Koh Kradan

We reached Koh Kradan, an earthial paradise as they call it, to spend some nights and swim in turquoise waters. The local marine park hosts some amazing coral reefs and the inner part of the small island is conquered by vegetation. You only approach the main beach by powerboats that arrive from Koh Lanta. White sand all around, palm and other trees, a semi-abandoned cozy resort, large camping tents that belong to the established marine park is what the visitor firstly faces.

As soon as we decided to overnight there, we went for a short walk to explore the inner part of the tiny island where a swedish guy has contsructed some beautiful bungalows that can keep you slightly away from the "busy" beach as boats are coming and going until 15.00. However, an amazing almost beach lies at the back side of the Koh Kradan, a foot path to a nice viewpoint and as Dima witnessed you can walk all around te perimeter of the island in a few hours (including some diving). Snorkelling is a must here as corals lie only 15 meters away from the beach and the sea bottom is so rich, fishes, corals, seaweed, squids and many more is the attraction of this place. Food was once again seafood!!!
Unfortunately the next day it was Alex and Tina's last day in south Thailand so we had to leave back to Koh Lanta, however Dima, Thekla and Iris decided to extent their stay. We saluted them from the boat leaving and I somehow felt that I wouldn't see them soon again, until our next destination which was Cambodia. Everyday on the phone they were telling me about the prolonging of their stay and I was smiling as it was indeed the place they wanted and should chilled out. They even found an italian guy with some front beach bungalows and moved there for couple more days. A perfect place to read a book, sunbathe, relax, swim, eat or do nothing. The only sound might come form grasshoppers that are so loud until sunset.

NO MORE ENGLISH said Dima and he gives the greek citation:
Opws ftaneis me to karabaki antikryzeis 4 camping sites,to ena apo ayta me typou military skines k ta ypoloipa 3 me bungalows pou kostizoun apo 4 mexri 100 euro.To prwto brady meiname stis skines gia na thimithoume k ligo ta ellinika kalokairia mas k epeita metaferthikame sta bungalows enos italou pou arazei ekei 6 mines to xrono.Sto Kradan analoga me tin ampwti k plimiryda pantote, mporeis na gyriseis olo to nisi perimetrika me ta podia k na anakalypseis kainourgies paralies.Otan peftei o ilios,o kosmos diasxizei to kataprasino nisi k metaferetai stis 3 paralies tis dytikis pleyras pou einai akomi pio agnes k kathares.Apo edw den erxontai karabia me touristes, to mono pou perimeneis na deis einai pote tha agiksei o katakokkinos ilios to aspro probataki apo ta kymata..Kati tetoio eixe dei k o Xronis merika xronia nwritera k mas proteine ayto to meros. Snorkelling, seafood k smile ta 3s sto neo polyprismatiko fako twn matiwn mas.
Kathe prwi sto micro restaurant tis paralias dokimazame fruit shakes anti gia kafe k pancakes me meli k malwname poios tha prwtoparei tin mia k monadiki maska gia na boutiksei.Dekades eidi psariwn k kofterwn korraliwn se magnitizoun me ta xrwmata tous k pragmatika anarwtiesai ti tha deis stin epomeni boutia. K ola ayta sta 15 metra apo tin akti.
I Thekla exei araksei stin ammo k anarwtietai apo pou erxetai enas ekkwfantikos ixos.Sto Kradan den exei reyma para mono tis bradynes wres apo gennitria, skeftetai, ara den mporei na einai texnitos aytos o thoryvos.Sikwnetai k paei pros ta dentra apo ena monopati.O ixos dynamwnei k etsi strefei to kefali tis psila k katalabainei pws einai periodos zeygarwmatos gia ta micra thai tzitzikia pou den ysixazoun an den pesei o ilios..
To eylogo erwtima einai poso kairo mporei kapoios na kathisei edw...Oxi Bilako den einai gia sena to nisaki ayto,exei mono kataramenes garides kokkina psaria k glywdeis soupies gia fagito panta synodevomenes apo ryzi. Gia mas toys ypoloipous proteinw 6 mines Ellada k 6 mines edw. Kala akougontai ola ayta, nai, to thema einai pws pragmatopoieitai ayti i idea. Nick ti les, na tous to fanerwsoume?

Koh Lanta ... last days of 2008

We were so delighted to welcome sister, girlfriend, friends in BKK (meeting point) right after X-mas day. We only spent few days there and then headed on to Koh Lanta altogether. Well not exactly altogether as some of us chose plane, as they are used to comfort :p It was really time for some swimming in salt water, cause until then we had the chance to swim only in a river.

Koh Lanta is a rather big island in South part of Thailand, close to Krabi you can say. Due to its proximity to Malaysia there is a vast majority of muslims there and it was a bit weird to hear the imam 6 times per day during salah. Our bungalows called Lanta River Sand were in the west coast at Hat Khlong Nin beach, where you can find rocky beaches and in between some sand strips.
In Lanta we felt like having proper holidays. The day was starting with breakfast, some swimming and day trips to close by islands like Koh Rok, Koh Muk, Koh Kan, later on a massage by the beach during sunset, some beers for the night and plenty of time to relax, read your book. Of course food was once again delicious and seafood at a very low cost. Needless to say how many crabs and prawns I was eating, as well as fish. Particularly at a small muslim restaurant by the road side all the rest experienced pure local cuisine at very real prices and they couldn't believe that a dish costs around a euro. In touristic places, next to resorts and bungalows prices are at least doubled, but still so reasonable, only the bakery at the next resort was greek priced.
For the New Years Eve we found out that there was a beach party at Hat Phra Ae and we ended up there. In proved to be a really nice night with so many people, locals and foreigners, listening for more than 3 hours to a local reggae band. Dancing by the sea until we were drunk enough to go back. It was already dawn time. During the event we also met by concidence Robby and Billie, a couple that we first saw in Khuzur Island in Siberia. It is such a small world after all. Good luck guys with your stay in Australia!
In Lanta it is recommended to visit the national park at the south end of the island, where monkeys are next to the beach and some small coral reefs at a snorkelling distance 20m from the beach. Ao Nui is an amazing beach really long beach and at the north end is the "why not " beach bar with live music every night. This is where we celebrated Thekla's birthday. K tou hronou me hamogela! Visitor should also pay a visit to Mongo's bar for unique shakes at Hat Khlong Nin beach.
By the time we realised that the small islands around have unique sandy beaches and offer more tranquillity we decided at least to overnight there and here we were, the whole team on board to Koh Kradan.

an epic transfer ...

As we decided to take a massage course in Chiang Mai Thailand, we had to find away to reach that place again. Vang Vieng though was quite far so we started a huge epic trip. Firstlt, the bus (5h) to the capital of Lao, Vientiane, where we spend only 2 hours. It seemed to be nice place tailored for farangs. We saw many of them living there, working for NGO's, being engaged with local women, or even working for some years. Another bus took us to the Thai borders at Nong Khai that were only 25km away. Soon there is going to be a train connection from Bangkok to Vientiane, that will be an interesting route. Immigration office, border crossing once again and here we are in Thailand for the our second time.
We reached Udon Thani city where we had to change once again a bus. The last was a superb VIP sleeping bus, with very comfy seats and descent toilet (more than 1,5 height). This last leg of the trip lasted 12 more hours. The funny thing were the 6 monks next two us with their orange clothes, semi covered by blankets from the bus company, and listening to music by ipods. A proper ad for apple.
So in total we were travelling 26 hours in a row to reach our favourite destination Chiang Mai. aHowever, we spent only 4 more days there. We learnt how to give a thi massage :p .... Guests were arriving really soon in Thailand and it was Christmas eve, when we reached Bangkok for the second time.