Mu Koh Ang Thong!

The next day (though this is a few days ago now) we left for Koh Samui, en route for Mu Koh Ang Thong. The only problem was, the only way to get to Ang Thong is by tour boat, which all leave in the morning, before we could get to Koh Samui. That meant we had to lose a night on Ang Thong and spend the afternoon and night in Koh Samui, but staying where the port was, Nathon. Unlike the Eastern side of Koh Samui which is touristy, full of hotels, restaurants and beaches and things to do, there is practically nothing for tourists in Nathon, it is a locals place. Great if you're a local, not us though. We headed for Nikki Beach, which on the map we found looked like a nice beach, which it was - for those staying in the resort. All along the beach was resorts, nothing for the average joe like us. This meant that after walking up and down the beach? We had to get a taxi from the resort back to Nathon, which cost an arm and a leg. At least our hotel had air con...
The next day we headed for Ang Thong on a tour led by a Crazy Thai guy who was funny and a German woman who was not. Funnily enough on the met over we met a girl from Horfield! How random! (Horfield is two towns over from where I Live, for all you none Brizzle Folk!)

Ang Thong itself is beautiful, a national park made up of 42 Islands West of Samui. Our first stop on the tour was to an island with a small bay and a Lagoon, which you had to walk up steps a small 150m to see, as it was in the middle of the island. Sorry did I say steps? I meant to say Vertical Ladders. Or that's what it seemed, basically on all fours climbing the bloody things...but it was worth it, stunning Lagoon as well as a beautiful view of some of the islands.

After a little paddle on the Beach ( I sound like a Victorian holidaying in Brighton) we were back on the boat for lunch, some sort of Curry and chicken thing. Whilst lunching we moved to another bay on another island, where we would in fact be staying. The island was stunning, so beautiful. Our Bungalow was behind the restaurant and Park Office, just a room, a bathroom and a bedroom but pretty an all we needed. Surrounded by green and trees and water, we quickly fell in love with this island.

There is a walk on the island that takes you to the highest point, giving you an amazing panoramic view of the islands. By walk I mean Hike.
And by hike, I mean 500m, climbing 260m.
And by hike, I mean often walking through parts which were actually inaccessible. Like the 50m before the summit, which was walking on the aide of jagged cliff, nothing to break your fall. I haven't done exercise for 2 months. And I wasn't exactly fit before that, though in sure that will come as a shock to most of you...I nearly died on this walk/hike. There was a viewpoint every 100m and at 100m, Lucy looked liked she was on a stroll...I looked like I had come out of the worlds hottest shower. How I made it up that mountain I'll never know - though my walking boots were a big help! But I'm so glad I made it - the view was fantastic. So beautiful. Literally stunning, in the sunshine.

The walk down was just as difficult, as coming up, the rock and uneven ground, as well as the sheer steepness of the hill, which was annoying and tiring going up and, at parts dangerous coming down. Though we were rewarded towards the bottom when we saw monkeys! Well, langurs, that actually looked like a family of Black and White Minstrels in the trees, but they were awesome to see.

After an afternoon on the beach, we got back on the boat and headed to Samui for another boring night of not-muchness, actually quite sad to behaving Ang Thong after just one night.