There’s worse views to have from your balcony.
So, we left the hotel and went down to the 7-11, where we’d been told all the tuk-tuks hung out in the morning. Not a tuk-tuk to be seen. Oh. And we had a bus to catch, on t’other side of town. Virle got onto Grab. No vehicles available. Oh, hang on, there’s one. But he’s nine minutes away. And…he’s disappeared. Still no tuk-tuks. There were a few scooter taxis, but with our heavy packs we didn’t really fancy it. Though they didn’t seem to feel there’d be a problem.
After a couple more minutes we decided needs must, and agreed 60 bahts a head. The scooter drivers took our rucksacks and each tucked one on the floor in front of him, clamped between his legs. Then we climbed on the back, and away we went. Of course in the event it was no big deal, and actually quite fun. Not to say moderately cool. Some people’s missuses, I’d imagine, might baulk at such a prospect, but it takes a lot more than that to faze Virle.
Then onto a minibus for a four hour haul. Not fun, but it had to be done.
And here we are at Khao Sok, at the rather oddly named Island Resort – it’s no resort, and we’re not on an island – where to Virle’s fury we’ve yet again run into a cocked up booking, which means we’re going to have to pack up and move after a couple of our four days stay. Not that big a deal, but it’s a pain – and not the kind of thing you want to hear on the tail end of a four hour sweaty bum ordeal.
But that’s all in the past now. We’ve booked a day trip into the jungle proper (this whole area is one massive national park), where we’re promised a cave and a waterfall. As well as a couple of hours on a boat and four hours’ by the sound of it pretty serious trekking. We’ve just hired another scooter – a more powerful jobby this time, which at least partly explains the higher price: 400 baht for the day – so we have freedom for the morrer. And we’re looking forward to our dinner, having read rave reviews of a place which turns out to be literally just down the road.
The verandah is comfy, the humidity is like soup, the cicadas are going bonkers, and all’s well with the world.
Dinner here we come!