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So our 7 days on Koh Pha-Ngan have come to an end... Next stop Koh Tao.
We made it to Koh Tao and rode into our destination via a long tail boat, we saw only a little of the island as we are only a couple of bays round from the port.
Initial reaction was breath taking. We arrived at a very small, very quiet beach complete with powdery white sand, crystal clear waters, a rusty old boat washed up at one end, a wooden rickety swing hanging from two coconut trees in the middle and a rickety pair of stairs at the other leading to the lush tropical terrain surrounding this small dreamy bay!
Next came the sea view bungalow... Erm that too was rustic! But it has got a lovely sea view. We might as well have camped on the beach as it had holes from all angles, allowing all kinds of little critters in; cockroaches, ants, geckos, millepedes, centipedes, millions if Mosquitos. it's saving graces were the mosquito nets and lovely balcony complete with hammock of course. Where we can look out onto the rocks and the sea crashing against the shore.
I decided pretty quickly that Koh Tao was pure paradise... After doing what I do best and sunbathing on the small beach with only 7 or 8 other people, whom where old people or middle aged couples. Me and Ben snorkelled around our bay seeing many different types of tropical fish, my favourite were the multicoloured ones that look like they'd been to a full moon party covered in body paint! Just wish we had an under water camera to show you all! We've seen at least 20 different varieties of fish... Yes we are geeks! In fact this trip has been a full on geek fest consisting of Ben reading not one not two but three Game of Thrones books within 5 days, (gotta be a record) playing chess, snorkelling and wait for it... Fishing! Yes I have taken to fishing. Ben taught me how to fish on Sunday and I was hooked, pardon the pun. We managed to catch 7 or 8 tropical fish with Ben's fishing line and of course threw them back into the ocean after taking pics as evidence! We then tried our hand at catching squid with a rod, as I was snorkelling around the rocks Ben caught a squid! So I swam back and he stupidly threw it back in! It was big enough to have for tea... Think he panicked?!
After much of the same, and although extremely nice am relaxing we were getting itchy feet so we booked on a snorkelling tour to go swim with sharks and see many more bays of the island.... Lets just say it didn't do what it said on the tin! Biggest let down of our island holidays so far. I could write a separate blog about the day itself. Started off with a down pour of rain, didn't swim with sharks, only went to two of the places mentioned and spent 2 hrs on a 'private' island that had a billion tourist on it. It should have been named 'was once a private island..' It was such a pretty island called Koh Ngang and would have been paradise if there were no people on it and no over priced restaurant!
We spent NYE pretty much the same as we do at home! Doing not a lot but this time it was exactly that! No tv to distract us, just a romantic meal by the sea and each others company! It was lovely!
So back to fishing and snorkelling it was... Cheaper and our beach is by far the best to snorkel! We sat on the rocks again to fish and the sea was choppier than usual. As I pondered whether to snorkel from there or the shore, balanced on the edge of the rock like some kind of mermaid, I turned to Ben and said 'nope not from here today' just as I'd uttered the words a rather large wave decided to descend upon me, sweeping me off the rock in one swift movement... Before I knew it I was crashing around the rocks trying to get my head up out of the water before I banged it! As I whipped my head out of the water I was greeted by a fluttering, bumbling Ben, ripping open his shirt and shouting 'Jen, you ok?' Well it's a good job I was as he wasn't so quick off the mark clambering down the rocks cautiously... When he finally clung to rocks in the water next to me he helped me climb up the rocks and to safety. My hero! I was fine apart from two red knees a grazed hand and a bashed foot. I must admit I was visibly shaken for a couple of minutes as it all took me by surprise! Could of been a whole lot worse. We sat laughing about the whole thing after saying what a way that could have been to start the new year!
Anyway next stop Cambodia!!! It's going to be a long day... We are currently awaiting the taxi boat (12.30pm) to take us to the port to catch a ferry at 3pm which takes us to the mainland where we are catching an overnight train to Bangkok at 11pm- due to arrive at 6am. And we haven't got sleeper beds this time as it was full. Then a bus at 8.30 am to take us to the boarder of Cambodia! Wish us luck... Well me anyway (Ben can get quite grumpy when tired and hungry... I have a feeling he will be both :-) )
Hopefully we will be able to report about more adventurous things and a bit of culture as these weeks have been pure relaxation and more than likely a boring read to you all. Reporting about continuous sunbathing, relaxing and romantic affairs. But I had to make you all jealous some how ;)
See you on the other side....x
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