Thailand - Revisited!

Welcome to Keith and Suzanne's MINI Adventure - big adventure's little brother!


But before we start, did you know that the English drink 150 million cups of tea every single day?





This picture on the left is taken in Abu Dhabi our first stop from Newcastle. Here's an interesting fact that not many people know about Abu Dhabi. It's the only place in Saudi where you can see cartoon series 'The Flintstones'. Apparently, no other cities in Saudi get the humour but the people in Abu Dhabi Do (Ha Ha - Do you get it Abu Dhabi Do? You must admit I haven't lost it). Another plane from Saudi to Bangkok and then another plane to the beautifully named Krabi - right on the south west coast.


This is the first stop at Krabi - a beautiful coastline and nice and relaxing, just what you need after nearly a full day on and off planes!







This is the preferred method of transport for the 'island hopper' it's called a long tail boat - this is a picture of the 'business end'. Basically, you can get anything on a stick in Thailand - chicken, prawns, pineapple, tarantula - whatever takes your fancy. The long tail boat keeps with the theme, it's basically an old car engine welded onto a metal stick which is attached to a long propeller. It's the Thai version of an outboard motor. Any engines will do - we've seen everything from a lawn mower engine to a London bus diesel engine!

The coastline here is surrounded with dramatic cliffs and.... oops nearly told you! Just what are those dramatic, rising out of the sea, column shaped stones called, with the words 'free cup of tea written all over them'?

Still in Krabi, and this picture demonstrates that my arms haven't diminshed in the last six months!

Sun setting over the Krabi coastline. All the long tail boats and fishing boats parked up for the night.

Next stop Railay, which is a short ride on a ferry down the peninsular - still on the Thai mainland. We were so chuffed with our accomodation! This bungalow is brand new and it had a lovely view over the bay - all for just a few sheckles (or Thai baht if you want to be precise)

A view around Railay from a long tail boat. Look at those ...... in the background!

This is where we had a beer to stop and watch the sun setting.

Sometimes, when the tide is out, you can walk out for long distances, here people are walking back from there boats way out at sea.

Here is Suzanne silhouetted against the setting sun.

A sea eagle

Yet another beautiful sunset (have you had enough yet?)

This is a local blacksmith sorting out Elvis' hooves!! No only kidding - this is 30 minutes foot scrub, removing of the rough skin (which he triumphantly gathered in big piles to show me and any passers by!) This is followed by a 30 minute foot massage - after which, after waking Elvis up, she trotted along on her beautiful baby soft feet.

How about this for a metamorphasis, my head with Elvis' body? Strange, but my head looks unusually large - hhhmmmm.

Next stop is Ko Phi Phi - and here we are with an old friend, Anschi from Austria. We met Anschi and her friend Ilse in Malysia and have kept in touch by e mail. We were thrilled when we heard that she was travelling in Thailand with her boyfriend Robert and we'd have the chance to meet up for a couple of days.

This is the spectacular viewpoint from Railay. it's a bit of a scramble to get there but we did it and the view was certainly worth it. There's also a lagoon which involves rope climbing down three cliffs - worth it for the view though.

Again that said viewpoint!

Elvis doing a spot of 'scrambling'!! (Tomb Raider eat your heart out!) Gee her face looks rather white - must be the shock of rope climbing!

The answer to the cup of tea question was won by Alan 'Didge' Richardson. The Beach by Alex Garland. Here is 'the beach' on a little island called Ko Phi Phi Ley. If you blur your eyes that could be Leonardo di Caprio walking along the sand! Needless to say, the place was packed by midday!

For another cup of tea - what's going on here - ropes hanging from caves in the sides of the cliff - are people risking their lives to harvest something - if so what?

Just a spot of relaxation. Quick question here: is Elvis waiting for a big bottle of water or a lager shandy and a portion of fries? (Jenny and Andy, remember Cyprus?)

Get yourself a full pot of tea and tell us - what kind of tree is this? I am climbing it by the way, not jumping in the air in a strange fashion! It has large web like roots.

Yes again, the viewpoint! Note the 'orange' hands from all the 'scrambling'!

Oh not another bloody sunset. No it's not actually, this is a sunrise, can't you tell the difference?

Ahhhhhh a little 'Thai' version of Jackson! Shirley Sandersfield we can hear you saying Ahhhhh. I don't want to spoil your moment - but they eat dogs here! Not this one though Shirls - no nightmares please.

Another tough climb to get to a view point. This is a very thin part of the island. When the sunami hit here the wave came from the left went clear over the strip of land and continued off to the right.

Our friends Anschi and Robert about to leave Ko Phi Phi! Thanks for such a great few days guys, Anschi you were a wondeful tour guide and looking forward to seeing you both in Austria in May. (tip off the cakes shops that the 'cake monster' is coming!)

No cups of tea for guessing the name of the island where this little chap lives- yes the very practically named 'Monkey Island'. The monkey's are getting fat here cos they get fed off tourists all day - not a bad life really.








And finally - there won't be many blogs, so here is another cup of tea question - all the places we've visited are in the Indian ocean - but what is the name of the sea around the south west of Thailand. And, in case of a tie break, in no more than ten words, what did you like most about my Flintstones joke.