This won't be a wordy entry today as I'm determined to get my photos up to date on here. Briefly though, here's the update...
Got to Krabi okay (Southwest (Andaman) coast) and went over to the GORGEOUS beach of Tonsai. Very chilled out place full of lots of laid back people. No traffic, accessible only by boat and no hawkers allowed. Waiter service is terrible as they're all stoned all of the time but it's so chilled out that you don't really mind reminding them to bring your order, half an hour after they've forgotten. Met some lovely people and went on an 'adventure' day which involved lots of climbing - 6 in all I think - followed by a climb up inside a cave to a lookout point high above the beach. From here we abseiled down and walked back along the beach where, of course, beer was had. What a great day. Beautiful, exciting, challenging and rewarding.
The next day I woke up and couldn't move (Mum, please don't panic!). I had a fever so I stayed in bed for a couple of days and on day 3 it was my birthday. There was no way I was staying in bed on my birthday and it turned out that my mates, Naaz, Claire, Ruth et al, were on nearby Koh Phi Phi. An island about an hour and a half from Tonsai. So, on the 22nd November, I got the 9am boat over to Phi Phi and had a lovely reunion with the girls. Luckily I was feeling a bit better so we all went out for dinner (pics below) and out for the night. Believe it or not, I didn't drink a drop of alcohol - must be my first teetotal birthday ever - but still had a great time. The next day my fever had returned (um....did I say this wasn't going to be a wordy one?!) and luckily there was a great hospital nearby. Naaz kindly walked there with me where I was diagnosed with a fever and, despite drinking loads of water and taking electrolytes daily, dehydration. The lovely nurse gave my some antibiotics and I went back the next day for a saline IV after which I started to feel much better very quickly.
So what followed was a week of fabulous balcony parties, nights out at various bars ending up dancing on the beach 'til the wee hours. Oh, and on one day we took a boat out to 'The Beach' beach, called Maya beach. If you've seen the film, you may recognise the photos. Simply more gorgeousness on top of the gorgeousness that is Thailand. I still can't believe that I'm actually here sometimes. I see fabulous pictures of stunning beaches and go 'Oh my God...I've been there!' It's great.
But it hasn't all been haha heehee though. I had a huge amount of money fraudulently stolen from my bank account so I've had to cancel my bank card. This was a real headache (on top of the headache I had at the time from my fever) and I'm still trying to sort it out with the bank. This is where True Friends come in. Tim, one of my best friends back in the UK (we were at university together) was an absolute diamond in a crisis. He very generously wired me some money without hesitation and has allowed me to use his address in the UK to get replacement cards etcetera posted to. He really bailed me out when I was really stuck. A million thanks to you, Tim! I owe you one.
So, I was able to get back up to Bangkok on the 5th December in time to meet Johnny who was flying back from Nepal on that day. He'd been trekking there, doing the Anapurna Circuit, with his mate. Johnny and I have since been hanging out (we're going to see the new James Bond movie tonight) and making plans. Today we booked a flight to Jakarta, Indonesia for Tuesday the 9th. When we get to Jakarta airport we'll book the next flight to Bali, hopefully on the 10th. Naaz, Djemal and Becks (in photos below) are also there and the balcony parties have already commenced.
This is where the future has yet to be decided by The Powers That Be. Within the next week I'll know what's happened to the money that was stolen from my bank account which was basically the remainder of my travel fund and was meant to last for another 3 months or so. It was also meant to be used for living on when I get to Australia while I look for a job. If the bank refund it (which they may not do - long story), then I'll postpone my flight to Melbourne, currently booked for the 19th, and carry on travelling for another month or so. If they don't refund the money then I need to get my ass to Australia asap and get a job. A little bit of a scary prospect as I can't get a work visa (you have to be under 30) and will need to get a company to sponsor me. This means that I'll have to fall back on my old career and put the yoga teaching plans on ice for the forseeable future. However, I'm optimistic (as always!) and am hoping that the work ethic in Australia will suit me better than the work ethic in the UK did. I'll still keep doing lots of yoga and continue working towards my teacher training regardless of whether or not I end up using it as a new career. We'll see.
Without further ado, I'll leave you now to feast your eyes on the beauty of Southern Thailand and become acquainted with some of my new, fabulous friends. Coming live to you soon from a beach in Bali where I plan on learning to surf. Bye for now!
Krabi from the sea.
Climbing in Railay. Mum, see the harness. See the safety rope. 100% safe. I promise!
Walking over Pharang (I think it's called) beach for the afternoon climbs. Probably the most scenic beach in the whole of Thailand.
View from up the rock. I'm now able to look around at the top of the climb without crying out in fear. Or crying. I can even take pictures and enjoy the view. Go Lynda, Go!
Another view from up the rock.
And here's my lovely climbing team.
Believe it or not, this little kid is 15 years old, has been climbing for a mere 2 weeks and is able to lead climb (take the rope up the rock and tie it at the top) a grade 5B climb. Unbelievable!
And this is the fabulous view from the lookout point over Railay beach (to the right of the photo) and Tonsai beach to the left.
Look Ma, no hands! (But very safe, I promise)
Out celebrating my birthday with the girls in Phi Phi. Lovely to be back with them again.
And it's the birthday girl.
Fully recovered from the fever and some bucket catching up to do on the balcony with Djemal.
Work it baby, work it!
Djemal asleep on the beach in all his glory.
Time to get silly. Again.
View from Koh Phi Phi over to Phi Phi Ley. Phi Phi Ley is the baby sister of Phi Phi Don. You can see it in the distance (the W shaped island). That's where Maya Beach is - where 'The Beach' was filmed.
And the balcony parties warm up.
Phi Phi Ley on our day trip to 'The Beach'.
View of 'The Beach'. Looks just like the movie and every bit as breathtaking in real life.
Back on Koh Phi Phi don where we walked up to this viewpoint for sunset.
Let's get this balcony party started!
'Long Legs' Becks and I.
The balcony crew. Claire, Ruth, English Becks, Djemal, me, Kevin, Bertine, Josh (aka Doctor Colin) and Dutch Becks. Don't know who the random bloke is in the front. A wannabe balcony crew member no doubt.
Dutch Becks and I on our way back to Krabi. Becks went to Tonsai on my recommendation while I was on my way up to Bangkok.
And back in Bangkok, yesterday, reunited with Johnny and doing a bit of sight-seeing on the river. Life is Good. I LOVE IT!
