Hat Yao, Trang

Hi all, Just updating the blog as we've been without internet access for a few days.Can't give all the details as i'd be hours but i'll fill you in a bit. We arrived in Traang ad caught a bus to a sleepy muslim village (Hat Yao) for Christmas. It was completely deserted. Everything we ordered from the local restaurant they were out of stock. We didn't take it personally and persevered living on Mixed fruit and Green curry for a couple of days. Christmas day was spent on a beach that we waded to. We had it to ourselves and we were happy beachcombing all day. The children met some local children and played a thai game which is like a haci sac, keeping a bamboo ball in the air and passing between players. We hired a relative to take is by part long tail, part canoe to a cave which used to be used by pirates to store their treasures. It no longer has anything there but i believe is quite an attraction still. We clambered up rickerty ladders and saw fantastic stalagmites , stalatites and even bats.We then used the canoe later to return to our beach and do some snorkelling. Then...... suddenly the day we left the village came alive and people arrived. Many Thais visit for the weekends and as they had a break over christmas they all desended with tents to camp on the beach. Food was starting to be delivered to the restaurant, and the worst of it all was we were leaving. The Thais have little respect for their environment and left their rubbish behind despite the national park signs. We have seen huge rats in Thailand, one even reminded us in Bangkok that we were going the right way to return to our guesthouse!!!Anyway we travellesd down to Satun and yesterday arrived on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia. We are slightly disapointed as they have decided to maintain the pool in peak season which was the whole reason for us staying there!!! I'm getting hungry so will sign off. Happy new year to you all, Love H x