Ko Tao, Thailand (29 April)

We had arranged a taxi with Sam and Doi to take us to Sairee Beach at 8:45am so we had breakfast, packed, checked out and headed over to Sam. There was a group of 6 friends trying to check out, have breakfast, book ferry tickets etc so it was all a bit manic and 8:45 came and went. The group were also getting the taxi with us so we had to wait.

Finally Doi arrived (looking very hungover!) and everyone was ready. Sam came to say his goodbyes and as he was shaking this American girls hand she let out a deafening scream and shouted “oh my God you have a huge spider on your shirt”. We all looked and true as bob there was a massive spider on Sam’s arm. He didn’t understand and just looked at us, when we finally managed to calmly explain he had a spider on him, the spider crawled up the inside of his t-shirt arm – we we all screaming “take off your shirt, spider” – he was very confused and was looking at us like we were mad cause he couldn’t see any spider – anyway just then the spider dropped out of his t-shirt and onto the floor and he saw it and just shrugged as we were all running away (well us girls!). Ha ha

Anyway we all piled into the back of the open top van and bumped our way along the washed out dirt road to the port to drop the guys off and then onto Sairee Beach.

We looked at a few places and decided on DD Huts which is in-between Mae Haad (port) and Sairee Beach. We have a really cute rustic bungalow close to the beach. It has a nice view down to the sea and they have a great bar right on the water with fantastic views of Sairee Beach. Our room was still being cleaned so we sat in the restaurant, did some admin, internet banking etc and waited to checkin.

Once checked in we dumped our stuff and took a walk into Mae Haad. We had to go back t the travel agency to pick up the tickets for our visa run and pay the outstanding balance. We feel so much better now that it is all booked and sorted – we leave for Burma on the overnight ferry on 2nd (should be interesting!). After that we bought the most amazing baguette from a young girl making them on the side of the road and we headed back to DD’s. We ate our baguette at their bar overlooking the ocean. They have the meanest looking dog i have ever seen. Looks like a cross pit-bull/staffie and ridgeback. Luckily he seems friendly. We decided to bribe him with food anyway just in case!

After lunch we headed over to Sairee Beach and went for a swim. Well not a swim exactly as the water only comes up to your knee so you just kind of sit down and frolic around in the warm water. We tried to sit in the shade for a while and read but we got so hot and restless that we decided to walk down the 1.7km beach and then walk back on the road/promenade. That wasn’t the greatest idea, we felt like we were going to melt. Ice cream helped a bit :). The walk was beautiful and it was nice to look at shops again. We have been on such quiet beaches for ages now so I was loving a bit of hustle and bustle .

On out way back we went for another dip then showered and got ready for dinner. I read my book on the hammock on our balcony go a while. We just went to DD’s restaurant and grabbed a Table with a Sea view. The sun was just starting to go down and we watched the most stunning sunset whilst we were having dinner – very romantic.

After dinner we walked down to the bar to watch the last rays of sunlight disappear over the horizon and we watched the stars and the moon come out. We have been on the East side of the islands and is is our first time on the West so it is he first time we get to see a proper sunset and it didn’t disappoint!