Trang - Krabi

We have just heard the devastating news of the earthquake in Christchurch, it was such a shock, we are feeling frustrated here as we came to town to find the next books in the Harry Potter series for the kids and can't - then popped into an internet cafe and saw the headlines - without even looking for them!  It put our problems into perspective!  We are just so relieved to hear that everyone we know is safe, but still feeling sad because of what everyone must have gone through and how frightening it must have been and will continue to be.

So this all seems pretty trivial now, we wrote it in our book at the time, but couldn't be bothered publishing it as we have just been too relaxed!!
His bit
Trang - Krabi
Trang to Krabi -140km, two 70k days ride - so we told Mick!  Anything over 70ks is impossible in his mind.  We got off to a good start, there were a few guest houses around 50km but that would leave a big day the next day, so we soldiered on by 1o'clocks we had 80ks under our belt, Sam wasn't feeling to good, but Mick as full of energy and as everyone knows, the world centres around the one with the biggest mouth!  We finally found a hotel at 103km.  A big effort from all of us and what made it better - only 37kms tomorrow into Krabi.  we then made the extreme sacrifice and 'backtracked 4km' to the market for dinner!

Riding into Krabi you can see al the limestone sticking up covered in gush - quite awesome, seeing alot more dead snakes on the road now (the best type to see!).  We stayed in Krabi for two nights, the second day we hired a car to have a look around to find a nice place to base ourselves for a month of school.  Ao Nang was on our list, but when we arrived there it was like Brighton, tourists everywhere and 100 or so shops all selling the same touristy shite.  We asked around and were directed to this plce with thatched bungalows in the jungle about 3km from the beach, hammocks on the verandahs, just our cup of tea - the best thing for Kim is that they had just been completed so no one else had used her toilet before her!  Because we are here for a month the price is really good, we have a bungalow and the boys have one about 20 metres away - so peace for everyone!  There is a 'restaurant' where we can get food for all of us lunch and dinner for 300 baht - about $15 and we get delivered a plate of fresh fruit every morning for breakfast.  So no cooking necessary - shame!  They are building more bungalows so I have been giving Mohummed a hand in the mornings while the kids are doing school work.

We are enjoying not having to pack up every morning to ride on, but are using our bikes to go to the beach, shopping etc.But are concerned about the state of our eyes, not sure if it is the sun or rice, but we all seem to have squint about us!  DT.

Her bit
Well almost a week of no riding !!!  Wow we have settled into life at Khlong Son really well.  The bungalows are really basic, but lovely and best of all brand new - so nasty Thai drain smells!!  That's my favourite bit actually!  Our day is pretty much get up, get showered, dressed, make the coffee, sit on the verandah and read, play cards etc, eat our fruit, then head off to school work.  The boys do maths and lit in the morning and Sam has been doing some science in the afternoon and Mickey is making a powerpoint about Thailand.  Poor old Jake has only just got his work today - yay!  He also found out that exams for over seas students happen one month earlier !!  Gosh, good job he is one of those last minute students.

All our kind thoughts and love to Christine, Amy, Aaron and family, Danny, Fiona, Robbie and kids, Jenny, Laurie and family and to everyone else who is worrying - cos worrying is hard work!

Lots and lots of love

David, Kim and boys
xxxxx