An immediate problem in our planning on entering Thailand, was that the government is now only issuing 15 day visa, not 30. We may need t exit at some point only to re-enter. We hear this is to encourage more tourism, but the logic seems as well thought out as giving the UK banks loads of money to bail them out & to expect them to behave with integrity in how they use that money! Have now decided that we exit to re-enter on the Burma border in the north
First stop was Krabi on the west coast as a base from which to get to our fist island, Koh Lanta. Stayed here just one night & went to the night market to eat. Lots of cheap stalls & entertainment with the Thai Ant & Dec duo, with some horrendous karaoke from the locals. Eventually a guy from Hungary got up & did a very good 'Winds of Change' to much applause from the travelling Europeans in the crowd. Next day moved on to the Island of Koh Lanta
19th to 24th January, Koh Lanta, c/o the Lanta Emerald Beach Resort: Stayed in a nice bamboo hut on the beach in a very nice resort with pool , bar & restaurant overlooking the beach. Mr 'Innit' (as we called him who spent his time meeting all his guests with stereotype impersonations of their nationality, so we were always greeted with a number of 'innits' each day). Found him one day on the beach playing football in a Chelsea shirt, so must have been a nice guy. He had never heard of Ipswich so we know he was supporting in the pending FA cup tie (now just 5 hours away). Spent our 5 days swimming, sun bathing & drinking Happy Hour cocktails. Now have a reasonable tan (Gill is still looking off white & permanently hungover!). Also hired a motorbike & did an 'easy rider' exploring the island. From many people we met this is probably one of the best islands (heard the Phi Phi was both expensive & very noisy). Still not done a Full Moon party (bit difficult when Gill goes to bed around 10pm! - that's the older generation for you!).
24th Jan: journeyed back to Krabi but having failed to book a train onward, found that all trains from here were fully booked solid for 3 days because of the Chinese New Year in 2 days time. Have had to spend another night in Krabi in order to catch a bus to Bangkok tomorrow, to travel onward to Kanchanaburi (Bridge over the River Kwai place). So guess back to watch the Thai equivalent of Ant & Dec & the local crooning mayor for the evenings entertainment, before retiring to our hostel to watch Chelsea FC give 'innit Ipswich' a good thrashing!
Next day we hired a motorbike & set off to explore the beaches around Krabi. Went to Ao Nang beach where we decided to swim depsite not having come prepared! Mid afternoon we returned to Krabi to pick up the overnight bus to Bangkok (setting off at 4.00pm to arrive 6am). Bus more cramped than we thought but was OK & both got some sleep. Arrived aroound 6am as planned & churned off the bus in a matter of minutes. Had no idea where we were (under some underpass) as no bus station & was dark. Wandered aimlessly until dawn broke & then some locals helped us get a local bus to the South Terminal (as we were somewhere in the north of the city) so we could get a local bus to Kanchanaburi.
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