Our major preoccupation has been the provision of why why. On night two we decide to go for a slightly less expensive glass of why why before dinner, so venture out of the hotel to find it. Well, at least that was the plan. There are a few small restaurants and bars around the hotel we are in and we visited every single one – there was no why why to be had. So the next day at first light we make our way in yet more rain to White Sand Beach which is the main tourist area of the island to resolve this pressing issue. They had everything there, tattoo parlours, travel agencies, Indian food, dive shops, but no wine of any description. I had seen an ad somewhere for a wine shop, but no one could tell us where it was. Finally we discover it – in a beach further along - so into a songethaw we get and finally find the “Wine Gallery” – nirvana! But of course we do have to sample the wares so sat outside and consumed a couple of glasses each watching the world go by. We get back to the hotel with enough stores for the next few days. The shop was in another beach area, Kai Be, smaller than White Sand Beach but with the same tat shops. There were a couple of shops that looked a bit nicer but I think cash flow is a problem – the shops were virtually empty. But the real issue is "tourist flow" - everywhere is so quiet, at time it feels we have the hotel to ourselves. So no real shopping to be done. Apart from White Sand Beach which is quite long but very developed, all the others appear to be in small bays – nice as it means you don’t get interrupted by people trying to sell you stuff, but less good as you can’t do a long beach walk. But having said that, it’s turned pretty hot so long walks in the sun are not too sensible.
But on our travels, we were also in search of li lo’s. Our next door rooms open out onto a lovely warm 1.2 metre deep pool (50 metres long by 10 metres wide) so you can (if you really want to…) get out of bed and straight into the pool. A li lo each to float about in we thought was just the thing. And so it has proved – Gill’s is Barbie Pink and Carole’s is Canary yellow. It did take us a few tries to get on and off with any grace – and I’m not convinced we have actually managed that yet…. but we are getting better. By using the "docking station" - the shallower bit just outside the room, it's easier and also not in full view so you can compose your self before "launching" into the bigger bit! But luckily, the pool is really quiet and most of the time we are the only ones in there. We Li-lo Lil’s have spent many a happy hour floating about. Today Carole has also started her aqua gym tuition, Gill so far is not proving an apt pupil, but has signed up for further lessons. There is also the odd li lo race and swimming race – well we have to use up some calories with all that wine!
We also visit Bang Bao a small fishing village on the southern tip of the island. Not a lot there but an interesting narrow dilapidated wooden pier with shops, restaurants and “hotels” on each side. There were also mopeds driving up and down said pier and kids on tricycles – how they didn’t fall in I never know. But it is actually a working fishing village – you could tell that by the smell. And we stopped for Diet Coke at a strange little restaurant full of wierd water features and appeared to be manned by ladyboy rejects from Bangkok…..
So far we have floated around in our own pool and shopped for wine. But this morning we had a few hours on the beach. There is a beautiful white sand strip next to the hotel, but I think that has been imported as the rest of the beach really isn’t up to much – it’s a bit rocky, and this makes the sea look green rather than blue. And when the tide is out it brings long forgotten memories of Western Super Mare or Blackpool beach. But the pool deck (complete with private jacuzzi’s ) makes up for that – very civilised.
But on our travels, we were also in search of li lo’s. Our next door rooms open out onto a lovely warm 1.2 metre deep pool (50 metres long by 10 metres wide) so you can (if you really want to…) get out of bed and straight into the pool. A li lo each to float about in we thought was just the thing. And so it has proved – Gill’s is Barbie Pink and Carole’s is Canary yellow. It did take us a few tries to get on and off with any grace – and I’m not convinced we have actually managed that yet…. but we are getting better. By using the "docking station" - the shallower bit just outside the room, it's easier and also not in full view so you can compose your self before "launching" into the bigger bit! But luckily, the pool is really quiet and most of the time we are the only ones in there. We Li-lo Lil’s have spent many a happy hour floating about. Today Carole has also started her aqua gym tuition, Gill so far is not proving an apt pupil, but has signed up for further lessons. There is also the odd li lo race and swimming race – well we have to use up some calories with all that wine!
We also visit Bang Bao a small fishing village on the southern tip of the island. Not a lot there but an interesting narrow dilapidated wooden pier with shops, restaurants and “hotels” on each side. There were also mopeds driving up and down said pier and kids on tricycles – how they didn’t fall in I never know. But it is actually a working fishing village – you could tell that by the smell. And we stopped for Diet Coke at a strange little restaurant full of wierd water features and appeared to be manned by ladyboy rejects from Bangkok…..
So far we have floated around in our own pool and shopped for wine. But this morning we had a few hours on the beach. There is a beautiful white sand strip next to the hotel, but I think that has been imported as the rest of the beach really isn’t up to much – it’s a bit rocky, and this makes the sea look green rather than blue. And when the tide is out it brings long forgotten memories of Western Super Mare or Blackpool beach. But the pool deck (complete with private jacuzzi’s ) makes up for that – very civilised.
