Last day.  Had breakfast.  Went for walk and last shopping.  Pissed down raining and we got drenched.  Luckily late checkout so went back to our room and had a shower / dried off.  Checked out of room and left our bags at reception and went for another walk (rain had stopped).

Eventually caught transfer to airport, and flew back to Phuket.  Spent 4 hours (or so) at Phuket until our flight opened for boarding.  Finally checked in and went through immigration.  Spoke to Kenichi – the whole family was at Nasu (including Mio / Yoichi / Arisa).  All quite drunk.  We finally boarded.  We were eating dinner and had a drink at midnight but on Jetstar so nothing included.  Child on the plane was screaming in the middle of the night at her parents so didn’t get much sleep.  Were pretty tired by the time we got home.

Great holiday(s)!

Sleep in. Breakfast outside. It wasn’t raining today! Breakfast is still pretty bad here. Back to our room to do a small amount of work. Then off to tour office to book a snorkelling / sunset dinner trip. Walked around for an hour or so until we had to be back at our hotel for pickup. There were two other people in the back of our “Ute” (who we later found out were Japanese). We also picked up another couple – she was muslim wearing a burka. 30 minute drive and got in long-tail boat. 30 minute trip to island. Rough seas, so slow trip. Snorkelled off the boat for half an hour or so. Murky water but lots of fish. In shallow where we could walk but rocky ground so not good to. Then went to another beach where we got off the boat and had drink / fruit, and a swim. Rain came but luckily we had umbrellas.

Woken during the night by thunder and rain. Woke up and went for breakfast about 8.30, but then went back to sleep for most of the morning. Relaxing time without kids around! Rain was heavier today. Walked along beach again and got soaked. Lunch at restaurant looking out over the beach. Beautiful food! Sun came out. Started walking back to our hotel. I went in the ocean for a quick dip. Walked past our hotel and up the other side of the beach for a bit. Then back to our hotel and sat on the reclining chairs, and enjoyed a Mai Tai each. I went for a quick dip in the ocean mid way through. Then it started to rain so we went to our room. Had bourbon and dry, and a shower. Pottered around for a bit. Went to dinner at the night market. Pissing down raining and no umbrellas for us to borrow so we waited for 10 minutes for somebody to come back with one. Went out and by then it had stopped raining (we didn’t end up using the umbrella at all). Went to night market for dinner and had some scallops, and steamed fish (with rice) for dinner. Walked around for a while. Went down an alley to the “night club” area (~9.00) and it was dead. Went to Hooters for a beer and we bought a glass. Girls not smiling so we didn’t leave a tip. A foot massage with hot stones was todays treat. A bit more expensive but relaxing (we both fell asleep again). Bit more walking around, then a drink in our room and off to bed.

We slept in this morning! We didn’t have breakfast until after 8.00! Kaoru cooked our last omlette (for Dad as well). It was a pretty casual day (the last one here). We potted around and got our suitcases packed. Then all said goodbye and Kaoru and I went to the airport at 11 to have our own holiday. There was a line just to get in to the airport (which included baggage scanning). Check-in was easy, then some lunch at the airport, and on our way to Koh Samui. We were in row 18, which was the back row of the plane, and it was full (small twin turbo-prop). The scenery as we took off was great, but it wasn’t long until we were both asleep. The next thing I knew was a bump as we landed, so I missed the scenery of the approach :(. Beautiful airport (bungalow shacks for the terminal). Got our bag, and then to our transfer to the hotel. Checked in and found our room. Not as nice as what we had been staying in in Phuket. Big bed, but no storage space to unpack our bags. It was raining and the forecast wasn’t looking very good for the next few days. At least it was warm though – a very comfortable temperature as not too hot (thanks to the rain). By the time we had unpacked the rain had stopped, so we walked along the beach for 45 minutes or so, and then through to the main street. Stopped for a craft beer – by coincidence a jointly brewed beer with an Australian company. Continued walking back to hotel. Bought a T-shirt. Stopped for dinner at a restaurant. Also found a 7-11 and bought a beer and a ginger ale (for the fridge :)). Passed hotel (dropped things off) and went for massage. Just had reflexology this time (first time). Fell asleep during it – woken by a part of the treatment (poking the foot). Happened both legs! Kaoru slept too, so we decided it was bed time. Back to hotel and early to bed (10.30).

A slightly later start today. After Kaoru cooked breakfast for Dad and I, 7 of us (Mum and Darren stayed behind) went to reception to await our transfer. We caught a speed boat to Phi Phi island for a bit of a tour. This took us about an hour to get to the other side of Phi Phi, so much faster than yesterday’s trip! Our first stop was the monkey beach. We had to walk through knee-high water, on rocks (that you couldn’t see) to the beach. There were wild monkeys all over. We even saw a baby monkey. Second stop was mooring in the middle of a bay for some snorkelling. We then went to lunch (big buffet), then some scenic cruising (including the viking cave and some amazing cliffs / clear water) before going to a beach for 45 minutes (a little bit of swimming), and then to another beach for some snorkelling (which also had a bar but we refrained). The snorkelling at both places was great. The fish were swimming right past us. We finally got back to the hotel about 6.00. We missed the shuttle so when we were ready we caught a taxi down to the night market and just got random food for dinner. Kaoru and I left the others, and wandered around the night market a bit, and then went for massages. Then stopped at a bar for a drink. Bought the dancer a “ladies” drink (220 baht – my beer was 130 and Kaoru’s was 120, to put it in perspective). Kaoru later had decided she would have rathered give 200 baht directly to the girl so she got it all rather than a small cut from the venue. Caught tuk tuk home and had a drink with Julie (Dad and her were the only ones up, and Dad was off to bed).

Early start for Dad and I. Kaoru made me breakfast (Dad just had a slice of toast) and a shuttle took Dad and I to the pier again for another day scuba diving – this time at Phi Phi island. We met Tony at the dock. Another person (Ray) was with him – he had trained with a friend of Tony’s, who was unavailable today so he joined us. He had 50 dives up so still a novice as well, but more experienced than us. He had a go pro so was videoing his entire dives. It was over 3 hours to get to the first dive site. Not far to the second, and the third was about 2 hours, but on the way back to land. Fantastic dives, and getting much more confident and competant. We didn’t get back to dock until 7, so back at the hotel at 7.50. Missed the 8.00 bus to go to town so we ate at the restaurant. It actually cost double what it has when we have eaten at our room! Drinks would account for that a bit, although it was just a beer for Dad and I, and soft drinks for everybody else. And we didn’t seem to have as much (certainly not as much seafood).

Little bit seedy this morning but still up early. There was some fruit not eaten last night which was great breakfast while kids unwrapped presents. Chilled for rest of morning (including having a sleep – the earliest we have ever slept on Christmas day!). Went to Number 9 2nd for lunch. Another fantastic feed. Some went back to hotel. Dad, Darren, Kaoru and I went for a massage, and I had my first ever pedicure (my toe nails were getting long and I thought why do it myself). It actually was quite nice! We had a cheeky drink in town before catching tuk tuk back to hotel. For dinner we ate out the back again (same as on 22nd). A few drinks and early to bed. Nothing like our usual Christmas, but I preferred it to last years (on the ship). It didn’t really feel like Christmas day (other than the morning with the kids opening presents). Combination of this being the first year of David and Izzy no longer believing in Santa, and being away, of course.

Woke up. Kaoru made breakfast again. Did some work. Julie and Ethan went for elephant ride as Ethan was too young 3 years ago when we were last here. Kaoru and I took David and Izzy for a while to give Julie and Darren some time. So caught the 10.30 bus to town. Went to massage. Staff confused as they weren’t our kids! Went to lunch. Then to “Time Zone”. Gave them both 100 baht of tokens. Then to laser tag for 15 minutes. Found pancakes so ate them. Had car pick us up (long wait) and back to hotel just after 5. Our table and chairs were outside along with Julie and Darren’s for big family christmas eve dinner. Looked amazing. Dad had picked food up from Number 9 2nd. We had an amazing feast, lots of drinks, swimming in the pool….very enjoyable. Even Mum went in! Eventually kids went to bed and Santa had a quick visit.

The alarm went off early but we were already awake as Kaoru had a bit of a cough. After a shower Kaoru cooked breakfast for Dad and I, and then we went down to catch a transfer at 7.00 to go scuba diving. About a 50 minute drive, and met Tony on the dock. One hour trip on the boat. Refresher. Lots of food! Did 3 great dives – much better than the one 12 months ago. Both thoroughly enjoyed it. Back 5:50, got changed and caught a 6.00 transfer in to town. Dinner at No 6. Kaoru, Darren, Julie and I walked around. Had a drink. Thought of lady-boy show but too late. Came home, had a drink and went to bed.

Woke early. Dad, David, Kaoru and I went to breakfast. Pool outside the room is cold. Had a quick dip. Went in to town, walked around / changed money. Massage at No 8, and then lunch at No 9 Second. Kaoru and I walked around, found shopping centre and bought some food for breakfast for the next few mornings. Caught tuk tuk back to hotel. 300 baht. Not happy as we should have had an “anytime” shuttle from the resort, but they are only providing a few a day. Couple of drinks at the room. Not convenient to go in to town due to shuttle times so ordered dinner from restaurant, delivered to our room, and we all ate there.