Krabi - continued....

Even though we were a bit restricted by the rain we still got out on a tour to the a natural hot spring, along the way we also visited a natural fresh water lagoon and the Tiger cave temple. Bored of watching the rain form our new air conditioned home (less then a tenner a night) We decided to get involved. With rave reviews from the lovely Miss A at Tip Anda that the hot spring was the only one of its kind in the whole of the province we booked up.

The weather broke on teh morning of pick up - things were looking up! Until te bus broke down along the way! Luckily it was just the air con and we were undetr way again after 20 mins. The spring was a definitley a find starnge that it was dark and overcast with a drizzle of rain, the river to which the spring flowed into was the colour of the coffee they serve out here (Jo is not impressed!) But yet this spring was clear and warm (about 30 degrees) We were told by our guide that 20 mins in is good for what ailes you so in we jumped. It felt like a nice warm bath in a mineral radox foam or something. Time to move on to the next part and about an hour in teh minivan. We were on the trip with a Thai couple and a South African couple on their honeymoon, much to everyones surpise we all fell asleep. when we woke we all shared stories about how cleansed we felt from the spring....The fresh water lagoon could only be reached by a short trek through part of rainforest - Jo and came prepared hiking boots on off we went, though we looked a little overdressed for the occasion as the our guide and the Thai couple managed it in flip flops! Lagoon was nice but nothing special. After a short stop for a thai lunch we werte on our way to teh Tiger Cave Temple. In a cave carved into teh side a limestone rock we found the temple with a buddha sitting in its heart. A few monks were giving out blessings but the surprise here was the sight of several Nuns who wear plain white robes; answering Jo's questions about wether aor not women can follow the buddist religon in Thailand (all Thai men must at some point be a monk for at least 3 months)

As we came out of the temple we were greeted by the 1237 steps to teh top of the limestone rock. At the top a 360 view of the whole province of Krabi awaited. Jo and I were up for some that so off we went - it's only stairs right? 3 things to consider here which we hadn't (i) Not everyone else was up for it (ii)The steepness of the steps (iii) the monkeys!!

About a quarter of the way up the rain came down and it was at this point we realised that the steps weren't actually steps but vertical slabs of concrete often at 45 degreees or worse. We started so we'd finish so on we went. The rain got heavy and at step 496 - 35 mins and 1 stone in sweat later we though we'd call it day - well 4 more steps to 500 and then we headed back down. In what we thought was our first big break the rain stopped...bringing the monkeys with it. The forrest on the rock formation is home to several familys of monkeys who shelter form teh rain at the bottom. When teh rain stops up they come...just as we were coming down. It was truly amazing to see how close they would come - well almost - in a face off between Trev and big daddy monkey, the monkey was so close on one side that Trev showed his back to him to edge past. Wrong move. The monkey jumped down and swiped Trev's camera case from the top of his rucksack (open only slightly while Trev was getting soem good shots) straight into the tree he went checking it's contents for food. When he didn't find any down the side of the rock face the case went - luckily with no camera in it but Trev's face was a picture!! All the ranting in the world wasn't bringing it back but it wasn't long before we both saw the funny side!

Time to go. Ao nang has had it's moments but it's a bit like Clacton-on-Sea only with a little more culture and better scenery. We said a sad farewell to Tip Anda and checked into some budget digs in the centre of Ao Nang near the pier for boat taxis, ready for a morning departure to Railay. Don't know much about the place except for the rock climbing...We're hoping for something good....

p.s: almost sorted the photo problems - so we should be able to see some pics but not all the albums are complete.