Krabi

Virtually everyone we've spoken to about Southern Thailand has said go to Krabi, so go to Krabi we have. It's a good kicking off point for the islands. Off Krabi is an archipelago of some 130 Islands in crystal clear blue water with white sand beaches, it could be paradise. Krabi is a plain in amongst some very weird limestone crags, almost mountain-like and is one of 'the' premier climbing destinations of the world.

That aside, or probably because of that, Krabi is on the verge of losing its Thai soul. It's main purpose now seems to be tourism. Every other building is a bar and/or hotel and the ones in between are gift shops. We do manage to find local eats in the market at lunch time and on the night market in an evening. It must be coming close to going home as we are now talking about food, "what shall our first meal at home be....?" That kind of thing.

Our island plans change here and we book to go to Koh Samui. We met some people in Cambodia a few years ago who lived in Samui and Adrian has been keen to go ever since as they described a quiet, idyllic, tropical island. I'm straight on the internet and book us into a resort - cheap one of course but it does at least have two pools. Island life, here I come.