Jungle restaurant and MS teachers

We visit "Baan Ice" (Ice house) or as we have always called it "The Jungle Restaurant" 1x a week because if we don't the owner makes a fuss. She asked us to pose for her last week. If you don't mind the street dogs, low tables, uncomfortable seats (Vince always search out the cushions) and the occasional rat scurrying along the floor it is a super place to eat.

And finally....our Middle School Teachers saying with a message for the eighth graders heading for High School.

BKK Family Weekend in Krabi (Railay Beach)

Railay Beach is an hour flight from Bangkok (to Krabi) and then a 20 minute longtail boat trip to the beach. It's not an island but a peninsula cutoff by limestone cliffs called karsts.  The cliffs make it an amazing place to rock climb...which we kind of did. Ten of of us travelled there on a long weekend to relax and enjoy the time before the craziness of the end of school sets in. Of our friends whom we came with, some are heading back home, others to Europe and some are staying on another year. 

Low tide.

Cement walkway which takes you for a bit of a distance on the shore.

Low tide...my morning walk.

Vince and I went for a hike up to the lookout. It's the closet we came to rock climbing.

The way up

The view from the lookout.

Another angle.

Eight of us took a boat out to cliffs that we could climb (hahaha....looks easier than it is) and jump off into the water. It was great fun but it would help knowing how to climb a bit. It was followed by some pretty decent snorkelling.

We were at the rock on the right.

Some serious farkle (dice game) happening!

Our house.

Vince and Tyson (East coaster)

We hiked up into the cliff (dark cave) and came out at the bigger hole on the right (I think). You really had to search inside to find the pathway but we knew it was there and it was well worth it.

View part way up.

View from the hole (West Beach). We stayed at the far end.

In the cave entrance

In the cave.

East beach. We kayaked around this the next day and fish were jumping all around us....and in our boat. Which.....I almost tipped over because I didn't want to sit on it.

It's a busier beach with lots of day trippers. By longtail...

Or speedboat.

 Food vendors in boats. Food poisoning is common here and two went down with it.

On our way home.

Hasta la vista!

Paradise Chiang Rai

Sometimes you just get lucky and fall upon something beautiful. We were looking for a place to stay on our last night that needed to be "close enough" to the airport since we flew out at noon. the advantage of travelling in Thailand is that we have our phones (internet) and we can scope out hotels/restaurants/prices as we go. We were curious about a huge resort called Katilia in Chiang Rai and just wanted to see what it looked like in real life (pictures can be deceiving). It was a huge, 60 room resort that had almost nobody there. On out way out we saw this sign.

Which led us to one of the most incredible places we have ever stayed. We stayed in a bamboo hut overlooking mountains and every pathway was like a walk in the jungle.

Our balcony.

Making toast

On my run I came across this. I love how random doors exist here.

And finally.....amazing flora.

Road trip continued: Monkey Cave

We were told that we should visit the Monkey Cave and the Fish Cave. It was super touristy but we went anyway.

Lots of monkey but here's one to prove they are there.

A long walk over to the actual cave, and then finally this bridge.

Gulp....

Bike tire reinforcement

On the way, monks drying their robes.

Inside

Random skeleton cycling at Monkey Temple.

There is a also a wat (temple) and they almost always have great view but it comes at a sweaty cost.

Back on the road again

Orange orchard.

Strawberries-fresh, dried, wine, juice....anything at all.

Chinese cemetery

We almost crossed into Myanmar-not intentionlly

Tea Center...short break for another great view then on our way.

Couldn't resist.