Railay pt2

The next day was spent taking it easy - some beach time and checking out a few things (nursing a hangover really!!) We ended up at a beach party the night before dancing barefoot in the sand to a live Thai band banging out reggae and interesting latin covers. Trust us it was as funny as it sounds!

And so to the sea! We took a kayak out when we felt brave enough and paddled out to some of the surrounding limestone rocks dotetd in around. The sea was as still as bath water only clearer if thats possible. I think Jo was a little apprehensive but any doubts soon vanished when we got close up to the rocks and cliffs. Natural tunnels and sea caves allowed us not only to get up close but under and through it. The coloured markings of age constantly visible on the rock. We saw a stingray, beatifully coloured fish and even stranger colored birds in little coves. We would have seen more if our arms were up to it! But land called for some fuel (2 pad thai please)

A couple of rainy days followed, and we spent some time in the queens palace (Krystina's huge air conned bungalow complete with TV and Movie channel!) We met up with another amusing guy called Ashley and enjoyed a bit of T.V - well it had been 2 weeks. My ear had still not cleared up so taking it easy was definitley no problem if not a little frustrating still. Although it probably wasn't helped by a trek through thick forest over to Railay East in search of Hopi ear candles (Up for trying anything now) Joining us were Elik, Gabrielle and Nick whom Krystina had met before she arrived at Railay. Not so bad as once I'd checked I'd planned to be on the beach all day. Wrong. The heavens opened and we had to make a run for it as s afull on storm cracked on Phra nang beach. We were the last ones off the beach had to duck down as the longtail boat sped along the coast through the edge of the storm to get us home. Soaked through we made it back to our room. Our consolation prize was warm clean clothes from the laundry lady - Seriously makes you appreciate the small things in life! Rumours of better digs on ton sai added with some unbelivable monkey business ( a party of 6 on our roof eating some scavenged breakfast at 4 in the morning) led us to our biggest bargain home yet at Krabi mountain view resort.

Realising we had an even better place to live now made doubly hard to leave but it had been on our minds as we knew just how much we were enjoying it. We met up fo Krystina's last night and found Thomas who had been having a great time. Taking it easy and staying away form the alcohol we said a sad farewell to the Ton Sai queen. I'm sure when we go back there someday she will have already beat me too it and will be on the beach waiting...!

It was the chill out bar the next night with Elik and Thomas which did nothing to chill us out when we were presented with several wooden puzzles which just twisted our heads, stargazed on the beach before making our way home for what would be our last day (but not before Thomas had to see more shooting stars than ANYONE - Ha legend!)we where searching for some food to eat as we where all hungry but at 2 am our luck was definatley not in not like a night out in the uk!we did consider calling dominos pizza but didnt really think it would make it out that far!!!!

Up and out bright and early the next morning well 8am is early when you are becoming experienced loungers!!Down to the beach for breakfast to boost our energy levels and get ourselfsgoing as we where going to need it.We had booked ourselfs in for a morning of rockclimbing.Tonsai and Railay are well known in the climbing world and i belive it is rated as the 2nd best place it the world to go rock climbing so obviously we could not leave without trying it out. A Lile scared of heights i thought i needed a challenge.After collecting all the equipment we needed and putting our harnesses on we hopped on a longtail boat with our guides around the other side to railay where the easier climbs are.The climbs are graded by numbers starting at 1 going up to 6 and above for the real hardcore climbers.Obviously we where starting from the beginning so we had 3 climbs to do number 1, 2 ,3.We arrived at our climbing destination where there was already a lot of people climbing already.Our guides showed us how to tie our guide ropes which had to be tied in a double figure of eight and demostrated how the whole system worked.If you where to fall you would not fall far and you very really well supported by the rope and your guide.Feeling then pretty confident we went for it.Trev went first and made it look pretty easy the rock was not too high but not like your average indoor rockclimbing school where the hand and foot holds are in plane view to see you have to search a little to find them.The guides try and guide you to the holds but you could not always reach them or find them which is what makes it challenging but really good fun!!Once you get to the top it is an amazing feel. The views where breathtaking and you had a real sence of achievement.And also the feeling of oh my god i think my arm and legs are going to fall off i dont think either of us have ever done anything quite so physical.Both of us completed three climbs and i had to get an extra one in at the end as i had caught the bug and could not get enough.Without realising we had run late so the long tailboat had gone without us so had had to walk back.Now we had done many different routes to get to and from Tonsai to Railay but our guide decided to take us on the shortest one back to Tonsai.Little did we know that we where going to have to do some more rock climbing along the rocks near the shore to get around the other side.Obviously our guide alex has done this route many times before so it was no problem for him.But with our legs being a little shakey we where not on top form.So little miss accident prone Joanne Charlie decides to slip and cut her hand on a lovely piece of sharp coral!Quite a deep cut i managed to achieve i needed a little first aid.So Alex came to my rescue and sprinkled some tabacco on the cut to stop it bleeding new one on me never tried that before but it worked a treat it managed to stop the bleeding until we got back and i had it cleaned properly.Might i add they way they clean cuts in thailand is with 20 volume Hydrogen Peroxide!That is what i use to colour hair with at home so as you can imagine it hurt rather alot.

That afternoon another docters call was needed as trevs ear was still not right the one that was blocked had cleared up and now the other one was blocked so off we go to the docters.The result was another course of antibiotics as he had managed to get another ear infection in the other ear!The docter had said to him that he had never seen that happen before.So we decided we needed to take it easy until it cleared up totally so off to our next destiation Ko Pi Pi for some rest and relaxation.Sad to say goodbye to our new friends and a place that we will always remember for its amazing scenery,enchanting beaches and awesome vibe!