Sunday 22nd April

Today we checked out to go to Monkey Island, we grabbed breakfast/brunch before meeting at Monkey Republic to get the bus to the boat. We had to pick up some more travellers before we got to the boat at the bus station. We arrived there, no one was there. So we went to the boat, Micky (one of the staff from the island who picked us up, who is a girl by the way) got a call saying the bus has arrived. So we turned back around, we were so close to the boat. Returned to the station, nope still no one. So we went back to the boat. Literally the same spot below, Micky got another call saying they were there and we had to check all bus stations. There is only one main bus station which is pretty new, but generally most bus companies have their own station, i.e. right outside their office. So off we went in search of these elusive backpackers. I suggested to everyone already on board giving them evils etc. It was two Canadian girls, oh Canada!

Finally we were enroute (for the last time) to the boat, we got aboard, which is a bit of a balancing act. With a big rucksack and a day sack walking the plank (literally) downwards was horrible. We started sailing across for two hours to reach Koh Rong. It looked lovely, nice white beach and blue see through water, just like in the postcards and we're in it!

We docked at the pier, getting off this time was harder, an uphill steep struggle. I forgot that my bag was taller than me and hit the roof of the boat, I nearly fell in the water. Bags and all. Two of the staff had to grab me before I did. That would have been a story and a half if it did happen!

We walked a little down the beach to the Monkey Island bar and booked in, we were staying in a little bungalow, shared bathroom, with hammocks outside on the balcony overlooking the water. I'm not going to lie, it was lush! We literally got changed and jumped in the water. It was a lot cooler than the main land. It was lovely, we floated (I did Stu can't) in the water for hours. Stu went off to play volleyball and I got washed and dressed and sat at the bar drinking. The resort set you up a tab so you don't have to pay anything (which is dangerous in a way) until you left. It was nice just sitting next to the bar looking out to the sea. I sat and chatted to the bar staff while Stu played games, I got hungry so ordered some food. It's a bit of a relaxed life here, there are no roads, no motor vehicles, other than boats. Just great. The lights get turned on around 6 pm and get switched off every night at 12:30 pm. So if you need to get up in the middle of the night, you need your torch.

I had an earlyish night, I tried to sleep but got disturbed by the random noises you can hear. The geckos make the strangest noises, it sounds like they are saying gecko in a croaky voice. Rather bizarre when you're trying to sleep!

Monday 23rd - 25th April

Once again, we spent our time lying on the beach, swimming, sitting at the bar and generally doing less than on the main land. We stayed an extra three nights. We met a lot of different people, most have come here and never left and got jobs and the three main resorts. We stuck up a friendship group with two Aussies, one Scottish and four English peeps. We booked a boat one day to go around the island and snorkel and visit the village. It was really good fun, I actually felt a little sea sick, maybe it was the beer from the previous night?! We jumped in the water at various spots, getting in was more difficult. I was struggling, at one point Stu got out to pull me up but thought it would be a good idea to grab the bottom of my bikini, resulting in giving me a huge wedgey and showing my bum to everyone! So embarrassing! We also visited 7k beach, which is 7 km long. It was gorgeous. I had been warned it was swarming with sand flies so I stayed in the water for 4 hours! I was too scared to leave the water! The waves were a lot bigger than the other side of the island. The water was a lovely turquoise blue and green, we sat up on the beach bar to watch the sunset. It was a perfect ending, the colours were a beautiful pinks and oranges and reds. We set off back to the boat and climbed (gracefully?) on board and headed back to the resort. It had turned into night by the time we got back. We quickly got washed and dressed and went for a BBQ on the beach. I have barracuda and shrimp, freshly caught that day. It was delicious! We didn't really do much else; play volleyball, drink beer, ate good food, played card games with the bar staff, lying on the beach, wandering around the island, sleeping in the hammock. You know, the hard life!

I did have a horrible night where I woke up sleeping with a few ants, had a tiny freak out while trying to get rid of them! I should be grateful the Canadian girls had a rat in their room. They took one of the dogs with them, the useless one! I would have taken a cat with me! They left the next day!!

On the island there are the bio luminous plankton that glow in the dark, so 2 am after being in the bar we ventured out into the water. WOW! It is possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen, every time you move it glows! Plus the stars were out and you could see the Milky Way! I don't know how long we stayed in there, but just floating looking at the stars and playing with plankton!

On our last night Stu went to bed early, he was feeling really ill bless him. I was going to read for a bit at the bar before going to bed, this was a silly idea. I got talking to Olivia we were both tired and going to go to bed early, but I managed to summon this energy and stayed up to watch the sunrise outside our bungalow! It was equally beautiful as the sunset the previous night.

People have said to us that this is what Thailand was like 10 years ago, before all the tourism. It seems a shame as I think this will be the next victim, there has been building permission for an airport, golf course and massive resorts. I believe the Chinese are buying up these land leases and building the property. I think they should not have allowed this, they should improve what they have and make this island stay the same as it was.