I jumped in the taxi on Monday morning and headed to the airport to collect Pete while everyone else was sleeping. I was expecting a long wait but as I got out the taxi he came walking towards me. It was great seeing Peter I'm so glad at the end of Jan he decided he couldn't miss this family holiday and booked himself a flight as it wouldn't have been the same without him.
We got back to the villa and everyone was excited to see him. We had the morning in the pool and headed to the beach in the afternoon.
The beach was gorgeous, the sea was so warm it felt like we were walking into a bath.
Nathan made a mermaid.
Pete fell sleep for about an hour on the sand as he had been up for around 38 hours at this point.
In the evening we headed to a restaurant we had the address to but the taxi took us somewhere totally different, we got out and found a random restaurant which turned out to be really good.
I had an amazing Penang Curry. Mum loved her duck dish.
We had a lovely day on Tuesday chilling in the pool and then headed to Chaweng in the evening. We started the night in a cocktail bar that was designed like a London bus. I always say I drink only wine and beer and not spirits but I think I have now found my cocktail of choice, a Singapore Sling! Wow it was delicious! Then we went to Khaw Glong Thai restaurant which was another really good Thai meal. I think Thai food is one of the best cuisines in the world, every night our meals are delicious.
Wednesday and Thursday was much of the same, lovely mornings at the pool, lunch in the villa and beach time in the afternoon.
We discovered another beach called Crystal Bay which is absolutely gorgeous. The sea is so still and the fish swim around you.
Our evenings were filled with Thai food, cocktails, card games and late night swims at the villa.
On Friday I had organised a driver to take us around the island. Due to us being in the jungle and up a hill the guy found it a little difficult to find us but eventually we all piled into the air conditioned minivan. Our first stop was a view point.
Then we headed to Grandfather and Grandmother rocks. I'm not exactly sure why they are given that name especially as they are rock formations in the shape of genitals.
Mum and I think female and male would have been a better name.
The water was gorgeous and clear.
We took some funny photos.
And saw a puffer fish!
Then went to the sorbet shop. Peter in particular loves a good sorbet so was loving the shop and the Italian guys who were serving us giving us in depth descriptions about each sorbet and letting us try them.
We headed to the Buddhist temple of the Mummified Monk.
The temple grounds were gorgeous.
The mummified monk was a little insane
Our next stop was the waterfall which was full of locals splashing about in it
Nathan, Peter, Adam and I headed to the restaurant in the jungle to get a coconut while Mum and Dad went on an Elephant Trek. They really enjoyed it and mum has some great photos on her camera.
Our coconuts were great.
Next stop was a little market and on to the Big Buddha statue.
It was so insanely hot! It was like we were in a desert! There were hardly any people out and about due to the temperature.
Peter decided this would be the perfect time to purchase his rice hat!
We stopped at several other Buddhist temples and some Chinese Buddhist ones so had some really decorative windows and walls.
We arrived home and jumped in the pool! I have to say that was one of the hottest days I have experienced travelling so far.
That evening we went to a restaurant called Stacked as we thought it was only fair that we give everyone one western meal. It was a burger joint with very good burgers we were all stuffed.
We went for another cocktail while we waited for Alison to arrive!