Koh Lanta - island of rain

Oct 4 & 5 Ao Nang & Koh Lanta

Vacation! Vacation! Vacation!

I survived my exams quite well – I hope and after spending many hours packing all my stuff together to vacate the room and for the trip I get a few minutes of sleep before I head to the airport at 4 in the morning. Being way too sleepy and overhearing the Thai announcements of last minute gate changes I almost board the wrong plane but make a run for it and catch mine just on time. But it's all worth it as at 8 am I am in Krabi and the sun is shining!

My pick-up is late but arriving and I meet Jonna and Reija near Ao Nang Beach where they've been trying to enjoy the last few days already (despite the rain). We catch up and our pick-up comes for a “two-hour” drive to Koh Lanta. The two hour drive somehow turns into 5 hours. Where they pick up more people, drop us off somewhere to pick us up in another car 30 or more minutes later. This happens a few times when we switch from Van to Pick-up truck to Van to Pick-Up truck. Hop on two ferries and finally arrive in Koh Lanta after 2 pm. It's been raining heavily for most of the time we spent on the road and the sun only comes up for a short time when we arrive in Koh Lanta.

I use the few minutes of sunshine to hop in the ocean. But unfortunately the beach is not clean, there is driftwood and stones all over. There's a pool there too but it is getting quite cold with wind and more rain. Only enjoyable thing to do is take a nap in a hammock and a massage. Dinner and then to the one bar that is open near bar. The bar only serves beer as it is off season and they have nothing else in stock. Very interesting.

Next day unfortunately turns out to be even more bleak. There is non-stop rain and no activities to do. Everything that you could do on the island, like kayaking, island hopping etc. is either canceled due to the rain or heavily overpriced (as in 3 times the price as on the mainland). So we confide to the hotel room, napping and eating. Since you also don't get any TV channels on the island the few TV shows I have on the Laptop bring us through the day. I take a short walk along the road when the rain stops for a minute but it does lead nowhere and there is no reason to rent a motorcycle because apparently all interesting roads are closed due to flooding and you can only really go up and down the main road from which you can't see anything. Even the bar is closed tonight, although last night the Swedish owner promised us to have cocktails today too. Well seems we are on an unlucky streak. Not open at all. And since our hotels restaurant is run by Muslims there is no alcohol served there. We spend the evening playing Finnish and Austrian card games and eating some more. What else is there to do.

Sorry Koh Lanta, bad weather and everything being closed in off-season really made it horrible to stay here. Am happy to leave to Koh Phi Phi tomorrow.