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Since leaving Bangkok we have covered a hell of a lot of miles. From Chumphon we headed to Koh Lanta for a few nights and a lovely day on the beach. On the first night we went out for dinner with Wolf (from Austria) and Daniel (from Portugal). Towards the end of the meal it started raining like we've never seen before and we got stranded in the restauraunt - as Wolf had taken us down one by one on the back of the Moped! Danile ended up riding the moped home whilst the rest of us got a lift from one of the locals in the restaurant in a pick-up truck- which was lucky as the roads had flooded really badly. We started to really worry about Daniel as some of the locals houses had flooded too. But he managed to push the bike through water up to his knees!!
Next we headed to Phuket for three nights, We went to visit the Gibbon Rehabilitation Centre and spent the next day on the beautiful beach topping up the tans.We treated ourselves to a nice hotel too which was really cheap as it is low season. We also went to the fish restaurant as recommended by the Thorne family and saw where they all stayed here!
From Phuket we headed to Khao Sok national park, which has been the highlight of our trip so far. The place is breathtakingly beautiful and the people there really looked after us - we had so many adventures and such fun. On our first night we stayed in the middle of the jungle at Bamboo House on a wooden hut on stilts with a view across the river from our back door. Here we met 'Beer'(yes Thorne Family BEER not BEAR) an 18 year old thai guy who was our guide and a lot of fun! We also met 'Sam' a girl from Brighton and the three of us decided we wanted to do a 2day and 1night trip to Cheow Low Lake. But we needed four people.... which is how we met Margo from Holland. So after one night in Bamboo House we headed to the Lake. The photos do not do it justice as the views were just amazing. After a one and a half hour trip across the lake on the long boat we arrived at our new accomodation - 'Raft Houses' which literally float on the water. It was like something out of waterworld. Looking at the floor of our bedroom you could see the clear green water through the cracks (and big holes) and we had the lake either side of us. It was just the 4 of us staying here with Beer, our boat driver and the 6 people that live there!
On our first day we went treking in the jungle with Beer, which included fighting the leaches off!! It was such fun walking through all the long grass, climbing the waterfalls and treking through the river. We saw a few big spiders too!! It then started to rain heavily which made the experience even more fun and adventurous. After this we headed back for dinner. We both then spent lots of time swimming (the only ones) and canoeing! In the evening we went out on the boat on a night safari which included the use of one big spot light. Sam held on close to Clare as she was a bit scared since the engine failed to start for awhile at the beginning. The stars were amazing and again a fab experience! Unfortunatley we didnt see any animals due to the heavy rain. We then went back 'home' for a few beers (the drink version) and some fun and games. Beer taught us a few tricks which included picking up a lighter from the floor whilst holding one leg behind him. Clare successfully completed the challlenge - but had to use the bottle of water instead of the lighter (but still impressive). He then showed us a few magic tricks and we impressed him with Cats Craddle!!
Sam then managed to teach the whole group (including the non-english speaking boat driver - with help from Beer) CHASE THE ACE (woo hoo) which was a lot of fun. Sam then started explaining to the group and to Beer (who translated to the boat driver) the troubles we had had at Phuket Bus station trying to get to the national park. The point of Sam's story was that as we kept asking the bus man to go to Khao Sok (pronoucing it Cow Suk) the bus man kept saying Koh Lak. Then when we showed the bus driver our guide book... he said ooohhhh 'Cow Suk - just as Sam had said it!! However half way through my story before even finishing it and getting to the point.... Beer and Boat driver (thats what we called him as his real name was difficult) started laughing their heads off. Sam shouthing... I haven't even finished my story yet!! It turned out that you actually pronouce it as Cow SOCK! The way Sam pronounced it actually means 'Steamed Rice' in Thai.... how funny! So I was asking the bus man if we could go to steamed rice... I'm surprised he didnt point to a restaurant! Beer and boat driver then spent the remainder of the trip taking the mickey out of Sam (nothing changes even in different countries) and the boat driver who couldn't speak engligh just kept say Cow Suk... go to Cow Suk ha ha ha! Then on the last day they gave us steamed rice for lunch... I will never live this down!!!!
Sam also had another blonde moment... whilst just the two of us (thank god) were looking in the water for fish.. Sam said to Clare.. 'oh god look at those white things'... it was in fact the reflection of the clouds, ha ha ha (that was for you Caroline)
The next day we got up at 6.30am for a morning safari where Clare had her blonde moment. Whilst looking for animals in the tree she said 'listen I can hear a wood pecker'... it was just the wood rattling on the boat (and she said it in front of everyone)! The safari was fab, we saw eagles, a kingfisher, gibbons and black monkeys. It was pretty amazing and we didnt want to get off the boat. After lunch we went treking again over a mountain. Then we had a swim off the boat in the middle of the sea... so good! We then sadly headed back to the pier where we had another long bus journey ahead of us to Bangkok.
So here we are again in Bangkok for one night before heading to Vietnam to start our Volunteer project with the children. We have just heard that Bangkok is in a state of emergency as the military could take over at any point. But other than having to change our pre-planned train journey (complete with bunk beds) to a really comfy coach journey (due to train strikes too) we are fine and haven't noticed any violence. Our flight will also hopefully be on schedule!
We have had an amazing time in Thailand and are both sad to leave! But next stop Vietnam (where our first mission is to shout 'Good morning Vietnam'on the first morning)!!!
Lots of Love Sam and Clare
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