Todd and Lisa's RTW trip

Khao Sok was really fun. We were going to do an organized hike tour but decided to do it on our own instead. We did some good jungle trekking and ended up with leeches… but only on our feet, not like in “Stand By Me”. Then we found a great river pool and swam around until a bunch of vicious monkeys came and chased us out!!

We are sitting around Khao Lak waiting to leave on the boat. It is very eirry around here Because it got hit very hard by the tsunami. The road here had half built houses everywhere with thank you signs to different foundations. And in town there are new buildings, but the road is still being rebuilt and the buildings are still vacant. Its Just very strange because you can really feel the devistation here….we’re hopping on a boat outta here ASAP!!!!

Here are a few pics

These first few are on Koh Lanta

Momma J- This is the reason we called a day late for your birthday!!

These ones are from the National Park.. If you click on the pic with the vines, you can see all the monkeys hanging around!!

We feel terrible because we insisted to all of you that this is not a year long vacation, but instead a year of traveling intensely around the world to experience the cultures, etc. Well the truth is Thailand so far had been a wonderful vacation!!!!

We finished our dive certification in Koh Tao and decided to go over to the otherside of the pennisula (to the Andaman Sea). We took our first overnight ferry off Koh Tao. It was…….Interesting!!! It was just the whole boat with mattresses on the floor, actually pretty comfortable. Then a couple of hellish buses and another ferry, we ended up on the island of Koh Lanta. We read about a place to stay at the very south end of the island, away from everything (baanphulae.net). We drove way through the wonderful smelly jungle, over some serious dirt roads, through some major mud puddles and we arrived in PARADISE!!!! We were on a totally secluded beach. We moved into our bamboo hut, that was set up a little in the jungle , with a beautiful view. We had these plants with huge leaves that shaded our window, a mosquito net that cocooned us and a cozy hammock overlooking the sea.
Our intention was to stay only a few days….but as you can see from our lack of blogging Paradise sucked us in a few days longer. We don’t know how to explain all the details of the awesome place without sounding like we are rubbing it in, but we’ll try. We were totally trapped in seclusion, no phone, no t.v. no internet, no store… no nothing. The place had this cool loungey area that had simple decks that went over the sand where you sat on pillows and then also a low table area. The food was delicious (which was important because it was our only choice) and above all that the Thai guys that worked there where so nice. We had so much fun with them and also a German couple we befriended. A couple nights we had a little too much fun… they were very appreciative of our duty free scotch ( we are appreciative that we no longer have to carry it). During the day we strolled the beach for shells (you can’t believe what we found… the kind of shells you buy!!), rode perfect waves (big enough for todd, but not to big for wimpy Lisa), played beach volleyball and read in the hammok. A few nights they had parties. They had thai bbq with tons of seafood and fire dancing!!! It was very difficult to peel ourselves away from that place, but we knew we had to!! I think we have said to before.. but WE LOVE THAILAND!! Everyone needs to visit this counrty!!!
We made our way to Khao Sok National Park. Tomorrow we will do some trekking through limestone caves and rainforest. The following day, we leave on a 4 day liveaboard scuba trip to the simalian and surin islands. We are very excited!!!!
Miss you all lots….. pictures will come sometime.. but like we said- we dont wanna rub it in!!!

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