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Thursday 12 July 2012

Going to the real "The Beach"


We had the opportunity to do an special trip to visit the principle location for the filming of the 2000 movie "The Beach" (yep the one with Leonardo DiCaprio). Above is the view we got as we finally got onto the beach. That longboat on the beach is what brought our luggage to the island, we didn't get to the island so simply. 




As part of the experience we got to swim to the island from our boat. The swim was about 200m to a little cave that is covered by netting. This is the view of the boat we had swam from. 





After going through the cave we went through a path and then going through the island jungle we came out onto the beach. 





The beach was stunning and we were lucky to be staying on the island for the night. During the day hundreds/thousands of people visit but at night only 20 people are allowed to stay on the island. 


We went for a swim as soon as we got the beach and the surrounding limestone cliffs were great, covered in lush vegetation. 



   




On the outside of the island there is a cave called "viking cave" where birds nest at night, which people harvest to make bird nest soup. There are also some great coral reefs where we found a nice big crown of thorns starfish and a nice puffer fish :D



   






As sunset came closer some clouds started to roll in but this treated us to a great sunset. 






After sunset we were treated to a great Thai curry for dinner and then a chicken BBQ a couple of hours later. Sitting around on the sand with light torches (they look great but are in fact a beer can, stuffed with toilet paper soaked in diesel).


We then got treated to a fire spinner show. Two guys spinning sticks around and occasionally dropping them. 

Getting ready


Spin Spin Spin

Looking chilled






It was a great night in a stunning location and a bit of an adventure, during the night a rainstorm rolled in and we had to shelter/sleep in this hut below.


Not the most glamorous accommodation but the stunning location made up for it :)  


But the storm overturned our long boat so that it couldn't take our luggage back to the main boat. So remember that route we swam to get onto the island, we had to do it in reverse in the morning with our luggage. 


Some people trusted their bags (wrapped up in rubbish sacks) to the guide in a tiny canoe. Me and Michelle decided that it would be quicker and better to swim out carrying our bags above the water to our boat.



It was a great and very different experience to finish our trip to southern Thailand. Next we are heading to Bangkok and then home to England :) 





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