Koh Pha-Ngan, Gulf of Thailand

After leaving Phuket we spent two nights up the west coast snorkelling and jungle trekking around Phang Nga (giant raffelasia flowers included), and a couple of nights back at Ao Nang (climbed at Railay and did a 3-dive day at Koh Phi Phi - sharks, turtles, all good stuff). Had my last rabies jab and now I'm safe to go scrapping with the monkeys again.

Arrived here last night after a long day spent on buses and boats. This island is on the other side of the main Thai peninsula, and it has a different vibe - less developed than the west coast, no mass tourism, independent-traveller types only. No climbing mind, but plenty of other stuff to do.

Only a short hop here to Koh Tao, our next stop before wending north to Bangkok in time for (gulp) the Plane Home.