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We flew into Phuket from Bangkok and had an hours drive to Koh Lak. We had arranged for the hotel to pick us up as we had read and heard stories about the taxi service at Phuket where you are virtually bullied into using their taxis as there is no other service to get to your destination, they kind off run their own organised cartel. We could not see any driver for our hotel and was constantly harassed whilst we got our phone out and rang the hotel asking where the driver was, the heat was getting too much and just as we was about to rip someone's head off we saw a little Thai guy approach us with our names on a bit. Relieved that we didn't have to use these scoundrels we got into the waiting luxury mini van and in just over an hour we arrived at the Countryside Resort. We had a very friendly welcome by the manager and was taken to our room. It was a bit dated and rustic but was large and clean and had a nice feel to it.
Koh Lak is a Resort Town in Phang Nga Province on the western Andaman sea coastline and 100km from Phuket.
Koh Lak was the hardest hit of the 2004 Tsunami with an estimated 4,000 fatalities. It has made an impressive recovery but not without the loss of land by the locals as beach boundaries vary with local hearsay, large resorts stepped in and little could be proved as it was all destroyed in the Tsunami.
We walked up the main road where we noticed plenty of bars and restaurants and enjoyed a meal and drink before retiring to our room and looking forward to the next day.
We didn't sleep too good but it was our first night in another strange bed.
Day 2
We went to the open dining room for Breakfast and noticed there was only 2 tables laid. We was made a real fuss off and had all the staff running around after us it was a bit overwhelming only because there was no one else in the resort. The dining room overlooked the lovely big pool and gardens. It was a beautiful sunny day and it just felt right being here so we decided to book another few more nights.
The beach was only a 2 minute walk and because it was low season the resorts on the beach were with closed or netted off to protect the property from the harsh sea due to low season. Although it was very choppy it had that very rustic raw feel about it but you still had that lovely warm breeze in the air. We enjoyed sitting on the beach and managed to see a good sunset.
The next few days were the same we just sat by the pool, went to the beach for the sunset and enjoyed a cheap dinner of fried rice and chicken soup.
Day 4
We had to decide to today if we was going to stay here or move on. We would have liked to gone to the Similian Islands which is supposed to be beautiful and great for Snorkelling and diving. Again because of low season they were not doing trips across there. We decided that we wanted to stay as by this time the resort was empty so we thought we might be able to strike a deal. So Lee approached the manager (not the same one who checked us in) We said we was going to stay for another 7 nights and what discount could she could us, she asked us how much we wanted to pay a night and very cheekily we went in with a very low price and she agreed, we also managed to get a motorbike rental thrown in at a ridiculous price as well. So we went away chuffed to bits that we was staying in this big resort, really cheap and we was the only ones in it.
The next couple of days people came and went but we stayed.
So two weeks later and we are still in Koh Lak enjoying the opportunity of being the only ones on the resort. We keep renewing our stay at the ridiculous low price of £14 per night with breakfast and a motorbike.
We have travelled around Koh Lak and after a few days found a beautiful beach called White Sands. So that is where we spent Lee's birthday on a beautiful deserted white beach. The evening before Lee's birthday we met a lovely young couple from Finland called Paula and Peter so we went for dinner and drinks with them for Lee,s birthday. They are also enjoying staying in Koh Lak for low season.
The day Peter and Paula left for Takupa we decided to visit Koh Sok National Park. It was about 2 hour bike ride but the scenery was stunning with lime stone casts peering above us along the way. We arrived at the park and decided to dip into all the fresh water streams it was beautiful. There was one in particular that Lee wanted me to swim in to take a photo but I was a bit uneasy about it as there were large black Mosquitos sitting on top of the water. Anyway I dipped in had my photo taken. We had lunch on the way back and returned to a quite hotel as usual.
Two days after our visit to Koh Sok National Park I started to feel sick after breakfast and ran back to the room quickly to throw up in the toilet. Felt a bit better but later evening started to feel worse, by the next day I had a raging temp and felt quite ill. This went on for a couple days, feeling very hot, no energy and sleeping all the time almost like I had the flu. The hotel staff were quite concerned as they saw Lee walking about the hotel on his own and one evening as I decided to visit reception to use the wifi I looked up the symptoms of Dengue Fever and all my symptoms matched so realised then what it was. Lee went to the pharmacy and brought a thermometer, took my temp and realised it was over 40, blimey that's serious, so we put cold flannels in the fridge and set to the task of getting my temp down. The next 2 days were quite critical at getting my temp down if not then I would have to seek medical advice. Fortunately it worked and my temp got to 39 and Lee's trip to the bamboo stall for Tom Khai Gai soup (chicken soup) keep me nourished.
It took me a while to recover from Dengue Fever so we decided to pack up and return to Ao Nang after 3 wonderful tranquil weeks in Koh Lak.
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