Suzuki Jeeps are rubbish (Steve)

Well, after our 4 hour minibus ride to Surat Thani, we were thinking about just staying put instead of getting straight on another boat. The decision was confirmed when we'd missed the last one anyway, cue hotel finding quest. Didnt take us long to find a stange little place where, if you ate there, it was free to use one of their mattress on the floor rooms. Doesnt get more basic than this but we think its cute so go with it. We meet two Irish guys (hereafter known as Morgan and John) that were also heading off to Ko Samui. They were about to get one of the dodgy 7 hours freighters that goes overnight, but we then heard news of a boat sinking the night before. They decided to stay overnight as well and we'd all get the proper ferry in the morning.

It turned out that the boat which sunk was an overloaded speedboat carrying full moon party-goers back to Samui from Ko Pha-Ngan, at 5am. People were on all sorts if you know what I mean, so considering there was 50 people on a boat designed to carry 30. There is very little news of this disaster here but we do know that it was only 3 miles away from Samui's Port.

The ferry was full of girl guides, after the obligatory giggling (them not us) they somehow mananged to persuade Sian to pose for as many pictures as she'd had to indure in India!!

Getting off the ferry we head to Bo Phut where we are booked in to a chalet for a night. ( The lady who let us stay at her place for free sold us an overpiced chalet for the following night.) The resort is nice enough. It has a pool and a bar and a little strip of sand by the beach. But its a resort at the end of the day so we arent really happy there because its full of old men in speedos, we decide one night is enough and we'll get a car tomorrow. The boys are staying to do a fishing trip but hopefully we will meet again in Ko Tah to do the diving course.

The next morning we hire a Suzuki jeep thing, thats rubbish, and pretty crap to drive, still it will get a thrashing for being crap. But, it does let us explore the island, including a slightly scarrey offroad drive to try and get to a viewpoint (we aborted that one). Later we drive to the Hin Lad waterfalls and see a spider the likes of which we should get used to......picture above.

The waterfalls are accesible by a 2km walk up some rough jungle track, with sweat pouring off us like a couple of boxers after 12 rounds we get there, bloody lovely it was too, really cold water to cool off in as well. Check the pictures out but they dont do it justice.

After our watery adventure we headed to the secluded south-west corner of the island, eventually finding the beech huts we wanted were closed for 'a while'. Still there was a better one round the corner (emeral cove), the tide was out -for miles!!- so we walked with the cockle pickers and watched the sun set (again, but it was one of the most beautiful we've seen).

The next day we decide to go to the wildlife sanctuary, which has, it seems, disappeared. Well, we couldnt find it so we drove around untill we found the 'Grandfather Rock', after another unglamourous walk through some woods we find the phalic rock, and a lot of gigling tourists. Check the picture but I dont think its that funny really, I've seen funnier vegetables in my time.......

After a great cliff-top lunch we head to the crocodile farm. I wasnt really thinking they'd have snakes but two minuetes after getting in I find myself with a python round my neck!! Feeling a little ill at ease when he wrapped himself round my thigh, I was relieved when the keeper removed his bulk from my torso. (see my false smile above).