24 September - Krabi to Koh Lanta
Today we are off to Koh Lanta. Unfortunately, as it's low season the ferry is not going from Krabi so instead we booked a minivan which would take us down the coast and across on the car ferry for 350b each. We set off a 10am and were dropped at the ferry port to wait for another mini van to collect us. This driver like most Thai drivers we have encountered think they are driving race cars and don't care that they have a van full of passengers, the journey was horrendous! We drove an hour down the coast to the next ferry port and where we were loaded onto the car ferry for crossing number 1. The car ferry is a good 40 years old and just about hanging together. A rapid 10 minute drive across the smaller Koh Lanta island we boarded another ferry onto big Koh Lanta. The minivan dropped us at our accommodation we had pre booked which is near Long Beach (Prae Ae) called Chaw Kacher Tropicana costing just under 5000b for 3 nights (about £33, expensive for us but we knew the weather was likely to be rainy so we thought we'd splash out). We were welcomed with a chilled coconut and told we have been given a free upgrade because it's low season, amazing. They showed us to our hut which is the best in the house closest to the pool. Turns out we are the only guests here! The hut is huge with a MASSIVE comfy bed and an outside shower!
As it was raining all afternoon and we needed to recover from the drive we chilled out at the hotel and had lunch then in the evening we had room service on our porch which was so tranquil in the moonlight only hearing the sounds of the jungle! It was still early so we settled in to watch a movie on the laptop ... Wolfe of Wall Street.
25 September - Koh Lanta
We had a very comfy night last night and woke up refreshed for breakfast. We decided to rent a scooter from the hotel for the day. Mum don't freak out! There is only one road which goes around the perimeter of the entire island (impossible to get lost) and as it's low season so the roads are very quiet and nobody drives like maniacs because no one has anywhere to be ... island life. The hotel agreed a discount of 200b (£4) for the day with helmets.
The island is incredible! Completely covered in jungle everywhere you look with gorgeous white sand beaches spotted around the edges. There are no towns just small settlements one house deep along the road and small collections of hotels; budget and luxury. The island has not yet been commercialised with no chain resorts, MacDonalds and only a few 7 Elevens. The only traffic we encountered were a few giant lizards crossing the road and a chicken! This is paradise!!!
We drove 40km today and made it to the very tip of the island and found a stunning white beach sweeping along the bay. Looking out you can see lots of islands scattered across the bay.
We stopped on Long Beach (Prae Ae) which is the main beach ... again stunning. The water was warm and good enough to swim but after seeing lots of jellyfish on the boat over we decided against it.
Early afternoon we stopped back at the hotel for a swim. The staff are so good to us and brought us out a chilled coconut each whilst we were in the pool. After a shower we took the bike out early to watch the sunset on Long Beach which was beautiful.
For tea we went to the tip of the island near the ferry port and at last had tiger prawns, for a reasonable price although this was our most expensive meal yet, £20!! Obviously we got banana pancake to take home!
26th September - Koh Lanta
After breakfast we took the bike out to explore the other half of the island. We made it to the national park. We decided not to go in as you had to walk around it and it was midday and boiling hot! On the way there we had already seen lots of monkeys in the trees and on the beaches and a few elephants.
Instead we went in search of the waterfall. We found the location and parked up for 20 baht then walked around a lake and through thick jungle then the path submerged under water. We thought there was no way it was in this direction so we gave up after a half hour hike and went back to the bike. The guy told us it was in fact that way and about a 40 minute walk! Never mind we will try again another day!
In the afternoon Shaun found a gym whilst I chilled out by the pool. This evening we left the villa after sunset so we headed out to find somewhere to eat. Usually we would find a restaurant where the locals eat but there really is no one around, not even locals! So therefore, if there are foreigners there we will give it a try. We saw a few bikes parked outside Cook Kai - good choice as Shaun had the best meal. Deep fried barracuda in curry! I think we'll be coming back here!
We are loving it so much here we have booked another two nights a Chaw Kacher. Da, the manager, had kindly agreed to give us the same price and still stay in the luxury room.
We had seen posters around of a beach party at Fusion Bar which is walking distance from our villa so we rode by on the way home only to find about 3 people there, fair enough it was early but we didn't think it would kick off so we headed back for another early night.
27th September - Koh Lanta
Shaun was up early this morning for a few laps in the pool before breakfast. After which we tried to get some tanning time in by the pool but it is actually too hot. Probably a good 35 degrees. We lasted about 10 minutes before we were pooled in sweat and had to jump in the water. Whilst we were swimming I think the hotel were having some sort of family lunch on the terrace. As we got out of the pool they ran over with a plate of noodles and dessert for us, the staff are so sweet to us!!
We are already 2 books down so we took the bike out to find a book shop. We found the only one on the island and managed to swap my book and pay half the price for a new one. We also went up for a spin to the top of the jungle. The whole island is about the size of Guernsey but only has a road around the island and two through the middle which we had not yet explored.
We Skyped our parents as the sun set and the hotel gave us yet another coconut on the house. Then we headed off to a random restaurant for tea and a pancake on the way home!
28th September - Koh Lanta
For our last day in paradise we chilled out by the pool and took our last spin around the beautiful island, we really are going to miss this place. It's my new favourite place in Thailand. We have booked transport overland to take us to Koh Samui costing 750b (inc car ferry, mini van direct and Lamprayer).
In the evening we watched our last Koh Lanta sunset over the beautiful beach in a little shack restaurant.
A la perchoine
Jodie and Shaun
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