LAST OF RAILAY BEACH 24TH--28TH MARCHM

                                          MY BEST EVER PHOTOGRAPH OF A FISH 

The rest of Railay Beach 24th-28th March

We love it here so much that we booked another couple of days and will just stay the one day in Krabi before flying to Vietnam.  

Every day we get up at 7 and walk to Phranang beach while it is still quiet and we can have a swim and snorkel before the crowds arrive on the narrow boats. Overlooking this amazing beach is a hotel called the Rayavadee it is hugely expensive ranging from £430 for one bed villa  -  £3,780 for three bedroom villa with pool  and that's per night and not even a private beach as they have to share it everyday with all the visitors.

WHEN ALL THE VISITORS ARTIVE ABOUT 8.30 WE LEAVE

The rock climbing is incredible to watch as people scale the amazing cliffs.

Have managed to get 2 sunbeds everyday which are under the shade or to be correct we put them under the shade after moving the chairs about, it has been very strange in Thailand, except for Nai 

Yang there have been no umbrellas on the beaches or around the pools hence we have seen a lot of burnt people.

Favourite restaurant would have to be Railay Family restauarant we have had fish from the bar-b-que noodle dishes and soups and they have all been good plus we have the added entertainment of a fire show most nights. Tonight however was extraordinary as a young boy and his friend aged about 9 picked up the pole that is used dipped it in the spirit and lit the stick. I was waiting for the man cooking the bar-b-que to run over and stop them but no he performed a whole routine urging the audience to cheer him on and then his friend put the spirit in his mouth and blew the flame!!  Couldn't  believe what I was watching definitely no risk assessment.

28th March: had our last walk on the beach and after breakfast checked out and went to see long tail boatman to catch a boat to Krabi. This went surprisingly well as we have seen people made to waituntil the boat is full or asked for more money but there were 8 of us so after loading our luggage we were on our way.

THINK THIS BOAT,AN BASED HIMSELF ON JOHNNY DEPP

Just a tad precarious getting off the other end as we had to climb across another boat,  the boatmen did not offer his hand but I grabbed both as I  made my way across.

FEW EXTRA PHOTOS

LIFE'S A BEACH

 

                                                          LIFE'S A BEACH
Our arrival at Railay Beach was not as we expected in the end no precariously getting into the sea with your luggage held high as there was a floating pier.  Our hotel  railayprincessresortandspa.com is on the front overlooking the beach where the boats come in and it is beautiful, we have a wonderful large room and balcony.

There are no roads here at all the only form of transport is by boat for people and goods which makes everywhere feel very laid back plus it is only 5 minutes to any beach. We have eaten at walking street and Railay beach and after our meal last night we sat on the beach watching the stars. We visited Phranang beach which is stunning with amazing cliffs and caves.  As we walked back to our hotel from the beach at about 5.30 there were lots of monkeys sitting on the fence and one on the path who looked a bit cross needless to say it was head down make no eye contact for me.
This morning 23rd March we made an early start and walked to Phranang beach before 8am. The sea was perfectly calm and there were only about 4 other people it was perfect.


Cute monkey not a scarey one

 

 

KOH LANTA 16TH-21ST MARCH

                                   BEACH BUMS IN KOH LANTA 16TH-21ST MARCH
So it's official we are now beach bums, no snorkelling trips, treks to beaches, shopping or sightseeing. We are staying at the Kaw Kwang beach resort which is large compared to our last accommodation  but we still have a separate bungalow and air con is great, it's overlooking the beach which is lovely.
This week has been all about the beach and I love it. We start off with an early morning walk along the  beautiful Klong Dao Beach and after breakfast spend most of the day swimming, reading and snoozing and maybe another walk. It has been lovely after the busy 2 days in Phuket Old Town to relax again - it has been a  wonderful five days.

18th March - Had to dedicate some time to booking up Vietnam today as lots do do - started at 9pm didn't finish till 1.30am. that's a first for Jim he could barely keep,his eyes open, all sorted now so it was worthwhile.
We had to pop into town today and discovered the indoor market but I held back as saving myself for Vietnam so only bought a bag and a beautiful little bowl made from a coconut shell-have already informed Jim I will need to buy another bag to bring home my purchases!!
Had a wonderful little lunch in The Lemongrass restaurant beautiful place on stilts over the sea.

Tomorrow we leave Koh Lanta to travel to Railay Beach which should be an experience in itself as the narrow boat cannot reach the beach so we will need or maybe I should say Jim will need to carry the suitcases whilst wading through the sea.

PHUKET OLD TOWN 14TH-16TH MARCH

PHUKET OLD TOWN 14TH-16TH MARCH

We are now in Phuket Old Town staying at the beautiful thememoryhotel.com which featured in the film The Beach and we are actually staying in room 204 which Leonardo Dicaprio stayed in. Everywhere is very colonial looking I love it.

 

The actually town is lovely with lots of cafes and bars and restaurants many painted in pinks, yellows and blues. We ate in our hotel the first night and both had Pad Thai which came with what looked like slices of bamboo on it - the chef said it was banana shoot or something similar and said you could eat it..... oh my goodness it was awful, it wasn't really the taste it was that it immediately removed all of the moisture from my mouth-won't be trying that again.

After breakfast today I had some retail therapy found a beautiful shop that sold only blue and white clothes and accessories oh no not another 2 things to fit in the suitcase.

Had nice late lunch in China Inn Cafe, really beautiful meals.

Tomorrow we are catching the ferry to Koh Lanta back to the beach.

BANGKOK AND NAI YANG FROM 8TH MARCH

BANGKOK AND NAI YANG FROM 8TH MARCH

After an overnight stay in a lovely hotel in Bangkok thevismaya.com  we head back to the airport to travel to Phuket and by 1pm we are checking into The ideophuket.com in Nai Yang. Hotel has nice large room and air con and the most beautiful beach where people are not allowed to sell things - perfect. We spent 3 days at the Ideo and then moved across the road literally just wheeling our suitcases to our new accomodation Nai Yang Boutique Resort.  We have a lovely detached room with a terrace and gardens it is perfect and every day the girl on reception makes me laugh because she keeps calling Jim Papa.

We have our little routine now, a walk along the beach about 8 before it gets to hot followed by breakfast and then catch up on reading etc. Afternoons are spent on the beach dipping in and out of the beautiful shallow warm sea, followed by dinner either near or on the beach. Tonight we had red snapper while watching yet another amazing sunset.

13TH MARCH

Cannot believe it's our last full  day in Nai Yang, we have our early morning walk almost to the end of the bay and then have breakfast at the Ideo our previous hotel.  We spend the afternoon at the beach and watch another amazing sunset before having a wonderful meal at Sands which is a restaurant attached to Nai Yang Resort Hotel.  Food is delicious and beautiful - three courses each £22 including service charge.

Off to Phuket Old Town tomorrow but we will have one more walk on the beach alarm set for 7.