On to Ao Nang

We said our goodbyes @ “Our Jungle House” and thanked the great staff and owner. This place was like nowhere else we had been in our lives. Surely it was a little beyond our “nature loving” comfort zones but truly a magical place which we would highly recommend. After 3 nights spent in the ruggedness of a hardcore jungle, we have almost become one with creepy critters-experience and growth that’s for sure. We travelled the 2/3 hour journey from Khao Sok by minibus (14 passenger van), arriving in Ao Nang shortly after noon. Our plan was to search for accommodations upon arrival-Our goal was to find a place with a HOT, or at least warm, shower (those jungle showers were fridged). For a great price we settled on an older little guest house right in the heart of the action. Ao Nang relies HEAVILY on its tourism for survival which is immediately obvious. Due to Thailand’s accessibility to Europe, Ao Nang has become a very popular holiday town. With so many European jet setters on the beaches here, the scene is full of chain restaurants, familiar amenities, and luxury resorts. Normally we enjoy a little more of an authentic experience but this great little beach town offers Thai hospitality, culture, and beauty with many comforts which we take for granted in Europe and North America. Since we are now living cheaply AND living very well, we have decided to stay put for a while and enjoy the relaxation here. In Ao Nang travel is definitely more like holidaying. We are really enjoying experiencing the Thai side of things here too now that the language barrier is nearly non existent. It’s so nice to communicate with the people here. Since many of the locals speak English, it has given us the chance to try different foods and experience customs which would normally be very foreign and much work to understand or make happen. Yesterday we took our first longtail boat off the Ao Nang coast towards a magical island escape. Our first trip took us to Railay beach, stunning white sand surrounded by colossal limestone cliffs and amazing emerald/turquoise water. Railay is far more subdued than the Ao Nang beach strip which inspired us to make a real beach day out of it.