Phang Nga

After a 2 hour taxi ride from Nai Harn we arrived at our next destination at Phang Nga. Checked into TP Place and went for a walk about. Hotel room OK but the bed was really hard and furniture very old but clean so thats the main thing. Walked down to the bus station to find out what time the busses run to Surat Thani. While there we booked a trip for Wednesday 18th to Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island, Floating Muslim Island and kayaking through caves. Found a lovely little cafe where we shared some rice and had a delicious frappe cappuccino each. That evening we walked into town. Steve got some flip flops as his had broken in Nai Harn. Not

very touristy here. Just got a toastie dinner from 7 Eleven as neither of us were that hungry.

On Wednesday morning we were picked up at 8.30am and taken to one of the piers to get a longtailed boat to Phang Nga Bay. Only the two of us in the boat. First stop was James Bond Island (Kao Phing Kan). Hardly anyone there so we virtually had the place to ourselves! Took lots of photos and had some taken for us too. Then we got back in the boat and taken to do some kayaking around the mangroves and caves. The two of us got in an inflatable kayak with a tour guide showing us around. Amazing, so peaceful and relaxing. Saw lots of walking fish sitting on the mangroves too. Last stop was the Floating Muslim Village. Had a walk through it and found the temple but it was quite off-putting as people just stared and weren't very welcoming. It seemed like they just wanted our money. Overall a fantastic trip out

which we both enjoyed.

Got back to our room, showered and went back to the cafe we found yesterday for coffee and some food. Both ate far too much so came back to the room and had a sleep as we were up early that morning.

Next day we hired a scooter from the hotel. The roads around PhangNga were very quiet and large. Went to Wat Tham Ta Pan, a buddhist temple also known as Heaven and Hell Temple. Very unique. Then we went on to Tham Sam which was a lake surrounded by caves with ancient drawings in them. After that we drove to Namtok Tao Thong, a small waterfall. Had a walk around it then Steve managed to get in it and have a refreshing swim whilst I sweated on the bank next to it haha!

Then we decided to do the 50 min scooter ride to Samet Nangshe Viewpoint. Man it was an excrutiating ride but so worth it once we got there. We were told to go to the Samet Nangshe Boutique Hotel, pay 50 baht each for a ride to their viewpoint. The view looked like a postcard, it was breath taking. Photos do not do it justice! We sat and had an iced coffee overlooking the view for about an hour. The thought of our gruelling journey back to our hotel was pushed to the back of our minds whilst we took in the view!

On Friday 20 May we packed up early and headed to the bus station. It was about 20 min walk away but with backpacks took about 30 mins. We had booked the 8am bus to take us to Surat Thani which takes 3 hours. All in all it was quite a pleasant bus ride. Air-conditioned, no stops all the way to Surat Thani.