Day 1 - 17/02/09

After a quick breakfast of donuts and coffee, 13 of us piled onto a songthaew with our luggage. That was a tight squeeze!!! Luckily the ride to the bus station was a very short one. After a 2 hr bus journey, 90 min ferry crossing and 20 min in vans we finally got to our hotel - Lamai Buri Resort.

As the hotel was fully booked, they had upgraded us for the night to ocean view rooms, Tania's quick thinking ensured we had this room for the next 2 nights too. We chilled out in the pool until it was time to go for dinner. We went to Chaweng Beach and had dinner at the Ark Bar seated out on the sand. It was awesome. We had a wander around the street market before heading back for an earlyish night.

Day 2 - 18/02/09

A very early start today as we headed out to the marine national park. We got picked up at 7.15am from the hotel and went to the pier. There we boarded a boat once all the other passengers had arrived, we were approx 30 ppl on our boat. The first stop was a snorkelling stop at a secluded cove. After a while it became evident that it wasn't quite as secluded as we thought as other boats arrived with more passengers. However we had an hour to snorkel, it was amazing, saw so many varieties of fish, coral. was amazed to see a puffer fish. After this we stopped at another island an hr away - Mae Koh Island. Here we had to climb up and then go down to see the Talay Nai Lagoon, with clear emerald green water and then we climbed up to the highest point of the island from where we had a clear view of all the islands in the National park. It was impressive. By the timer we had got down, lots of other boats had arrived and this quiet paradise had become manic!!! We then went to another island where we had lunch. This island I am pleased to say had no more visitors whilst we were there so it certainly remained a paradise!!! The island was beautiful, I had found a swing so I sat there just gazing out into the water.... after lunch some of the guys with the Thai guys played with a rattan ball and then we all went kayaking around the island. Jemma and I had managed to get hold of a kayak that was possessed cos all it did was go in circles. We eventually made it round, it was a good laugh. On our way back to Koh Samui, we spotted 2 whales, even the Thai guys were jumping with excitement and they all had whipped out their camera phones ready to take photos!!!! We then hit a rain cloud, but as the speed boat was travelling so fast we didn't feel the rain until we got to land. Though by the time we got to the hotel it had stopped. We went looking for a place to do pedicures, instead we found a bar doing happy hour on cocktails!!! That eve was a free eve, so we all decided to head to Chaweng as we wanted to spend some more time wandering around, after dinner the boys stayed at the Ark bar where it was party night and the girls hit the shops and finally got our pedicures and came out with 'babysoft feet' lol... went to the Ark bar and chilled there for a bit then got a songthaew back to the hotel.

Day 3 - 19/02/09

Today was our last day in Samui so it was a free, relaxing day. We spent most morning chilling by the pool and in the afternoon went to the Spa Samui where we had the Rejuvenation treatments - Aloe vera body wrap, facial and relaxing oil massage. It was the best 2 hours, I was so relaxed after it. The lads all had such an experience for the first time and it was extremely amusing at how different each of their views of the experience were!!! We had a bite to eat there and came back to the hotel. We all met for drinks and dinner down the road and just strolled along the shops and stalls after.

Day 4 - 20/02/09

Had a lie in this morning and checked out at noon. Then we got vans to the ferry crossing and from the ferry crossing had a 2 hr bus ride to Surathani where the train station is. We had a couple of hours of waiting here so people checked mail, had dinner etc. The train was delayed by about 2 hrs, as we had no info on the whys and hows we were seated on the floor at the platform playing cards. The highlight was when THE Orient Express passed by. Unfort they did not offer us a lift to Bangkok :(
When we did finally make it on the train, the beds were made up so it was time to sleep. They are very impressive trains!!!!