One 40 foot speed boat with twin 260 engines , two guests and three crew picnic on board cameras bikinis snorkels flippers , we were off to spend the whole day island hopping !!
I dont think I could have imagined how beautiful these islands could be , not in my wildest dreams .
First port of call was Maia Beach , which some of you maty remember as the setting for the Leonardo di Caprio movie "the Beach " I did and now will definitely have to watch it again . Since the movie it has become a bit of a tourist trap so we didnt hang around for long , just enough to take in the magnificence of the whole setting . Motoring along to caves where the "birds nests are collected and considered a delicacy in Thailand (taste a bit like jelly ) I belief and sell for £300 a kilo . Interesting !
The day was magnificent scattered clouds but plenty of sunshine too .
Maia beach is on Phi Phi island which is a national park actually. Motoring along we came to monkey island where the monkies literally would take off your hats or sunglasses and take anything out of your hand so that was a lot of fun feeding them and giving them water !!
Mosquito island we decided to pass on quite obviously , Krabi in the distance was probably the most spectacular array of islands I have ever seen . Turquoise seas we pulled into Bamboo island and went snorkling , a trillion different types of mthe most colourful fish you ve ever seen and so many different species of coral too . Shower at the back of the boat , crew passing towels , would you like this that , the service was not quite what I had imagined .
We stopped at Bamboo island and they set up a picnic lunch for us on the beach, little table , mats towels etc, sooo pretty .
Back into the boat motoring for hours stopping occasionally to snorkel swim or just admire Thailands islands in all their magnificence , this was truly a day never to be forgotten .
Never got to learn to Scuba Dive , but believe it or snorkling for me was just fine !!
Just as the driver collected us from the beach it started to lash down so another day well planned .
Just one day left now and off to Bangkok for much shopping and touring , Suite at the Shangri la is booked as is Scirocco restaurant so little Miss organised BETTER get lots of that shopping in .
The tree below in the photo is actually a Banyan Tree !!
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Whitewater Rafting Quad Biking
Well we travelled 2 hours north off the island of Phuket to Pnang Gai where we had a most exhilerating experience , across the foot bridge ( see photo ) and over to the lodge where we changed, donned the helmets and life jackets and hopped into the dinghy. In order to balance the yoke , we had to each sit on the side with an oar to paddle , and then headed downstream ! It was such crack, I swear, there were about 20 dingies in total ,which added to the crack as there was much colliding and major messing with water drowning each other , . Apparently there are different catagories of rapids and this was for first timers ,which was indeed for me ,a relief ,as I really didnt know what to expect , our "captain " kept talking about waterfalls which I was secretly dying for but at the same time nervous as hell of falling out and disappearing forever!!
But these waterfalls turned out to be weirs which were fine and there really was no danger in MOB !! Years ago I used to canoe and many times I canoed down the liffey and the Boyne so this was really quite similar .
Next catagory for me now !!
Truck was waiting and dinghy and drowned rats piled into said vehicle and back to the lodge where a cold shower with a hose was waiting !
Lunch, fresh vegeatable and typical thai food ,yummy ,by the river at the cutest lodge .
On the way we passed the elephants , one having a bath in the river , quite funny , and the others were waiting to take people trekking into the jungle . Decided to pass on that , just a tad too slow for Ms Speed, so off we headed about an hour deeper into the jungle to what the Thais call "the jungle farms ".
Here we yet again donned helmets , thus explaining the hat head in the photos , (I m such a girl )!!We had to check over the quads for damage and basically learn how to drive them . Piece of cake , I just wanted to let rip immediately but instructors very safety conscience initially so none of that allowed !! Boo Hoo
We travelled into the jungle , down little dirt tracks up and down river banks , across rivers and fallen trees ,through forrests of rubber trees and Banana plantations , cute little farming villages , avoiding the chickens the geese the pigs and the goats
Acres of Palm oil trees and some of the most amazing flora you can imagine . This for me was real Thailand and to be quad biking through it all for 3 hours , well ......what can I say , I had died and gone to heaven . Dear Santa I have been reeeal good this year pls bring me a quad bike !!
We stopped at this little shack where there were sheets of rubber that had been made from rubber collected from the rubber trees mixed with other ingredients and pushed through a mangle (I think ). Fascinating . Did you know that Tourism is the number one industry here second ,being rubber and third ,being rice !! So there bit of education for ya !
It rained on us, but as you can see, there I am in yet another plastic raincoat , and in actual fact in my view the rain was welcomed as it meant there were no trails of dust flying from the bike in front .
Highlight of the trip for me so far !!
But these waterfalls turned out to be weirs which were fine and there really was no danger in MOB !! Years ago I used to canoe and many times I canoed down the liffey and the Boyne so this was really quite similar .
Next catagory for me now !!
Truck was waiting and dinghy and drowned rats piled into said vehicle and back to the lodge where a cold shower with a hose was waiting !
Lunch, fresh vegeatable and typical thai food ,yummy ,by the river at the cutest lodge .
On the way we passed the elephants , one having a bath in the river , quite funny , and the others were waiting to take people trekking into the jungle . Decided to pass on that , just a tad too slow for Ms Speed, so off we headed about an hour deeper into the jungle to what the Thais call "the jungle farms ".
Here we yet again donned helmets , thus explaining the hat head in the photos , (I m such a girl )!!We had to check over the quads for damage and basically learn how to drive them . Piece of cake , I just wanted to let rip immediately but instructors very safety conscience initially so none of that allowed !! Boo Hoo
We travelled into the jungle , down little dirt tracks up and down river banks , across rivers and fallen trees ,through forrests of rubber trees and Banana plantations , cute little farming villages , avoiding the chickens the geese the pigs and the goats
Acres of Palm oil trees and some of the most amazing flora you can imagine . This for me was real Thailand and to be quad biking through it all for 3 hours , well ......what can I say , I had died and gone to heaven . Dear Santa I have been reeeal good this year pls bring me a quad bike !!
We stopped at this little shack where there were sheets of rubber that had been made from rubber collected from the rubber trees mixed with other ingredients and pushed through a mangle (I think ). Fascinating . Did you know that Tourism is the number one industry here second ,being rubber and third ,being rice !! So there bit of education for ya !
It rained on us, but as you can see, there I am in yet another plastic raincoat , and in actual fact in my view the rain was welcomed as it meant there were no trails of dust flying from the bike in front .
Highlight of the trip for me so far !!
Monday, March 19, 2007
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Massage et all
Well I have just returned from a 2 hour massage at the Spa which I can only describe as pure heaven , feet washed with cloves , and then the most amazing massage imaginable called the Sukothai !
A day spent in a boat checking out the lagoons and then onto the beach for much reading , lovely lunch and lots of swimming , I swear the water is just like a tepid bath.
Last night we headed into Patong , which in my view is best avoided , very sleazy , lots of "wattneys red barrels " everywhere and neon plastic signs , massage massage massage being offered on the street which probably includes awhatever youre into, not quite what I m used to ! But on the other hand an experience . We didnt book a restaurant in advance which was a big mistake . Very large open air markets selling everything fake you can think of , but DH not being into shopping or into Fake anything we wernt there too long so probably somewhere I ll make my way back to alone or not!!
I have checked out a few things available that I cant wait to do, one is quad biking which I love but DH doesnt so I ll be doing that and the other is white water rafting which I ve been wanting to do for years so will be booking myself in for that. Here at the hotel they do scuba diving lessons at the pool I fear I may be claustrophobic in that situation so I ll have to think about that . Mind you I do like snorkelling, not quite the same I hear you divers say , but will suit me I m sure. We re going to hire a speed boat and go to Phi Phi island next week so I have no doubt there will be loads of pretty fish and coral etc to see off that coast.
Tonight we re looking for a restaurant thats in a village close to The Banyan Tree that Dickie has recommended so looking forward to that . I m going to try load a photo of the room I had my massage in !! TRY
A day spent in a boat checking out the lagoons and then onto the beach for much reading , lovely lunch and lots of swimming , I swear the water is just like a tepid bath.
Last night we headed into Patong , which in my view is best avoided , very sleazy , lots of "wattneys red barrels " everywhere and neon plastic signs , massage massage massage being offered on the street which probably includes awhatever youre into, not quite what I m used to ! But on the other hand an experience . We didnt book a restaurant in advance which was a big mistake . Very large open air markets selling everything fake you can think of , but DH not being into shopping or into Fake anything we wernt there too long so probably somewhere I ll make my way back to alone or not!!
I have checked out a few things available that I cant wait to do, one is quad biking which I love but DH doesnt so I ll be doing that and the other is white water rafting which I ve been wanting to do for years so will be booking myself in for that. Here at the hotel they do scuba diving lessons at the pool I fear I may be claustrophobic in that situation so I ll have to think about that . Mind you I do like snorkelling, not quite the same I hear you divers say , but will suit me I m sure. We re going to hire a speed boat and go to Phi Phi island next week so I have no doubt there will be loads of pretty fish and coral etc to see off that coast.
Tonight we re looking for a restaurant thats in a village close to The Banyan Tree that Dickie has recommended so looking forward to that . I m going to try load a photo of the room I had my massage in !! TRY
Friday, March 16, 2007
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Maybe I am A Princess after all !!
22 hours later I arrived at The Banyan Tree in Phuket. Now she would not be used to travelling first class at all at all , so , what a treat that was , how far back would you like your seat Dahling ? would you like leg extensions to use up the leg room ? Another pillow another blanket ? Food food food and food ............ way too much for a girlie like me . Anyway into the lounge in Bankok airport , little snug , big couch , pillows , asleep in no time !! Bless.
Hour or so flight to phuket and Mr Banyan Tree in his Merc was there waiting . 30 minutes later , being treated like royality off in the buggy to find the villa. Now those of you that have had the pleasure of visiting Bahia de Banus (my Gaff in Espana )may be familiar with the fact that its original name was in actual fact the banyan tree ! Something I d clean forgotten til I got here and saw the villa. Bahia is completely modelled on this down the steps from the bed to the doors and straight out into the pool !! Gazebo with spa treatment beds , Caro you wouldnt want to leave the room, stocked with everything you could think of . So Guess what ? I think I m going to like it here a lot !!!
Its a far cry from the buses and trucks and animal class I was accustomed to in Peru !!
Hour or so flight to phuket and Mr Banyan Tree in his Merc was there waiting . 30 minutes later , being treated like royality off in the buggy to find the villa. Now those of you that have had the pleasure of visiting Bahia de Banus (my Gaff in Espana )may be familiar with the fact that its original name was in actual fact the banyan tree ! Something I d clean forgotten til I got here and saw the villa. Bahia is completely modelled on this down the steps from the bed to the doors and straight out into the pool !! Gazebo with spa treatment beds , Caro you wouldnt want to leave the room, stocked with everything you could think of . So Guess what ? I think I m going to like it here a lot !!!
Its a far cry from the buses and trucks and animal class I was accustomed to in Peru !!
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