Since our last blog we have had c. 40 hours of travelling (non-stop), c. 36 hours of rain but more importantly c. 72 hours of thai hot weather! 
We left Yangshuo by a 1.5 hour bus to Guilin, where we then caught an overnight (soft!) sleeper to Shenzhen which is just over the mainland boarder to Hong Kong. From here we caught a train into HK, then a ferry over the waterway to HK central! At this point we wanted to go no further – we certainly have an affection for HK! Once we checked in, 10 hours before our flight (that’s early even by Karen’s standard!), at the in-town centre we had our boarding cards and our bags were on their way, supposedly along the longest conveyer belt in the world, to the airport. Without a thought of the bags Karen headed to Toni & Guy and I to Starbucks (having bought a UK-US travel plug!) to search for some accommodation on some Thai island somewhere near Phuket airport! Well, Karen’s hair took 4 hours and my search took 4 hours, 3 cappuccino’s and one frappuccino! My 4 hours researching paid off and we decided on a bit of Darren luxury (a little above our normal “flashpacker” status!) and opted for Ban Raya Resort!
Once Karen was back with blonde STRAIGHT hair we then had food and headed to the airport. I had already received an email from Ethiopian Air that our flight was delayed, and so it was. After a flight from HK -> Bangkok, then a flight from Bangkok -> Phuket, we then caught a bus to Chalong Bay for a longtail to Koh Racha, however…the skies where dark and rain was imminent. After convincing the longtail owner we would only pay an agreed amount, he summoned his son (wise choice is turns out) and we were off for a c. 1 hour crossing. After about 20 minutes I was soaked (with water dripping off my nose), Karen was soaked, the bags soaked and rain imminent – bugger!
Once we arrived at Koh Racha we were soon upon our accommodation and smiles returned to our face. The crossing in hindsight was quite amusing! So after almost 48 hours without accommodation we had arrived at our bungalow that had electricity only 18:00 – 08:00 and only a cold shower! Brilliant! No, truly, it was
For the remainder of that day and the next it basically rained. But upon the second morning the skies were blue and the suntan lotion was out! I had arranged to dive in the morning, so Karen took up position at the pool and I went diving – guess who I found? Nemo!!! The dive was great and I arranged for a second dive the following day. From this point forward we spent life like an islander, minimum of 12 hours sleep a night, great food (especially the seafood!) and cold beer
Now we are travelling once again. We longtailed back in far superior weather, taxi’d to the airport and now have two flights ahead of us to Chiang Mai where we meet up once again with Adam & Cat and have already booked into Thai cookery school!
Hope you enjoy the pictures, sorry if they do not match those back home, but trust us that we are soaking up as much of this good weather as we can for one and all back home!
