Quick Stint in Koh Lanta & on to Full Moon Koh Pangan

So we have met up with some buddies from Vancouver, Mr. Franky (Steve) and Dave Barkwell. We showed them all the great sights in Railay, and then Tonsai for a few days. We introduced them to Climbing in one of the best climbing destinations in the world & all the sights around Krabi Town. We have now made our way to the Full Moon. Leela Beach Bungalows if anyone plans to meet up with us.

Sorry for the lack of updates, we are just rancho relaxo, and haven't found to many places with internet. Next stop Koh Tao, and then up north to Changmai. We have to leave the country around the 14th of Dec. Maybe a dip into Myanmar for a week to renew our visa and then into Vietnam. North first and making our way south. Pictures will be updated soon so be prepared for some hot shots. The drinking and crazy times will commense for the next 3-4 days, as we will be meeting up with many friends that we have met. And that's why people come here from all over the world.

Merry Christmas to all, and have a safe happy New Year. Our Christmas was combined with beach volleyball, hiking to the lagoon, then a great buffet dinner for 150 Baht, ($5). Christmas day climbing up about 120 feet off the beach and just hanging out swimming and taking it easy followed up by a night of buckets, and dancing. So many experiences everyday it's hard to keep you all updated.

Back To Thailand, Railay Beach

The first place we had to go was Railay Beach in Krabi. We have been so excited to climb as we did not find any in the Phillipines. So here we are, we have already been here for a week. There is so much to do and I just love the vibe. There are no vehicles here. It's a land locked area on the mainland but you have to take a boat to get here. We have done so much. Today I took Larisa up the mountain, 1267 steps to the Buddist Temple in the Sky. So relaxing, so peaceful and we decided that the difficult accent makes it much better as it is a deterant to turns most tourists away. But we feel that the Buddah is testing us. At around 1/3 of the way the steps get so steep, each one about 2 ft. vertical. We saw so many eager beavers turn around at that point. We feel this also might be a good lesson. All great things may be difficult to aquire, and most never acheive them, as they quit at the first road bump. But little do they realize that with a little perseverance, some of the most special, amazing experiences will follow.

Yesterday we encounter this very situation. We heard of a great climb by some fellow travellers, but that it was very difficult to find. The climbing guide did'nt say much about it except that it was very difficult climb just to find the beginning of the climb. A little difficult to navigate, but we persevered and finally found it. The climb was a 60M vertical climb off the beach, all bush whacking. Very difficult with sandals. But well worth it. We eventually found it. One of the climbs was a multipitch 200M off the beach where we started. The views up there are so great, and very few people will ever get to enjoy them while hanging off a rope from the side of the mountain. One of the climbs was about 20M up the cliff into a cave, which we heard you can explore with your headlights and go threw the mountain and then rappel down the other side of the mountain onto one of the most beautiful beaches. We happen to give it a shot at sunset, with one headlamp and it turned out to be an amazing adventure.

It been new adventures everyday. Climbing another mountain into a lagoon surrounded completly by 200M cliff walls. Larisa and I are enjoying the food so much, and wish you could all be here to enjoy the experiences with us. I am so excited to show you all the photo's but presently having difficulty uploading them. We are planning to head to Full Moon Party in a few days to celebrate one of the biggest parties on earth at New Years on the Beach.

El Nido, Palawan, La Isla Bonita

Yes we are having so much fun here. So many great activities. Sea Kayaking to the thousands of jagged islands. We decided to make a bamboo raft and a shelter, just to see if we could survive on one of these uninhabited islands. Day two Island hopping to the beautiful lagoons, secluded beaches, great snorkling, and reef. All the mountains are super sharp jagged rocks formed from the torential rain in the wet monsoon season. Today we climbed up the moutain to see the spectacular views from the top. Very difficult, dangerous terrain, amazing to see.

Palawan Perfect

Sabang, Palawan (8km Underground River)

This is one of the only islands that tourism hasn' t real hit yet. It could be the difficult travelling over through the mountains on only dirt roads. (Much like Skookemchuk Hot Springs but more up and down like the rockies.) The roads are all just in the process of being paved as we speak. First stop Sabang. Thinking that this would actually be a big city we arrive without doing much pre planning as far as the cash situation. We find out that there are no banks, atm's, use of credit cards or travellers checks anywhere on the island except for the big capital of Puerto Princessa. To bad we to already have been on the road for nine hours on a Jeepney before we find this out.

Sabang is acutally one road no more then a city block. Power on comes on between 6pm- 9pm every day. Maybe only 200 people living in the village, but we found a great place, Sabang Beach Backpackers 200 Pesos. Thats $5 Canadian, or $2.50 each per night, comes complete with a needed mosquito net, and the shower is a bucket of water that you pour over your head after pumping it from the town well. We got luckey and met someone here who would buy our US money for a decent price.

Here in the photo's you will see the place we stayed for 3 days, the opening of the 8 km underground river, which was just nominated today to possible be one of the new Seven Natural Wonders of the World by UNESCO. There was a hugh celebration on Dec. 4 Celebrating this occasion, and we were lucky enough to be there for the Event. The last picture is of all the little children bathing in the Ocean. There are many children here.

Sweet Beaches of Boracay

We have found some great places. Although very difficult to find Sabang Beach near Puerto Gallera was a great find. The locals here were very friendly and great party atmosphere. Larisa and myself had one of our first big nights of too much drinking and fun times. Followed by 24 hours off hell. Or what you may have heard as Deli Bellie. Larisa first, and not long after it hit me, quite embarrassing with both of us hanging our heads out of the boat. Yes thank you medical clinic for coming through to get that experience over faster.

Next we hit the nicest beach that I have ever seen. Boracay Wow. The water is so blue, and the beach is perfect. Sand so white and soft. You can walk out forever, this is truely a must see for your next big trip. Great Island, very touristy, but well worth a few days. We happened to be here for a week, as we had to stay longer to get out 21 day visa extended. So I did get in some golf, and a couple of good hikes around the island scoping things out.

Flying is the only way to really get anywhere here. Very hard to see the country and relying on the ferries. We are leaving tommorrow for Palawan, but unfortunatly we have to fly back to Cebu City first to Fly there. No boats or ferries will take us. Lot's of backtracking. Still haven't found any super adventures to tell about, other then our adventure with the toilet.

Cagayan De Oro

OK I expected this place to be another small beach town. Larisa and I were a little overwhelmed by the poverty and the number of people they have packed into this rather large city. The begging street kids are difficult to see. The locally owned Jeepny's here are the best and cheepest transport. Each of them are elaboratly painted and decorated, and all with big boom boxes pumping out the most popular hip hop music. Usually packed with drunken young teenagers you must be careful as to which ones you get onto. It's quit interesting watching how the driver weaves in and out of the crazy traffic, and one or two guys hanging off the back trying to draw in passengers. It's amazing how many people they can pack in such small bus.

Giant Clams, Camiguin Island

One of the most interesting places we went to see was the Clam Reserve which protectes the Giant clams of up to 1 meter and the coral in and around the area. A dive amongst the 2000-3000 clams and the beautiful coral was once in a life time find. If only I had bought the underwater camera. Out of the 7 types of clams in the world, 5 of them are found here, and due to over fishing many of them are endangered. Some of the biggest are up to 2 meters. These are big ass clams.

Camiguin, Phillipines

Wow this place is hard to get to, but sure worth it. It is like a little jem of an island so different from regular life in any of the busy overpopulated dirty cities. Renting a motorbike for $8 for a few days is the best way to explore this tropical island. With its 6 volcano's covering the island climbing right off the shores of the beach, it seems to be always raining. Hot Springs, Waterfalls, Hiking up the old Volcano, getting lost up in the mountains in the dark. Here everyone is so helpful and friendly. Being that almost everyone speaks english you can even communicate with those in the far remote mountains. Most of the locals pass the time lounging outside there homes on the side of the road and watch the people passing by for entertainment. Everyone waving and yelling "hello friend" is very common as everyone wants to get to know you, and know your name, marital status, and profession. Another big passtime here is singing Kereoke. In order to survive and try to make some extra money every home on the side of the road has it's own store, and a Kareokee bar. Larisa and I couldn't help but stop as we passed by a large group singing and dancing. Happy that we were there to watch, they asked us to judge there routine, as the large family was in a local dance competition the upcoming Saturday.

Overwhelmed In Bangkok

OK every time you get to Bangkok, it just totally drains you. It's busier now then it was 6 years ago. One day of the hustle bustle, and the polluted air, and you just want to find your way to a secluded beach. We have decided the Philippines will be our first beach destination. A flight to Manila, then south to Cebu city, wow this place is 15 to 20 years behind Thailand as far as development and very very poor. Not what I expected, Well I find it's best to go into a travel without expectations, that way you will never be disappointed. So that has just what we have done. Roll will it.
We have determined that we don't like taking the planes and the fancy buses as much as the public buses and cheaper means of transport. You really get a feel for the country much better on the public transit, as you can see how 90% of the country lives. I heard a fact whether true or not that this country has a 10% employment rate, that means a 90% unemployment rate. Yes that's how it is here so far. I thought that Thailand was bad, but there are like no tourist here. Very Surprising being so close to all the other touristy Asian Countries. Larisa has been getting tons of people staring at her blond hair. She feels very special here.

OK reality here is tough but they all seem to be fine with it, very family oriented, and catholic. I can't believe how many children and schools they have here. This Catholic families are so big. The population here is a big problem. But just like my trip to Brazil everyone is still very happy with having the big families.

We finally made it to our first beach on Panglao Island off of Bohol Island. Alona Beach very beautiful. Apparently one of the best places to Scuba Dive, to bad we both aren't into that. First Day at the Beach and I have already injured myself. I cut up my foot on some coral,while playing Frisbee. It should be OK Larisa is nursing me back to health with her trusty first aid kit.

Yesterday was our first big Adventure, rented a motorbike for the day $5 each, and $2 for a full tank of gas, and off into the jungle to find the Chocolate Hills. Weird shaped mountains that all have the exact same shape, and no real explanation as to why there are over 1700 in this one area and no where else.
Then we found some beautiful underground caves, and met some nice Filipino man that showed us how to use all the advanced settings on our camera to capture all of our great moments. Today we are off to Camiguin to climb a volcano. We will try to keep the posts coming more frequently.

Yes we made it. We are in Bangkok, and I am ready to give Larsia her first taste of the interesting cullinary choices. We are on a search for the best and worst Bangkok has to offer. We will update you soon