Beaches, burns, boozing and bellyaches in Thailand

After the stint teaching in Khao Lak we spent a while ticking the boxes of that classic Thai Beach experience, ie boozing, beach huts and sun burn.

We spent time in Krabi Province, Ko Pha Ngan and Khao Lak.
I'll let the photos do the talking

Sang Som Sets in cool little bars

Obligatory fire twizzling action

Beautiful deserted beaches

Long tail boats that make you feel like you're riding along on a runaway chain saw

Kayaking around Ko Hong

Nicky's best chum Helen came out to Thailand for a month, which meant that she had a companion for sunbathing and gossiping whilst I had backtwatter trots for a week.

And now for the random stuff

Thai script coke
Porn crackers?!

'basic' petrol stations
Coin operated washing machines in the street. I think I could give Nick Camen a run for his money. Barbers dressed like surgeons
A million varieties of rice
Loads of mopeds. I am in scooter geek heaven what with all the old Vespas about Neanderthal man street lights? Horrific desserts, that look and taste like playdough

Thankfully we have no photographic evidence of an horrific night in Patong, Phuket. Think Benidorm meets Bangkok. Safely the most horrific place we have visited on our trip, and maybe in our lives. It's really hard to describe how vile the place is. The wonderful Phuket old Town is just 30mins by bus, but a world away, from the tacky, beered up, sunburnt bellied, neon lit sex tourist hell of Patong. It felt like we were escaping from prison when we weezled our way out of the hotel we'd booked ourselves into for 2 nights, and jumped on the bus back to Phuket Old Town, where we had a brilliant night in a bar down a little Soi. Not a tourist in sight, just cool local Thais having a good time, listening to live music from a cover band and drinking in the street.