PARADISE AT A PRICE

While we were kicking back in Bangkok, we got messages from Dave & Jo inviting us to join them in Railay Bay....we didn't have to think twice before hopping on the night bus down there and before we knew it we were sipping some more Chang beers with them on the gorgeous white sands of Railay Beach. 

It wasn't a cheap option, that's for sure; although the bay itself is beautiful and the atmosphere laid back, it comes at a price. Railay Bay is just one example of high-end post-tsunami development that appears to be taking over this part of Thailand. Dave had been to Railay about 10 years ago and he told us that it has changed beyond belief. Having said that, it is still gorgeous and a great place to chill out for a few days. We swam, snorkelled, waited for the rain to pass, and took a boat to nearby Hong Island, where we swam with tropical fish and were lucky enough to see a mighty monitor lizard right on the beach. It's true, the weather was lousy, we were still in the rainy season but the sea was warm, the beers were cold and it was great to get away from the chaos of Bangkok.