I had an overdose of lemongrass in Ko Lanta. We (now some of my friends joined me for some days) had a feast with Thai curries, Pad Thai, fish cakes, lemon marinated fish and a massive bowl of Tom Yum soup to share Singhas, some Thai rum and so on. Then I felt sick at night and my favourite spice, lemongrass, was all I could taste. Ko Lanta was my third island to enter. It has been called as "the golden beach babe of Krabi" by Lonely Planet, but the beaches didn't impress me after magical ones of Ko Lipe, my first island. In addition, Ko Lanta is full of Swedes. It means that in Funky Monkey bar (supposedly liveliest spot in town) you have to listen Abba karaoke . I have heard Doctor Alban's biggest hit "No Coke" five times in one week. We stayed in Khlong Khong beach, which has a number of chilled beach bars, but you can't expect a big time party as most of them are empty by 11 (if anyone ever showed up). This is when card game and Jenga become a daily routine.

I have updated my travelling wardrobe by a holiday hat (my first one ever), beer t-shirt, fake flip flops, fake sunglasses, some jewelry and feel home with the rest of the bunch dressing the same way. There are things to do in Ko Lanta, but you need to organize it, you need a scooter (one of those we had you would end up pushing the hill up). Trang islands close by are those you see in travel advertisements with turquoise sea. We spend one day on our long tail boat exploring them - beautiful.

We decided to celebrate the birthday of my friend in Phi Phi. Regardless of people telling me it's an awful tourist trap with too many young and pretty people, it's not a bad place. There are a couple of beaches. If you rent a long tail boat, you can also be taken to tiny beaches with no or few people (but if you are from Israel you might not be served as the sign of our yesterdays beach bar told). On the party beach fire shows take a different form from the usual ones: the drunken kids do a limbo competition under the burning rope, available are also skipping burning rope or dancing on a five meter high tiny stand above the party scene, which definitely is looks busier than Ibiza to me. Buckets, a plastic bucket filled with a bottle of Thai rum (or whatever alcohol), some type of red bull essence and a can of coke, are being sold around the party side of the island. In a rock and roll pub, a Thai band sings amazingly any rock song wished for. The voice of the singer adapts to any voice close to original. Thais are successful in copying not only sandals and sunglasses.. In day time you can do many things from a booze cruise (or luxury booze cruise) to diving, snorkeling, exploring the islands and shopping all the usual tourist stuff around.

Before Phi Phi and Ko Lanta I stayed a week in Ko Lipe. I was trying to figure out why I liked the place. I think I know now: not only perfect beaches and mellow atmosphere, but what makes it not "same same" the fact that it's not divided ion blocks of nationalities or ages. the tourist mix on the island all different type of travelers, and your neighbour it is not even confined to an area or beach. The life in the paradise island was only challenged by the living conditions. The first night in my bungalow cockroaches (I think I'm becoming immune to them, I saw many in yesterday's restaurant, but they couldn't destroy my meal). The next day I rushed to a toiled to find a toad in the toilet bowl. I changed places to find bigger cockroaches, lizards and caterpillars in my room. However, I always considered myself rather lucky for not having to experience what some Swedish ladies had gone through. One of them woke up a mouse running on her face.

Today I'll be heading to Bangkok to catch a flight to Hanoi in Vietnam. After beaches, snorkeling and parties I'm ready to activate againJ Had amazing time with old and new friends here, so I'm sure I'll be lost to for few days when on the road alone again.