Tag 55bis62. Thursday, 26th February 2015 Ko Lanta

Sawadee Khap,

those who know me and have been following my previous journey attentively. They know I can't stand still, can't rest. And this time it's the same, I was on the island of Ko Lanta for 6 days, it was beautiful and quiet and relaxing, but that was too much for me. I didn't want to just sit there on the beach and let my valuable travel time pass by doing 'nothing'. I once again absorbed the island itself within 2 days, saw everything and what I didn't see, I didn't want to see. ;-)

Because for another waterfall (probably without water anyway) and a hell, I would have to pay again 300 Baht / 8 € admission each or at the end of the island (why not pay for everyone upon arrival by boat) another 300 Baht for island / national park admission, I had to weigh it up for myself and answer it internally with NO, steer the moped in the opposite direction and go back to the hotel.

Of course, I used the past 6 days for relaxation (after this interesting and exciting trip so far). I spent a lot of time on the beach (of course lying down, in a beach chair or often in crystal clear water), I treated myself to a massage and, as mentioned before, enjoyed a lot of good food and beer.

But it was time to break up, it was time to move on. Because you know, if you rest, you rust. And now I'm happy to be traveling again, to feel asphalt under me, yes, I'm finally moving on to new interesting places and destinations.

This morning it started, as it should, with an overcrowded taxi to the pier, then further with the ferry back to the mainland.

During the journey, everyone's onward travel was taken care of again (meaning taxi organization) and that suited me once again.

But unfortunately not that easy, because (of course I already had an offer) she said 500 Baht with a taxi upon arrival in Krabi, 2 hours to Khao Sok National Park.

Haha, I laughed and countered with a serious face, 350 Baht more is not possible, the answer came quickly 'Oh no that's no good', I immediately added 700 Baht for there and back...

She said ok, ok 450... I said no, 400... I said no ;-) she said 'Wait I'm coming back', 30 minutes later Ok, ok no problem 700 Baht there and back, it works! :-)

So I sat in the said taxi (arrival promised after 2 hours), Hmm.

After 10 minutes 'All people must change the car' So changing the bus, well that can happen, no problem. We continued with the first stop in Phangna (small town) dropping off the first passengers. Ok, next destination Khao Sok, well, suddenly we reached Khao Lak?! well, sure, it's surely on the way, suddenly braking and 2 total strangers (French tourists, as it turned out) just picked up (they probably wanted to go to the post office, so a small extra income for the driver)

Then a 5-minute stop at some tour agency, then the journey continued, suddenly stopping again, waiting for 5 minutes until a moped appeared and took a package from the bus (probably another extra income for the driver), finally driving on, after 1 km in the opposite direction turning around for 4 km and picking up another passenger (huh? is it enough by now). Current journey time almost 3 hours. So let's continue and thank Buddha we arrived safely, because 140 km/h is not uncommon.

After 15 minutes drive 'Next stop' picking up another 5 passengers... By now, my anger was boiling, luckily I absorbed Buddhist serenity during the journey.

Finally, after about 4 hours, we reached the destination 'Khao Sok National Park'. The first impression is impressively beautiful, right in the middle of the jungle. And what I experience here, I will report on shortly.

Khop Khun Khap (Thank you)