Lucinda & Kate Travel The Globe

Hello!

From Phi Phi, we headed to Koh Samui, on the opposite coast of Thailand. We left Phi Phi on a ferry, jumped on a bus for 5 hours across the mainland, arrived to Samui on a ferry and jumped on another bus to our hotel. In the meantime we met fellow countrywomen, Laura and Vicky, unbeknownst that we would end up travelling together for nearly 3 weeks.

The last leg of the journey.

After Koh Samui, we went to the neighbouring Koh Phangnan. We only spent 3 days on each of these islands, so this is a combined blog!

Our first day in Samui, we walked along the beach a little, crashed a pool and had a night out to see what all the fuss was about. The beach parties are pretty hardcore but there are also some cool bars/clubs in the town, where we headed for a bucket and a boogy.

On our second day, the 4 of us, rented a car. We visited a temple with a mummified Monk in a box. This is just a claim so unbelievable, joint with the fact that he still had hair, looked fake and was wearing Raybans! Interesting to see them praying to it, but sorry Buddha, we just couldn't believe it was true.

Then we drove to a waterfall, which had an elephant sanctuary at the bottom of it's hill. And the hill was not kind. Nor did the bridges look friendly. (We got a lift back to our car!)

After the waterfall, we were trying to find the road that would lead us up the mountain to a viewpoint. It took a while, and a fair few little local back streets, and we drove past this coconut farm.

After much trepidation as to whether we could make it up the terrifyingly steep and eroding road, we got to the top. It was amazing to be up so high but unfortunately as we were there late, the light didn't allow for pics that did justice to the view (as it never does). We stopped and had a beer (coke for the driver) to calm the nerves, and drove back down again.

On the way home, we went past a local bazaar/night market and decided to stop for something to eat...

We felt we had done all that was necessary in Koh Samui so after 3 days, we jumped onto a ferry with Vicky and Laura, to Koh Phangnan.

It didn't take very long and we soon found ourselves at another pool! This time, our own! When you get off a ferry, there are billions of Thais, all trying to take you to their hotel or taxi. For once, a guy caught our attention with the words 'pool', 'on the beach' and '2 pounds a night', you whaaat!? Believeing it sounded too good to be true but with nothing to lose, we piled into his questionable transport and low and behold, a Thai that told the truth!!

So we filled our first day with the pool, and most of our second! The sunset wasn't bad from the pool either. Or from the beach, which we walked along one evening, just so we felt better about not being at the pool doing nothing for 2 whole days!!

A couple of times, we went into the main bit of the tiny town, which was cute small streets with little shops and stalls. We weren't there for or anytime near The Full Moon Party so it was suprisingly very dead.

On our last day, we rented a jeep, it was the coolest thing ever, hard to drive, but cool! We drove to the top of the island and came to another tiny island which, at low tide, was joined to phangan by a small sand bar that you could walk along. The weather was slightly cloudy but apart from that, the setting was pretty idllyic.

Our jeep! (although we did ride in the back tray, we didn't quite sit up like this while driving!!)

On route, we stopped in a tiny little fishing village, which the Thai's have totally kept to themselves. We had lunch in a little beach shack on stilts obviously all choosing something from the seafood variety. When in Rome!! The only downside was the fishermen were "drying out" their catch of the day on the beach in front of us, causing quite the potent smell!!

On a stroll down the beach we saw a poor, tiny, old woman digging for cockles.

On the way back to our guesthouse we drove past a sight that made us all scream with excitement. It appeared to be a really typically British, old Tudor style pub. We decided, on the off chance of having some home comfort food, that we had to check it out. When we walked in, it was a real traditional pub and you felt like you'd just walked into your local at home. The owner was an English guy, who had set up here and decided to bring a piece of home over and had really gone to town to do it properly, even including the old, ugly, patterned, red pub carpet! And the menu was awesome!!

We all choose beef bourguignon, extra cauliflour cheese, a plate of 4 slices of cheddar cheese and copious amounts of red wine (of course except the driver, who was nominated to be Vicky!) It's crazy the things you miss that you would never realise. Our biggest want is flavoursome cheese!!