Ko Lanta: Island life *by Immy*

Let’s begin with an introduction. I’m Roland’s girlfriend Immy, and I’ve been given the dubious honour of contributing to Ro’s blog. Let’s face it, I’ve got big shoes to fill! We travel to Ko Lanta, a small island to the South of Thailand, by plane, bus and boat. I’ve been starved of Ro’s company for five long weeks, so any number of different modes of transport is fine by me if it means spending time with Ro.

On arrival at Saladan Pier in Ko Lanta, we are greeted by a phenomenal downpour, fortunately this is not an omen for the week ahead.

Annie, the manager of the bungalows where we stay, is an exceptionally hospitable hostess. We have barely put our bags down when she greets us with fresh papaya, fried bananas and the promise of tea each morning. It might be too generous a description to call the shower temperature tepid, but this does not detract from our excitement at our new surroundings. We set about the important task of basking on the beach in temperatures in the mid thirties.

A look at this property persuaded us not to move from our bungalow.

The following morning we are greeted with no electricity. The power is out on the whole island for maintenance work. Ro shrugs and opts to have an ice-cold shower (admittedly that scarcely differs from the normally luke-warm water) but alas there is no water either! We are forced to return to the beach to bathe in the sea, and lay on the beach to dry off, which is of course quite a hardship.

Enjoying alternative washing facilities.

Ro hires a motorbike and we speed around the island at up to 60 kmph, admiring the scenery while we visit every beach along the west coast of Ko Lanta.

A rare experience riding without helmets or any safety gear!

Night riding is a treacherous experience, not for the faint-hearted. A cat darts across the road in front of us, completely oblivious to Ro braking sharply to avoid mashing the hapless mog on the asphalt. A bat/bird/UFO flies in front of Ro’s face, he reacts quickly and jerks his head backwards, nearly removing my teeth in the process. A puddle interrupts our quiet contemplation as it splashes our faces with surprising force. But our journey is as rewarding as it is hazardous, and we see the unlikely sight of an elephant being driven home from a long days work on a low truck.

The elephant is content to let the truck do all the hard work.

Dinner on the beach is a spectacular affair, with the reassuring sound of the sea lapping over the sand, the constant chirruping of crickets, the tantalizing smell of freshly caught fish being barbequed, and seeing lightning in the far distance light up the night sky. By day the bars and restaurants blend into the backdrop of palm trees lining the beach, but by night they come alive, the trees twinkle with brightly coloured lights – an inviting beacon to the weary traveler.

Our bungalow is beside Klong Dao beach, which is not as secluded as some of the other beaches on Ko Lanta due to the amount of resorts on it. A ridiculous number of grey crabs lay siege to the beach, far outnumbering the amount of people. Making a serious business of tanning briefly results in the dreaded lobster appearance, which no doubt most fair skinned people can identify with.

A girl has gotta do what a girl's gotta do...

Laying on the beach is not simply about absorbing as much of the sun’s rays as possible *honestly!* but it is also a reflective experience, having no requirement other than to simply exist in this idyllic landscape. A dog trots contentedly along the beach before cocking its leg against a football and pissing on it. No doubt the glistening stream of urine will have dried up long before the child is re-acquainted with his lost football, and he will never know what I alone have seen. Large grey crabs climb out of holes in the sand, unaware I watch their every move from behind my sunglasses. They make numerous trips back to the surface clutching sand in their pincers which they cast aside before diligently returning to expand their home deeper into the sand. Alas all is in vain as a sun-worshipper plants their sandled foot directly onto the crab’s home, and the unfortunate crab is forced to burrow a new tunnel if he ever wants to see sunlight again.

We book a day trip of snorkeling to Ko Rok. I convince Ro we should go for the trip that advertises “playing with lizards” as part of the experience. We see several lizards strolling around the undergrowth but as we approach for the eagerly anticipated play time, we are hastily advised to maintain a distance of several meters to prevent the lizards attacking us. Hmmm the trip itinery specifically states playing with lizards. I must admit I feel a little cheated.

Prohibited from playing with the lizards, Ro explores Ko Rok.

The speed boat taking us snorkelling journeys from one beach to the next, collecting yet more passengers. Whilst anchored near the shore of one sun-drenched beach, a rogue wave assaults us unexpectedly, leaping uninvited into the boat and soaking us and Ro’s camera. We dry out quickly. Sadly the same can’t be said for the camera, which misbehaves badly thereafter. It proves to be a fatal casualty.

The last photo taken before Ro's camera meets its watery grave.

A day of snorkeling ensues. I've never snorkelled before, and it shows. Ro patiently explains for the umpteenth time how to use the breathing apparatus correctly, in the process he misses many golden opportunities to see rare and exquisite species of fish whilst trying to reassure me that I won’t drown, and that my lifejacket really will prevent me from plunging to the bottom of the sea. I'm too nervous to enjoy the experience. Aside from glimpsing the fleeting shape of a few fish, I spend most of my time inhaling water and gasping for air. Luckily we stop twice more for snorkel sessions, and by the third stop I finally come to an uneasy truce with my snorkel and get to enjoy snorkeling, and am proud to say I even managed without the support of a lifejacket.

Nerves eventually abandon me and I feel like a pro!

I’m sure you’ve heard enough about relaxing on a beach for one week… Coming soon to a computer screen near you - Ro will be back for the next instalment *involving yet more beaches* shortly! I hope you've enjoyed the brief interlude from Ro's updates. This is Immy, over and out.

A final sunset in Ko Lanta (taken with my camera, much better)