Hey everyone

Today was speedboat day! We got up at 8am or so and were downstairs and ready by 8:20. We walked to the beach and boarded our swish looking speedboat. There was room for 4 or 5 people at the front, and the rest (20) sat in the back. Alex got a seat in the front and when everyone was on board, the engines were started. It was a beautiful sunny day as we began the 45 minute journey to the first island. The boat quickly picked up speed and though it wasn't very bumpy in the back, it was REALLY bumpy in the front! We knelt on our seats so we could see where we were going, and the wind blasted in our faces as the front of the boat went up a wave then dropped down with a very hard thud. It was a lot of fun but we had to hold on tight.

The first island looked like paradise - white sands, a deep blue sea, palm trees and coral. Some of our group went snorkelling in the sea, whilst others just took in the views. Next we went around some beautiful bays as well as some caves in the limestone. We went to an amazing lagoon which features in the movie The Beach! In one of the bays we went snorkelling off the side of the boat and it was amazing seeing colourful fish so close up. Christina was sensible and had a lifejacket on, but this made her a sitting duck because she couldn't move much in it. The guys on the speedboat found it hilarious to throw bananas next to her making loads of fish scramble around her. Later they found it funny to pour ice cold water over Alex as he swam alongside the boat...

After the first snorkelling of the day we went to a beach in the same bay, and had some time to play in the sea. Christina is very proud of herself as she learnt how to swim on her back and float on her back too. Well done Christina.

For lunch we stopped on Phi Phi Island and had a mix of food... There were fish cakes, spaghetti bolognese, chicken curry, seafood curry, and a thai favourite fish skin soup... mmmmm. In the afternoon we did more snorkelling, in a bay and also out in the middle of the sea. Alex watched a man cut up watermelon underwater and feed it to hundreds fish surrounding him. However it took a long time to get used to the snorkel; it was weird being underwater yet still being able to 'sort of' breath.

We got back around 4 and that evening christina felt ill. It may have been too much sun or it may have been the extreme rockiness of the boat (alex felt frail when he stepped off). She demanded english food so alex went to the shops and bought two packets of crisps and a white roll... Alex then went out to get himself some food and watched the sunset on the beach. He got sweet & sour chicken followed by a pancake from street stalls, and it was really nice watching both being made from start to finish right in front of him (they have a crazy way of making pancakes!). What's equally amazing is that the meal cost a total of 54 baht, or £1.08 ! Bargain.

Back in the room we got an early night because we were both so tired from the boat. But when we closed our eyes we both felt like we were back on the boat and felt the rocking motion. This didn't help trying to get to sleep! But we were asleep soon enough, recovering from an amazing day. Xxx