Ana_Krabi

Day 8
Wed. Jan. 24
We arrived in Surathani around 5:00 am. I felt sleepy and tired. There were bunch of minivans asking where we wanted to go. It was part of the joint ticket deal. The minivan took us to a waiting area. Other backpackers were waiting there as well. It seemed we were the only ones going to Krabi Town everyone else was going to an island. The man that worked there asked us if we were sure we wanted to go to Krabi. I started doubting myself. For the next hour that we waited I kept going back and forth. I was driving Vane crazy I'm sure. She is so easy going that she kept saying we can go where ever. She had no preference. So my inner voice told me to go ahead and go with he original plans to Krabi Town. We took the minivan to the town around 7:00 am. We got dropped off in the middle of nowhere it seemed like. I asked the guy where out we and he said we were outside of Krabi. He told me I had to take a taxi to the city for 20 Baht more. Hidden charge for sure. I thought the ticket included being dropped of in the middle of town not at the end of town. Had to suck it up and do it. We took the pickup truck to town. From there we walked to a hostel mentioned in the lonely planet. Good thing for that book. It guides you when you feel lost. The town didn't look that bad. There were other tourists walking around. We thought we were going to be the only ones there. Vane helped looked for the hotel. I was so cranky and sweaty from the hot sun.

After few minutes we finally found the hostel. It was so quaint and clean. Couldn't be the price. It was the cheapest place yet, only 250 Baht a night ( $7US) for the two of us. The room was super clean and spacious with only one bed. We didn't care. We wanted a place to sleep. I rushed to the shower. It felt so nice to have a cold shower. I was starving so right after we ate at the hostel it had a restaurant too. Vane was pretty hungry too. She had a chicken sandwich and I had rice with chicken. After eating I felt hungry. I don't know why. It felt like I didn't eat a thing it went straight to my feet or something. Couldn't think what to do next. Decided to take a two hour nap. Vane didn't resist the idea. I think she was tired too.

Felt much better after nap. Woke up hungry. I looked through my bag to see what other snack I could find. I had brought some from California - beef jerky, some gummy snacks and a few granola bars. Vane made the funniest expression. She said she could eat all day long with her hands. At least that is what I thought she meant. Her face was hilarious. She ate some candy corn that I had brought her to satisfy her hunger.

We booked a tour for the next day to the nearby 4 islands. The pictures looked amazing these islands have beautiful rock formations. One of them is famous because it looks like a chicken. So many tours to chose from but we went with our gut again. You can't go wrong its either beautiful or more beautiful. I felt better booking the tour. That is the reason people go to Krabi town to book trips instead of staying at a specific island for days. We walked around the town as the sun was coming down. I had to look for a stupid adapter. Now I know how Tim feels when he has to deal with that. I brought so many adapters but of course none worked for Thailand. But it wasn't that hard to find. Along the way Vane spotted a signed that said it had rooms for 150 Baht. We went to check it out and it was decent. Not as nice but tolerable for sure. We made the reservation for the following day. The hippie guy, Joe, was so stoned you could tell. He was listening to Bob Marley and just had that mellow attitude with lazy eyes. But the owner seemed really nice, Judy, so I didn't care so much.

The rest of the day we just kept getting hungry and trying to tame the beast. We were laughing. We were both really hungry for some reason. =)


Day 9
Thurs. Jan. 25
We were ready to go by 8:00. Had to pack and leave our bags in storage which I loved. It was behind the bar area in the open. I tell you so far I love the storage areas in Thailand. They feel real safe. So far so good. They do guarantee me that nothing will happen. I just have to let it go and trust, which I've learned to do on this trip. Sometimes you have let it go and trust it will turn out and it always does, in a mysterious and perfect way.

We were the first ones to get picked up for the tour. Oh, another thing when you sign up you also have to trust and hope for the best. It's not very clear all you going to get in the tour. But at least you get the basics out like lunch is included and you'll get water. An hour later and we arrived at the agency doing the tours. We had to wait to get a sticker for the tour. It's organized chaos. By 10 we were walking to the old long tail boat anchored near the shore. We had to get wet to get on it. It was smaller and more beat up than the long tail boat we rode on in Ko Tao. They sure crammed us in there. There wasn't even room for the holy spirit. Vane and I were laughing. We tend to do that alot. So far we've met not so friendly tourist. Not sure is because the destination is overcrowded with tourist and they're on shorter holiday and just want to get away and relax, specially the couples. Can't blame them. The point being me and Vane are the playful ones usually. We tend to speak Spanish so no ones understand, plus the others are speaking in their language - Dutch, Swedish, Danish, German and so on. Tons of European tourist especially Swedish we've met so far. The conversation doesn't go pass where you are from and how long are you traveling for?

Our lovely guide told us the name of our first island. Could barely understand him and to be honest I'm so bad with names that already forgot although I've read few times. The ride was beautiful, another extension of paradise - emerald waters with stoning rock formations in the middle of the ocean. Our first stop was a gorgeous island crowded with other boats. The area for swimming was small but amazingly gorgeous. We had an hour to sit around and enjoy. So we did. Time went by fast. I kept looking at my watch to make sure we didn't miss the boat. Another couple did. We left them behind.

Our next stop was Chicken island. We got to do some snorkeling. By this time were experts. Too bad we couldn't see shit. No visibility whatsoever. Oh, well it was good to go in the water it was pretty hot. Then it was lunch time we stopped at the third island another beautiful island. I know that I sound like a broken record but can't seem to find other words to describe paradise. Can't beat having lunch right in front of the beach. We were able to see some monkeys hanging out. Although we were warn not to get to close since the bite. They hang around near some bungalows. I even saw one of the monkeys trying to open the door. It was pretty funny to see. Wouldn't want to stay there.

The last stop was the most hermosa beach ever. Maybe if I say it in Spanish it sounds different. J/K. It was really pretty - it had a gorgeous cave near the beach area known as the Princess cave. To get there we had to walk over burnt bodies. Vane and I want to clinch when we see people roasting in the sun. I mean burning up. The white skin is completely burnt. It’s beyond a nice tan. I feel like covering them up with a blanket, especially the topless ladies with their burnt boobs. It looks like it hurts so bad. It makes me want to cry just seen them like that. They don't seem to care but it gotta hurt. Anyhow Vane and I found some shade near the cave and even got a cool breeze as we starred in to the ocean. We had an hour there too. Great trip for only $20 for the both of us we got fed and had drinking water plus great pineapple for a snack.

I was so tired by the time we got back. Just wanted to take a shower and relax. So I did. We did manage to grab a bite to eat and sign up for a kayaking tour for the next day. I was looking forward to it. Never done it before.