...And then the rain started!

Despite my 'early night' I still managed to sleep late, which meant that I showered, packed and checked out of my room - "No, I haven't forgotton my bright pink suitcase!" - in a frantic 15 minutes. Breakfast was a bag of fresh watermelon and pineapple bought for 20 baht from a street vendor anf I hurried/stumbled up Khao San Road - "No, I don't want a taxi, thank you." - to my pick-up point. Of course, in true traveller fashion my minibus was late, so I sat on the kerb and ate my fruit.

A rather uninspired four hour drive later and we arrived at the fishing port of Banphe. (After the stunning views of Laos, driving down an endless motorway passing ISUZU car dealerships and supermarkets is mind-numbing. Thankfully I had a bit of Mark Twain to help keep me sane!) A pleasant 30 minute boat ride later and I arrived on the small island of Koh Samet.

After paying a 400 baht admission fee - Koh Samet is a National Park - I wandered along numerous beaches looking at a variety of bungalow rooms, rejecting three until I decided upon taking a room at the Silver Sand. The prices are massively inflated - a dirty single room with a fan and a mosquito net and without a bathroom costs a ridiculous 300 baht per night.

My room at Silver Sand is costiong me 1000 baht per night - the second most expensive accommodation of my travels so far, after my first night in Bangkok - and is a pleasant enough place. My room has air-con, ensuite with a warm shower, TV, safe and a refrigerator. But it's more than double the cost that it should be. Also, the price of food and water are massively inflated.

(Rant over, so I'll continue!)

I had a quick shower and headed out to spend a few hours strolling along the beaches looking for the all important shops, bars and restaurants. The weather was glorious, the sand white and the sea warm. A hour or so later and a thunder and lightening started with the rain lashing it down. Bloody typical!

Dinner that night was a delicious Pad Thai with shrimp at The Gecko Restaurant, washed down with a beer whilst watching the lightening storm out at sea.