Sorry for the delays in the entries but a hectic schedule has been the main reason. I have almost every morning been up earlier than a normal work day which I will definitely put an end to. Anders promised me that on day 8 get to sleep until I wake up without any alarm clocks.
Day 3
The last day night in Bangkok we book a 5-star hotel called Lebua. We got upgraded from 30-something to the 53th floor, business suits of the simple reason that our room was not ready. We checked in before 12 o’clock and check-in time was 14.00 so we were impressed by the service. Wow, what a view and a nice room (with nice Bvulgari bathroom items) but still cheaper than a standard Scandic Hotel. We also got access to a lounge with free cocktails but didn’t have time to even check it out.
After we checked in we went to the Grand Palace which all guide books told us not to miss. Since we already been outside a couple of times already and almost dragged into a infamous scam, I rather wanted to do some shopping but Anders pushed me and it was very impressive and we squeezed in some shopping right after anyway. I kind of pushed Anders to buy some suits and now he seem more than happy of the final result even though he was very skeptic at first. A guy that own t-shirts, I guess nearly 100 – a nice fitted quality suit and shirt looked so different that I hardly recognized my own boyfriend. I wish you could have seen the transformation I saw and YES, I like it! 2 suits and 4 shirts for 4700 SEK – that is one normal suit at let say Brothers or MQ with no extras would go for.
The suit shopping made us kind of put off the rest of the shopping. The mall MBK was huge had so much and most of the stuff was similar. MBK is eight floors packed with 2,000 shops that sell everything from clothing, fashion accessories, handbags, leather products and luggage to furniture, mobile phones, electric appliances, cameras, stationery and DVD’s (and then some). I got overwhelmed as I like to shop in less hysterical environment. Probably lost some good bargains but I was just keen to get home and prepare for our night out!
After some expensive drinks (Swedish prices) at the Lebua Skybar, we felt boring and wanted to go back to the room and watch a movie and do some blogging instead of explore the nightlife of the City of Bangkok…I hardly recognize myself but as strange it can be I get tired of being on holiday.
It could have been a great ending of a three perfect days but it was one of my worst nights ever. I slept 2 hours with heartbeats over 150. Why? I experienced for the first time the awful backside of Thailand and heard stuff from the next-door room I wished I never had to hear ever in my life. We called security a couple of times but nothing happened. The refund was a joke so Lebua will be so trashed in our review on TripAdvisor.
Day 4
Once again an early morning with a very fancy breakfast where we got wood-owen grilled toast but I was just fed up by Bangkok and wanted to get to Krabi faster than ever. The flight and transfer to Krabi was a smooth ride and we arrived to our resort around 15.30, right about enough time to get a cold and fresh fruit smoothie and watch the sunset in Au Nang. We later had some barbecue dinner and some drinks by the same beach bar (Fisherman’s Bar) and got the bed in a very reasonable time (23.00 something). The resort Somkiet Buri was nice and calm, and small oas in a hectic town built on tourism but it was Islamic and no real action in the hotel bar and a total empty restaurant…Anders did not take much pictures from it though, just from our balcony.
Day 5
Rain in the morning!! What a start… L We cancelled our trip to Railay Beach where we had planned to meet up with my friend My. Once it cleared up around noon we instead hired kayaks and paddled over to a beach called Ton Sai where it was a nice bar and relaxed back-packers and reggae Thais. After one Singah there we paddled back in the sunset. It was for sure the highlight of that day and I really start to love Thailand more and more.
Day 6
Early morning again! When can I go up later than I normally do back in Sweden? God, I want to sleep until I wake up but so far that has not happened yet. So 6.15 am – we packed our gear and got a fast 10 min breakfast to go our scuba diving – yeah!!!
This is a story that I can talk all day about but I will not bore you. The day before we had tried out some diving sales facilities, but of pure laziness we chose the last one even though the first one felt better. A lot of waiting the dive master showed up either still drunk since last night or high on something stronger. As all of us hadn’t dived in a while we refused to let this Canadian risk to end our lives in deep water. Luckily the first dive company was on the same boat with another group and fixed it all so Groggy Rob took a long-tail back to main land. Now the next issue, the boat engine crashed so instead of diving in Phi-Phi, we took our dives in some local islands around Ao Nang. It was great to dive again but some of us were not that impressed – I have been diving in the Red Sea and My in Borneo but it was still a nice and interesting day which I don’t regret for a second. After the adrenaline wore out it was time to get an early night again after some drinks and scary fire show.
Day 7
Last day in Ao Nang and early morning again since we were traveling to Phi-Phi. First a quick check to the local doctor as my ear had blood in it after the dive and the Swedish “sjukvårdsupplysningen” said it was a huge risk of a cracked eardrum. I was so impressed of the small medical center and the service even if it was very different from ours. I was very relieved as I only got some external damage on the trummhinna so I can still take a swim but no more diving and I got a medicine that will last a long time. J
We had some great Indian food for lunch with My and started our trip to Phi-Phi and it took several hours with mini bus where you sit back on the truck scared for your life and ferry and long-tail. It was worthwhile because I will never forget the feeling when we finally arrived to this paradise on earth called Relaxed Resort on the other side of Kao Phi Phi. We actually loved our small, primitive room so much we decided to quickly change our 2 days to 3. This is what you only see on TV but this IS truly vacation and I feel totally relaxed – just wished I didn’t have so many mosquito bites. They really love my blood because Anders hardy notices them!
They had some wi-fi here but not enough to get my work emails sent from my out box! Haha, I guess that is a sign that I should let work stay home and not with me on a paradise island.
Day 8
Second day in paradise and I finally got my morning of sleep. Thank you!!! After breakfast I have just been reading, sleeping and blogging. This was exactly what I was imagine when I booked the trip. Today I want to do NOTHING! Anders is talking about a jungle walk that will take hours, do some fishing, playing Frisbee, book massages, go up to view point in the mountains and other stuff. He will need to go without me – I have books to read, taking naps at my bungalow terass in the middle of the day, sipping on drinks and maybe a dip in the sea if I feel like it.
I hope you enjoyed some updates. Now back to my book again.
Keep warm and healthy!
PUSS & KRAM
