TonyT's third Thailand blog: September to October 2015.
Page 12
KHAO LAK
Main road through Khao Lak. Have brat, will travel..... in the rain!
MONDAY 28th: The day dawned wet with light rain and grey skies. There must have been a storm out on the Indian Ocean because there were some mighty big waves crashing onto the shore. This weather really is becoming tedious now.
Later on the waves moderated somewhat and as the tide ebbed more of the beach became accessible so we took Jack onto the sand and did something I ain't done in years which is dig a pool in the sand. Played a bit of frisby with Aom whilst Jack messed about n his pool. Fantastically clean sand and deserted too.
The area in the mountains behind Khao Lak, incorporating the Khao Sok National, Park is part of the largest area of virgin tropical rainforest in southern Thailand. This area stretches more or less up to Ranong and into Burma. Also. it is a remnant of rain forest which is older and more diverse than the Amazon rain forest.
I can certainly vouch for the "rainforest" bit.
Back to our villa for showers and by 6:30 it was time to pop out for dinner. Baby Jack certainly has his fans as in at least one bar and one restaurant he whisked away by the waitresses. Very handy.
TUESDAY 29th: Finally, a sunny morning again. After breakfast we found a spot by the upper pool for a swim and splash about before getting a more permanent base beside the main lower pool. Jack thoroughly enjoying the water but at one point he took his first nose dive when he slipped over head first. Scared him a bit but he soon recovered after a screaming interlude which got all eyes riveted in my direction maybe assuming I was trying to drown my son.
Had our first lunch at the pool bar sitting waist deep alongside the bar. This was followed by another swim and some semi relaxing reading. Back to the villa for a short spell then decided to make the most of the fact it wasn't raining and went for a walk along the beach with Jack in his backpack carrier. Unfortunately, we could only get so far without crossing a fast flowing river venting into the sea. Aom managed to wade across [see movie below] but it was just too risky to take Jack across so we just had to turn back.
Really hot and humid. Rivers of sweat pouring off me on the way back along the beach and I was ready for a long shower by the time we got back to our villa.
So good to get out of the room for most of the day in the dry but humid weather.
You realise how hot and humid it is when the condensation on the window is on the outside of the glass. One of the penalties of being on the edge of a tropical rainforest.
The movie below shows Aom's intrepid crossing of a fast flowing river.
TOP: Aom & Jack at the pool bar. The seats are just below the surface.
BOTTOM: The river that stopped us walking further along the beach. It was too risky to take Jack across.
Jack was nearly out of his baby milk which meant trip down to the Far end of Khao Lak where the only supermarket of any size was, even this was only the size of the average Tesco Local or Little Big C, but it was the place that sold baby milk. So it meant a taxi trip. Having done the shopping it was quickly back; the driver waiting as we did the shop. Taxi dropped us back in the road where our residence is so we opted for a few beers before popping into an Italian Restaurant for dinner. Aom had a very delicious and authentic Lasagne, good food. Weather, for once kind to us... no rain.
TOP & CENTRE LEFT: Some of Jack's "fans". He was a hit in most of the bars and restaurants we visited.
BOTTOM: Aom doing a touch of jogging in the resort's gym.
WEDNESDAY 30th: Our last full day at Khao Lak.
Day dawned hot and sunny. Where's the monsoon gone?
Breakfast at 8:00 followed by a bit of early packing ready for the off tomorrow morning at 9:00.
Wandered down to the beach for a swim and for Jack to catch up on his sand digging techniques. Very hot in the sun so couldn't stay too long but we did find some accommodating palm trees to sit under for a bit of shade.
Back up to the beach pool area for a swim. Aom fancied a massage but trying to get Jack to sleep near the pool wasn't working so I took him back to the villa where he instantly crashed out.
The idea was to get down to the beach again for a final fling but it wasn't going to happen. By the time Jack woke up it was near time to consider dinner. No beer today believe it or not. Dined at the same Italian Ristorante as last night and back to villa early for an earlyish start tomorrow.
