Rock Climbing & Island Hopping: Andaman Coast

Each time I come back to Thailand, I am swept off my feet.  I whole heartedly love this place and all the adventures it brings with it.

The last time I left Haad Yuan, I had a longing to explore the rest of the Southern beaches of Thailand.  It was beautiful and I’m glad we saw it, but there is no place like Koh Phangnan, my spiritual centre.

First we started off in Koh Phi Phi where we got caught up in a rainstorm during dinner.  We snuck off into the Irish bar next door, where we met some new friends from Philadelphia.  The next night we played a full evening of slap jack and just got hammered.  This is our morning after brunch.  These guys even bought me a new deck of cards because they felt bad for my mangled, booze soaked cards. ha ha – how sweet!

   

After that, we took the Koh Phi Phi tour to see the beach where The Beach was filmed.  It was breath taking even though it’s really touristy.

There is a big wavy swim involved, and you have to climb up a rope with these super sharp rocks to get onto the path.

One of the major perks, was that the guys on the tour, are so organized that they take everyone’s cameras and put it in this Tupperware container and then into a water proof bag so you don’t have to worry about destroying your camera.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right now we are sitting in my favorite guest house, the Secret Garden in Bangkok.  This place is like my sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of this busy city.  It’s also a great place to reflect – this is the third time I’ve been here and there is something that is so comforting in being in a friendly, familiar place.

Tomorrow night we fly to Hong Kong.  I’m a little bit nervous about going there, just the thought of Hong Kong brings about a bit of anxiety because the last time I was there, it was really overwhelming for me.  The craziness, the dense population, the loud aggressive voices.  Hopefully I will be able to channel my inner calmness and just enjoy it for what it is.

 

After Koh Phi Phi, we headed to Tonsai, the rock climbing Mecca just off of Raleigh beach.  This was one of the first things we saw when we landed on the beach.  These scurrying little crabs, dig in the sand creating these little balls and making unique, symmetrical designs.  The beach was full of these beautiful creations.

Right away, we met this lovely couple from Germany.  They were super sweet, and we found some interesting parallels in our relationships.  For example, Sonia the girl on the right is my activity twin.  We both are constantly wanting to do exercise, or exploring while our partners Kirsten and Sebastien just love to curl up on the beach and read a book.  So during our time together, it was perfect because Seb and Kirsten would hang out, and Sonia and I would be planning the next adventure. 

 

The first thing we did was go on the four island tour.  This included Poda Island, Top Island, Chicken Island (pictured on the left because it looks like a chicken!) and Pranang beach.

It was a beautiful day, and we had loads of fun!

 

 

 

 

 

The picture above is Pranang cave, which is also known as the princess cave.  Legend has it that once there was a beautiful princess who was so gorgeous that all the men wanted here.  She had refused one of her suitors who was this arrogant prince.  She was rescued by this hermit that lived in a cave, who cast a spell and turned them into the surrounding beaches and caves.  Since then, this cave is where fisherman would leave offerings of phallic symbols to bring them abundance and wealth and good catches I suppose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

The next day, we decided to go deep water solo climbing with Base Camp.

I have never tried deep water solo, and neither had Sonia but we both knew we wanted to do it.  Deep water solo is basically climbing over deep water, without any ropes to hold you in, and then jumping into deep water.  It’s really beautiful and definitely something to get your adrenalin pumping.

What a rush!

I started at 5 meters, then went up to 10 meters.  Some of the guys went up to 30 meters, and they compared the feeling to “being punched really hard in the face!”

 

 

We also did a couple mornings of regular climbing on the 123 wall and the Muay Thai wall.  We had both never tried outdoor rock climbing before, and I’ve gotta say I LOVE it.  We even took our guide out for lunch and a couple beers after the climb.  It was an absolutely lovely afternoon.

It’s really interesting to see the different pockets of people that different places attract.  In Haad Thien, the place is a lot about spirituality, there are so many yoga classes, massage, pilates, tarot card reading, energy work going on which I really love.  Then over in Tonsai, it’s all about climbing and a little bit about fire dancing.

        

Well, I’m off to shop on Koh Sanh road.  It’s a shame I don’t have more space in my back pack – the shopping is great here.  Can’t wait!

xoxo

Rainy days in Thailand

  

Monsoon! 

We decided to get out of Singapore because I was starting to get stressed out from the big city.  Well also living in an apartment where you are in a constant social situation was getting to me. What I believed to be angst over my Australian visa I soon realized was a need for space.  Most people who know me would not know that I actually need a break from constant social interaction, even from Sebastien the love of my life.  I really cherish my time alone – I can relish in being a loner and I fully replace that. But I can do both.

So Sebastien and I decided to go back to Thailand because we were two weeks in Singapore and still no word from the Australian visa.  And I mean I love our couchsurfing hosts, they`re super cool and everything but we were feeling like maybe we were outstaying our welcome.  They never made us feel that way but we didn't`to want to push our boundaries with our generous hosts.  There`so a saying about houseguests and it goes like this.  Houseguests are like fish, after three days they go bad.

Anyways life works in mysterious ways.  We come back to Thailand because everything is dirt cheap.  And I realized that really I came to Thailand to explore the beaches, and I haven`t even seen the beach where The Beach was filmed.  So why not come back and explore the south where everything is cheap and the people are amazingly friendly.

Seriously Thailand is a place that inspires me.  I enjoy my runs in the morning, the amazing food, the people you meet in Thailand.  So much so that even on the gloomiest rainy day, I can revel in doing lazy rainy day things.

Here is my list of great things to do on a rainy day:

1. Find a used bookstore slash coffee shop where they will serve you non fat lattes and multigrain bread.  People watch the people who are getting soaked to the bone in torrential rainfall.  Analyze their fashion sense, and empathize with their situation of being a drowned rat for a few moments.

2.  Get a Thai massage.  It is so dead quiet that you get lots of attention since you are the only person in the shop.  Chat with your Thai masseuse, find out her name and give her a good tip.  A good tip here is the equivalent of one or two dollars, because the tradition is not to tip, and the cost of a massage is like ten dollars so one to two dollars fits into the ten to twenty percent.  It feels good to tip.

3.  Go for a run to burn off those calories from the night before from those damn bucket specials.  It feels good but make sure you avoid stepping on the jellyfish that have washed ashore.

I have an obsession for all weird organisms aquatic.  I love octopi, jellyfish, manatees, sea turtles, the weirder they are the more I love them.  So I counted about ten to twenty jellyfish all washed up ashore and I had to resist the urge of getting a stick and poking them or touching them because I respect and do not want to mess with nature.

By the way on the beach there was so much nasty garbage washed ashore.  Where we are on Koh Phi Phi is where the Tsunami had hit so everything on the beach is new.  When you are in the city (except for Singapore) no one cares, cigarette butts, litter on the busy streets. But when you see it in nature like a beautiful beach in Thailand, it is utterly revolting.  It makes me want to puke.  It makes me want to be more socially conscious because we all want to appreciate natural beauty.The universe works in mysterious ways.  I come back to Thailand and after a couple more days of checking on line with the Australian Government to see if my work visa has come through, I have come to acceptance.  No matter what happens, I am in Thailand and it`so beautiful here.  I just have to accept accept accepting.   

Here I feel inspired to meditate, to photograph, to talk to people travellers and locals alike.  I have accepted well maybe the Australian government will reject me but what the hell, I am loving my life right now.

And just like that the first morning where I don`t care whether or not the government has approved me, and I am checking out of daily obligation

BOOM!   I have been approved to go to The land down under.

I am learning so many life lessons on this trip it is a shame I didn`t travel like this earlier in my twenties.