Rest and Relaxation are That Way

Way out west at the waterfalls, and I lament that it has been three long years since I was last in Thailand. How good it is to feel the heat again, to be able to afford all those things you can't in Europe, and to drink at a bar with an ostrich. No, two ostriches. Four years ago I was in Kanchanaburi and I wasn't going to pass up another opportunity for an ostrich encounter. It was a biug effort to find this same bar, it's tucked away off the main drag, hidden behind a jungle-like garden. I'd heard rumours that the owners had closed it down, and it looked that way as no one was there except a thai couple. "I'm looking for the ostrich." Suddenly everything sprang into action. "Bring out the ostriches!" is probably what the guy shouted in Thai as his ten year old son raced back with 2 big bird beasts. We asked for some buckets of sangsom whiskey, red bull and coke - a thai staple - and so they went off the buy it for us. Strange setup for a bar. Aside from the ostriches, the true attraction for us were the waterfalls, but I should let the pictures do the talking.

We found beaches, but no R&R, on Phi Phi. I was pretty keen to see how the island might have changed since the tsunami two years ago and really I can't believe it. Once, on approach to the pier, the town centre of Ton Sai faced you, and you couldn't see past the buildings and palm trees. Now scattered palm trees stand and you can see straight through like the centre of town is a ghost. It's gone. Only the street along the southern beachfront remains as it was, and that is because every building has been rebuilt. It's all new. On the northern shore, which used to be lined with resorts, all that is left is a swimming pool and tents. For those that know it, the Reggae Bar came tumbling down too. But Phi Phi lives on, and despite being twice the cost it was last time, we found our niche here. Our niche was lots of late nights, seafood dinners and 'those' chocolate and banana pancakes.

In search of a break, we have found Koh Lanta. Today has been declared a day of nothing. Massages are allowed. Lying on the beach is allowed. And some more King Mackerel tonight. But that's it. Today is my last day of being 23. But there will be more of the same tomorrow, I imagine.