saver on this trip..if I was going to give advise: good headphones are a must!!) and settled down for the night.

Despite the conditions I did sleep quite well. After a few beers Byron too slept reasonably well haha! Getting off the boat at 6ish in the morning we were both quite refreshed. The port was Suratthani but I needed to travel to Krabi to catch another boat to Koh Phi Phi. Byron was heading to Phuket so before I left for Krabi I said goodbye to my Scuba diving Trigger fish buddy haha! Hopefully make it to the west coast of Australia for a visit sometime.

I made it to Krabi and made friends with a guy also travelling on his own called Dominic. He was from England and lived in Leeds in fact (my university) so we had alot in common and talked the whole way to Koh Phi Phi. We stuck together when finding a place to stay and decided to share a room making it cheaper for the both of us. We found some bungalows at the top of a hill for 500 baht a night. The further south you go or if you are on an island the more expensive accommodation seems to get..grim!

For the rest of the day we lay on the beach trying to top up the tan! Also bumped into some uni friends again and met later for some food and drinks. We walked along the beach to find a row of lively bars thumping with music and surrounded with fire throwers..pretty cool place to party! Having a go at the skipping rope then getting a free shot of horrendous vodka after every attempt I didn't pay for a drink all night haha! Cheap traveller is sinking in!

In the morning I met some of Doms friends; two English, two Irish, one Scottish and three Welsh girls haha..we made quite the group! We paid to do an Island tour around Koh Phi Phi Ley which included some snorkeling and spending some time on the amazing beaches around the island. We went to Bamboo Island, Shark Cove, Monkey Island, Viking cave and a beautiful sand bank in between tall mountain like structures..Swimming, snorkeling with some funny pictures it was a really good day.

Our last stop on the boat trip was to Maya beach..this is the beach from the film with Leonardo Di Caprio. It was amazing sand so thick between my toes but it was pretty busy humming with tourists, some quite drunk from the party tour that also landed there at the same time as us. Did spoil the atmosphere alittle bit but nevermind I still got some awesome pictures of such an amazing beach surrounded by the most beautiful cove of mountains..

Getting back to the bungalow it was some aftersun (shoulder was abit pink!) then getting ready for another night out..Drinking games with our group it was another fun night in the town bars then a dance on the beach amoungst the fire throwers..great night!

The next day we just chilled trying to figure out my next stop before moving onto New Zealand. This was the first time I had no idea where to go before making my way to Singapore. Eventually we decided on Ko Lanta! We stayed around the reception making plans and booking tickets to get us there..still didn't actually book our ticket until the morning haha! Before the sunset I ran to the top of the island to check out the view..beautiful but running to the top just in time to see it nearly killed me lol!

The evening was our last on Koh Phi Phi. As one big group we ate at a lovely Italian restaurant where I had pizza and garlic bread :). Then out of nowhere the most rain I have ever seen! In two hours it was knee deep! We took shelter in the girls bungalow; wasn't really the best idea as they happened to be in a valley so accumulated the most amount of water..then making a break for it we ran to our bungalow at the top of the hill. Soaking from the rain and the river at our feet it was a shower and then packing our packs for the trip to Ko Lanta..Mental amount of rain!

In the morning back to beautiful sunshine it didn't take long to get to Ko Lanta, we found a nice place on the beach which had a pool and pretty good accommodation. I found a good spot in the sun, opened my book and read all day! So good! In fact all I did on Ko Lanta was read..I think I must have read 1000 pages in two days; finishing one book and starting another. I didn't do any sight-seeing of the island and so can't really say what it has to offer..I just really enjoyed swimming in the pool and enjoying the sunshine without a care in the world! What I can say about Koh Lanta though is that where we stayed (the main section of the beach but can't remember the name haha) had a beautiful sunset. Small fishing boats in the shallow water to a back drop of a setting sun created a scene for a perfect picture..absolutely gorgeous! I think I'm going to miss the beach..

Well must move on and my next stop is the busy capital city of Malaysia! Kuala Lumpor here I come!

Until then guys,

Nathan