Krabi: Railey Island

Oh the Islands!  After a few days in the big city we were ready for some island living.  When Brent and I were discussing where to go, we decided to include something much more relaxing than our previous trips.  We stayed in Krabi, which is on the mainland, and then took boats out to the islands on the different days.

Unfortunately, sometimes you have to wait FOREVER to get a boat.  We ended up waiting an hour to catch a long boat to Railey beach.

Here are the boats that were taking us over.  They would pack as many people as they could and charge 5 dollars a person.  It wasn't a great lifestyle but you can't blame them for trying to make some good money!

Once we were there it was beach time! The island was pretty small so walking from one beach to another was a scenic stroll.

 Gorgeous white sand beaches, clear blue water with green covered cliffs everywhere made this an easier place to relax.  I will admit that although it was easy to relax, morning sickness did make me grumpy for a few hours in the morning (sorry Brent).

There was interesting stuff anywhere, including caves!

 We made sure to grab lunch on the beach.  We were talking about how in Hawaii a meal like this would easily cost $50-60 dollars, but on Railey we paid a little over ten.  It was wonderful!

 Brent had a good time exploring caves and hiking up cliffs.  As we were walking up from one beach to another there was a "viewpiont" that you had to climb up a cliff.  It looked really steep so I opted to stay down, thinking Brent would be gone for about 20 minutes.  45 minutes later he came down covered in dirt and mud. Apparently, it was a much rougher hike than previous hikers had told us!

This is Phranang Cave beach. It was really pretty.  There was a sand bridge from the main because out to those two rocks so you can actually walk out and swim right around those two rocks.

Or maybe it was this rock that you could swim around.  Does it really matter?  The water was clear warm and gorgeous.  I just spent my time floating on top and soaking up some sun!

I am so impressed with Brent's ability to get beautiful pictures!  Sometimes I wish he would take a few less, but I can not argue with the results.

We were attempting to do a belly shot.  This is at 11 weeks.  It did not turn out very well.  I am currently at 16 weeks and my tummy is now starting to pop.  I would be okay if it waited a few more weeks to really open up.

It is really hard to get a good picture of us. It is one reason we love travelling with other people.  

Climbing a cliff.  If you think this is a little steep you should have seen the cliff Brent climbed.  It was crazy.

Brent in Vine Jail.  I am not going to lie, he deserved it! Just kidding!  The bugs were intense out on the island.  Although Brent didn't get bit at all I still have bites that haven't healed 5 weeks later!

 What a view.  This view is from the mainland of Krabi.

Some of the places we passed on our way home.

What a great day on the beach.  There was a night market we wanted to visit, but the rain started to pour.  Instead we went to our hotel's sister property, 5 star restaurant for dinner.  Brent was a little annoyed until we got to the rooftop restaurant.  There was only a small covered portion, a band playing softly  amazing food and the best seat for watching an amazing thunderstorm.  Brent ALWAYS has his camera with him, but for some reason he decided not to bring it this time.  That dinner is still a highlight from the trip!

Krabi: Phi Phi Islands

After the first day of exploring an island all by ourselves we were ready for someone else to take the reigns.  Instead of planning our own trip to the Phi Phi (PP) islands we signed up for a speed boat tour. Brent and I were nervous because we weren't sure we were tour people, but after we got picked up from the hotel loaded onto the boat with no waiting and no hassle we knew the right decision had been made. 

There were two places we got to snorkel in two different locations.  The first location was very shallow  so we couldn't touch the bottom for fear of stepping on one of these!

Brent LOVED snorkeling. I was going to buy him scuba diving lessons for Christmas but according to my doctor scuba diving is not on my current list of approved activities :( 

We got to play on four or five beaches.  All of them were gorgeous!

This is the first beach we visited.  We got between 30 and 45 minutes at each beach, and that was just about right for Brent and I.

 Once the white sand ended we were greeted with gorgeous plant life and cliffs.  

 Brent and I had found these cute board shorts the day before and I am so glad we did.  I had wanted a sun dress to wear but the one I found was terrible, so I was excited to wear something that felt like me and was much more comfortable!

 We really enjoyed our speed boat tour and we figured out that there were a million different tours we could have taken!  

 The food that was provided for lunch was not good... it was edible but not very good at all.  In fact, I am starting to feel a little sick thinking about it.  In fairness, I was really sick and Brent thought the food was fine.  We stopped at the main island of Ko Phi Phi, so we got to walk the streets, try random pastries and fill our bellies with some of the yummier things!

 This is after we went snorkeling for the second time!  Brent and I were the last ones out, we really wish we would have purchased an underwater camera!

 We got to see a monkey beach, but you really weren't supposed to play with them.

 Gorgeous landscape from the boat.

Look at how cool the long boats look in the port.  These boats are just long boats with car engines attached!

The final beach we stopped at had an island we could play on.  It is called Maya Beach and it is where the movie "the Beach" was filmed.  I have never seen the film but I didn't need to see it to be sold on the amazing beauty of the island.

Just relaxing on branches... except they were really really uncomfortable. I don't know why I thought this would be comfy but it was not!

 All the long boats tied together.

 Relaxing in the ocean.  It was nice to play in the water with Brent and just talk about everything we wanted to do in the next little bit.

It is amazing the dangerous vehicle we rode on.  They would pack 5 people on a scooter and if you add a side cart you have a taxi!

Brent and I on the way home.  We had a a nice van in the morning but this little cart on the way back.  WE got there at least!

Overall, we loved the speed boat tour.  We were able to see everything we wanted to in the most efficient easiest way.  I think we paid $40.00 a person, which included snorkel equipment and lunch (even though it was not good).  I doubt I would like a whole vacation on tour but it was sure nice to have a whole day taken care of!

Thailand: Floating Market

On our last morning in Bangkok we drove south to visit the floating market.  There are a TON of markets in the Bangkok area but this is one on water.  We rented a boat of our own and were off to explore.

People were selling everything a tourist could ever want, including food!  they would chop, cook and serve food from their little boats.

These were all over the place. Brent wouldn't believe that they were coconuts until the last day when he said "Those really ARE coconut!"  I just said "What do you think I have been telling you."

Can you believe how excited this manequin is?

This is such a great picture to show you what is on display.  Look at all those yummy fruits!

While on the canal, boats would ram into you and get totally stuck.  It was so congested.  

Once we finished our shopping, which wasn't much since every single vendor had the same items that we had been seeing all week, we went off to find some food.  Here is what we found.  It looks dirty, unsanitary, questionable but it was SO SO SO DELICIOUS!  We both had Pad Thai and it was so good that Brent ordered a second meal to eat in the car.  

Don't worry we didn't get sick, but we both kinda thought we might. After we finished at the floating market we packed up and headed to the airport for a trip to the Islands of Thailand!

Thailand: Ko Kret

Part of having a Bangkok expert guiding you through your vacation is you get to experience things most others don't know exist.  Something we got to explore was the little island of Ko Kret.  

This is the nicest wat on Ko Kret. 

The river that runs through Bangkok was very inefficient because it made a C-curve around Ko Kret.  For efficiency, they cut through the land making Ko Kret into and island and the river a straight shot.  This would be great except Ko Kret is one of the poorest place in Bangkok.

Most of the houses are on stilts or built high because the river often floods.

Last year about this time the island flooded so much that everyone was forced to evacuate and most of the houses, shops and everything else were ruined.

Even the sidewalk was elevated.  Since I am not the strongest rider, I kept expecting to fall off the edge.  Luckily, Ron was the perfect person to follow.

 

Ko Kret was so cool because it was almost frozen in time. There were no cars  or really anything newish.  It was all people who just lived off the land.

The wildlife was amazing.  We saw flocks of wild parrots and other breeds.

Riding around the island was awesome, although to get to it we had to load our bikes onto the small transfer boat from the mainland. 

On the island there is a family who makes really intricate pottery by hand.  It was so beautiful!  We were able to purchase some but we were too late in the day to actual watch it being made. 

It was such a cool experience to explore an island and get to know a more humble lifestyle.  I asked Ron if he thought the people would move to America because of the perks of our culture and he said they would miss the freedom of being lazy and talking to friends.  It is funny how the values of different places make different lifestyles understandable!