After feasting on the cultural delights of Angkor Wat and surviving our road trip across Cambodia, some R&R was much deserved. We worked our way South from Bangkok, taking in Koh Samui, Koh Pha Ngan, Krabi and Koh Phi Phi. Beach life is a good life, lazy days and languid evenings... it's been like a little holiday for us - some time off from the serious business of travelling!

Koh Phi Phi was the real gem, from the moment the ferry turns in towards the island you know you are somewhere very special. Dramatic limestone cliffs covered in dense green vegetation soar out of the aquamarine water. The sea is so clear you can see right down to the white sand on the sea bed and can make out silvery shadows of fish darting between the rocks.

We stayed on Long Beach, a quiet beach which is a short boat ride from the main drag. Our huts were on a hill at one end of the beach with fantastic views across the sea to Phi Phi Lay, the smaller uninhabited island. We spent our days snorkelling, kayaking and visiting surrounding islands.

At sunset, the view from our balcony of silhouted palm trees against the glowing orange sky was the perfect end to the day. For more action at night we headed into 'town' (the next beach along, which had dozens of bars and restaurants). We'd walk down onto the beach, find the boat man with his shouts of 'boat, boat' and paddle out to his longtail boat for the five minute ride through the dark water - now that is the way to travel- beats a minicab hands down!