Thailand: Koh Lipe, Trang and Ko Phanang

• On the 17th of May we took the ferry from Langkawi to Ko Lipe (first Thai island). We were only used to trains and buses within Indonesia and Malaysia so crossing over to another country by ferry would be a whole new experience. We arrived a the ferry terminal and already read that you have to give your passport to the captain. As everyone had to do that we handed ours in as well to the crew (always with a weird feeling but ok).

• After some hours of a bumpy ferry drive we arrived at a little island...but there was no pier or harbour. The only thing we saw was a beach and some small longboats. The captain asked us to leave the boat without our luggage or passports. Leave the ferry? Where? The door opened and we saw a little boat next to the ferry. We had to go in in there. The waves were pretty high so it was kind of a challenge to jump in that tiny boat.Well, we did not have any other choice.

• The boat brought us to the beach and when we arrived a little kiosk opend its window. The immigration office ;) Our luggage arrived shortly after and soon we heard a guy calling out our names so we could get our passports back and checked in to Thailand. Welcome to Thailand!!

• We walked to our appartement and looked for the owners. Noone. An old lady appeared and called her daughter (I think). That daughter did not speak any English but handed me her phone. "For you!" The lady on the other side only said "Yes....yes" "only one night? yes..." and we go the keys. Hahaha.

• We spend the rest of the day walking around and explored the tiny island. It could be so beautiful here but one of the beaches is full with rubbish, plastic and dogs. The sunset beach was much nicer but there were so many longboats that you could not really enjoy the view.

• In the evening it started raining and it continued raining the next day as well (we stayed 2 nights). We needed to leave but fortunately we already had thought that through before (we thought so).

• We will go island hopping by ferry!! ...we soon would figure out that there are no ferrys to the islands due to the rain season...Time for plan b (which was the only option btw): take the ferry to the mainland, take the bus to Trang (a small city from which you can go anywhere) and decide what to do from there.

• We took the ferry to the mainland on the 19th May.

• We walked to our travel agency and waited for the mini bus. They put us in a mini bus for 10 persons. We were the first persons but soon they would come more. The bus got fuller and fuller and people started to complain about the space. Suddenly a woman came to us and asked us to leave the and get our bags: "You two! Out!" "You take taxi!"We confirmed that we paid for bus but she insisted that we had to get that taxi. As soon as we saw that she paid the young taxi driver we believed them that the taxi drive would be for free. We were actually lucky as we sat in a spacious, modern taxi with perfect airconditioning instead of sharing the minibus with some grumpy Americans. After 2 hours we arrived in Trang where the weather was already so much better.

• In Trang we booked a room in a small modern hotel, arranged Thai Simcards, booked a bus and ferry tour to Ko Phanang and had dinner at the night market. Luckily we did not get sick of the food ..it was not really good.

• The next day (20th May) we took the bus to Surat Thani (the agency wished us good luck with the bus driver as they sometimes just kick you out at the busstation instead of stopping infront of the next bus agency and then we have to get a new taxi to the agency for a stupid price). We were lucky :)

• After 3 hours driving in a too small minibus he dropped us infront of the agency (whoop whoop), we waited another 2,5 hours for the next bus that brought us to the pier where we easily could take the ferry to Ko Phanang (another 2,5 hours).

• The first thing to do for us after arriving on Ko Phanang: renting a scooter to avoid taxis (that has become a routine for us now). Although we read that you can trust the scooter rent (Hub Sports Bar) we still were suspicious as they keep your passports. Well, again no other choice: you have to leave one passport anywhere on the island.

• We spent one night in a little resort and had great sushi at a famous pool bar (Infinity) with no people. We even went to a club but again, no people. It is low season.

• The next day we booked a room for two nights at Moon Studio and Villa's. When we arrived there was a baby name giving party going on from one the staff members. Stephane (the owner) introduced us to his staff and friends (Mr. So and Toffee) and we sat down to have some original Birma food and free beers. It was amazing. We got to know his parents (Georg and Myrielle) and 2 Germans (Bennie and Diana), spent the whole day at the pool and even had dinner together (Steak haha - welcome to Thailand). Again we were very fortunate and grateful to meet great people and that we can call them our friends now. We will stay until the 28th May and fly to Bangkok. We only left shortly to get something for the baby which was not that easy as you can only get neon shorts and trousers for the Full Moon, Half Moon, Black Moon and everything in between Moon parties.

• After the first day at Moon Studio we were sold already. We got a bigger room, the view is fantastic, the pool sooo clean (as well as the rooms) and the people there just great! We love it here.

Ko Phanang - Haad Rin

• Our first day we spent at the famous Full Moon Party beach in Haad Rin. As it is low season there is almost noone and we just sat there enjoying the view and a Thai massage (and we learned that the route descriptions of Tripadvisor are not always true...) In the evening Stephane arranged a diving tour for us (Rick, me, Bennie and Diana). We heared that currently there are many whale sharks you can spot even when you only go snorkling...yeah.. right?

• The next day we went diving .... We did not see one whale shark ...there were many!! Check out the pics and videos. Amazing!! In evening we experienced the perfect sunset at Bluerama.

• What should be a great day for us would be another shocking day for Europe. Some motherf**** did a terror attack at a Ariande Grande concert. Even when you are so far away you still follow the news. Our world is so beautiful and I believe that people are kind, but there will always be some huges assholes walking around that do not care about anything.

• Yesterday (24th - Happy Birthday to my little brother) we took the scooter and just drove around. We got some tips from our German friends and we took the Bendi route (Bennie / Diana): we had lunch at Haad Yao Beach, had a drink a 360 bar and down at Ko Mah, saw the pig at Coral Beach and tried to spot waterfalls (you had to walk 45 min to get there ..we turned around and walked away LOL).

• Today Rick went to the hospital as his ears are still blocked from diving. He has a barotrauma and a little hole in his eardrum. No more diving or swimming for him the next weeks (and again medicine). My poor schattie :(

• Tomorrow we will have a bbq here (this place feels like you stay at friends at their private villa). Thank you Stephane and Toffee!! We will relax a little more here in paradise before heading to Bangkok to travel further with Karin (finally!!!!)

• We love those two crazy Germans (actually Diana is from Kroatia):) We will spend the next days with them, having a lot of fun!