A loooong overdue update - Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Koh Phi Phi!

20.02.09

So more than a few days have passed since my last entry and what a time it has been!
The 10th of Feb saw a crew of 8 of us head off from Tonsai and ventured across Thailand by bus and boat to Koh Phangan for the Full Moon Party. Dave, Chris, Steph, The Ryan & Ryan Show, Hampus, Adam and I left Tonsai in the morning by longtail boat to Ao Nang, bus to Krabi, bus to Surrathani, bus to the port then a ferry to Koh Phangan. We arrived at Thong Sala port and had some dinner then jumped in the back of a truck and headed to Haad Rin, the beach that the party is held on. The truck ride was an eye opener... streets of hookers and lady boys yelling and whistling at us from the bars as we tore past hanging on to the back of the truck with one hand, beer in the other. We passed the police checks then into Haad Rin itself... paid an english guy who owns a tattoo parlour 6 longneck beers to put our bags in his shop overnight then headed onto the beach and into the most maniacal party I have ever seen.
Picture the most mayhem you have ever seen, times that by 100 and you might be close to what Full Moon parties on Haad Rin Beach, Koh Phangan are like... about 700 metres of beach, about 20000 people, about 10 to 15 music stages, about 100 buckets stalls, massive amounts of fireworks (the Thai's love their fireworks haha), massive amounts of fire shows (the Thais looooove their fire shows!), balance poles with boxing gloves, booze, drugs, naked people, police, people passed out EVERYWHERE, people swimming in the sea, people pissing in the sea, people having sex in the sea, people drinking buckets in the sea, people throwing up EVERYWHERE, people falling over each other in massive convulsing mosh pits... absolute CARNAGE hahahaha... soooo fun!
We made it through the night, watched the beautiful sunrise and then headed off for a cup of tea at a back street cafe then picked our bags up from the tattoo parlour at 10am and made our way back by truck from Haad Rin beach to Thong Sala port. We sat and had breakfast and waited for our ferrys at 12.30pm.
Welsh Ryan was sooo drunk he passed out, drooled on himself then on the way to the ferry he pissed on himself... we had to babysit him all the way, what a hero haha! Half the crew went back to Tonsai but myself and the Ryan & Ryan show headed to Koh Tao to sample the amazing granite bouldering that is there. We arrived about 2pm, found a bungalow on Sairee Beach (the main beach on Koh Tao) then relaxed and had dinner. After dinner we went out for drinks with our new neighbors and were all out till the small hours of the morning... so I was awake and partying across a whole country, its mainland and 2 different islands for about 48 hours haha... I was well keen for a nap by the time I went to bed that night!
The next day we went and hire motorbikes and man are they fun! We rode all over Koh Tao exploring the place for most of the day. Koh Tao is only about 5kms long and 3kms wide so its not a big island. We went and found the High Bar, a treehouse bar on top of a mountain... such a wicked place! Wee chilled there then went for a boulder in the evening.
First let me say that Koh Tao is beautiful and the boulderfields are amazing... granite boulders littered through coconut plantations, so nice! But then let me say that it is sooooo sharp that it is like climbing on broken glass! I did a few easy problems at The Backyard then called it an evening. I bouldered a bit the next morning but after that I didn't climb for the rest of the week I was there. I have a torn hamstring at the moment so that combined with the sharp rock made me call it a rest / sun tanning week haha.
The other factor that kept me on the beach was the veritable plethora of Swedish women! There was a Swedish hiphop artist called Timbucktu playing at Bans Dive Resort on the 15th so every Swede and his dog turned up in Koh Tao... I swear, you couldn't drop a Baht for hitting a Swede!
We met some great Aussie girls the next day, Sophie and Zoe who combined with myself, Ryan and Ryan made the 'Awesome Five-some' for the next few days! We had a blast, partying all night, sun baking on the beach all day... sooo fun, props go out to you two girls for making it such a fun week :-)
The night of Friday the 13th, an ominous date for some, was the beginning of of my brithday madness! As the clock struck midnight the shots of Sambuca flowed and the carnage began! We were at the Lotus Bar and it was a Retro-Disco night so we danced on the beach all night and partied hard... such a blast. The next morning, the day of my bday, the five of us had breakfast then rode our motorbikes to the north of the island and had lunch then walked down to Shark Bay and had a swim and beers on the beach. Then we headed again to High Bar and had cocktails, then we rode back to Sairee Beach and had dinner at Ban's again, then headed out to Lotus Bar for shenanigans. Welsh Ryan and Zoe had initiated a secret plan to keep me swamped in gorgeous women for the entirity of my birthday, so without delay Ryan set to work, what a hero haha.
All of a sudden I was ambushed by about 20 or 30 beautiful young Swedish women who sang me happy birthday and then proceeded to all kiss me haha, I was in heaven haha! Ryan is a bloody champion! He kept the flow of hot girls up to me all night, I have lost count of how many photo's of hot girls kissing me we have haha... what a fun night :-) We headed to Ban's later on, more Sambuca, more cocktails, fire limbo, jumping through fire hoops, more hot women, more shenanigans... such a great night!
Mr Brennan, Mr Bandy, Sophie & Zoe - you guys are all hero's, thank you all for making my birthday and my whole Koh Tao experience such a great and memorable time :-)
A few more days of partying and riding motorbikes around the island and suntanning on the beach passed then the Ryan & Ryan show headed off for Cambodia and beyond - I will miss you boys, look after each other and I'll see you both again one day (In june maybe for you Mr Brennan!) :-)
I stayed on in Koh Tao with Sophie & Zoe for 2 more days after the boys left. More riding around, more High Bar, more beach time... awesome! Thanks girls for making my week so awesome... "you complete me" haha
The 18th Feb saw me head back to Tonsai, an all day boat/bus/boat trip. The 19th I rested and read my book all day as my hamstringm still wasn't 100%, then today I headed out on a snorkelling trip to Koh Phi Phi with Dave and Ellen.
We jumped aboard a speed boat at about 9am and powered out to Koh Phi Phi Don first, did some snorkelling on a cool reef, checked out the Viking Cave (where the locals collect swallows nests from), checked out a cool lagoon, went to Maya Bay which is where the movie 'The Beach' was filmed, had lunch on Koh Phi Phi Don, then went snorkelling again at another reef near Koh Phi Phi Ley (there were sooo many fish.. I held a peice of watermelon in my teeth and hundreds of fish swarm you to eat it so you have fish going crazy inches from you face haha!), then we snorkelled and chilled on Bamboo Island then headed home. A really fun day all in all, well worth it :-)
Tomorrow I am hoping to be back into the climbing at full throttle, my leg is close to fine again, I am no longer sick and its time to crank!
Well thats my last week or two in a nutshell, now that I am back on Tonsai the updates should be regular again. Lets hope I dont get sick or hurt myself again and I should have some climbing news soon!
Peace all.

The chaotic ride from Thong Sala to Haad Rin

Full Moon, we have landed! (Ps: Richo, show Gordie this one, note CIRC the singlet haha)

Sunrise at Haad Rin, Koh Phangan after the party

Sunset on Sairee Beach, Koh Tao that afternoon

Ryan Bandy on one of our motorbikes

Ryan Brennan, hero of the year, doing what he does best

Me and a few old flames ;-)

Sophie, Zoe and I at Lotus Bar - "You Complete Me" haha

Dave and Ellen off on our snorkelling trip

Me and Ellen at Maya Bay where the movie "The Beach" was filmed

Soon, soon!

I am chilling in Koh Tao at the moment and have been for nearly a week... I don't have my laptop to load pics so I will update the blog with a big story about my last week or so when I get back to Tonsai in a few days... basically it was Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan, head to Koh Tao, boulder twice then sacked off the bouldering to party with pretty girls and work on my tan haha
More soon! (Including photo's from the mayhem that was my birthday haha)

Would you beleive it?

Yesterday arvo I went up to Fire Wall and sent 'Burnt Offerings' 7a+ on my 2nd shot! On my first go I felt so ill that I actually threw up while I was climbing, a new experience for me haha. But I feel 100% again today! But I pulled a muscle in my hamstring on the send so more enforced rest today then off to the full moon party tomorrow!

Me sending 'Burnt offerings' 7a+ at Fire Wall

Still sick... ARGHHHH!!!!

07.02.09

So I ended up sick for nearly 5 whole days and didn't keep any food down for a total of 96 hours! I lost a fair bit of weight in a short period and other than one climb this morning I have done bugger all for 5 whole days... which is frustrating as all hell but now that I feel on the mend and I am keeping food down I am psyched to get out and tear it up tomorrow! Finally I can climb again!
Yesterday I risked soiling myself (fuck it, you can swim in the ocean if you have an accident, just wear dark shorts haha) and went to Phra Nang beach with a big crew of aussie girls and our usual lot as well. We walked the long way through the jungle and past Railay East so I could get some antibiotics which was a nice, albeit long, walk and then we lay in the sun and worked on our tans, snorkelled on the little reef there, checked out the penis cave (a cave full of wooded penis's - a tribute to the Princess of Thailand apparently?), kayaked around happy island and relaxed some more. By the time I walked back to Tonsai again I was exhausted as I had no energy from being unable to eat for so long but I was on the mend and a fun day in the sun helped alot!
Now I am on the mend, psyched for tomorrow and ready to have a blast!


08.02.09

So my excitement was premature. I was still shitting circles around myself last night. But today I actually feel like I am better. I have taken more antibiotics and various other drugs and my food is staying down so hopefully it is at an end. I will be resting for the rest of today and going up to (hopefully) do a super photogenic 7a+ called 'Burnt Offerings' at Fire Wall this evening if I feel energetic enough for it.
I sooooo hope I feel properly well soon as we are off to Koh Phangan in 2 days and I want to be fighting fit for the full moon party and the bouldering at Koh Tao!

A junk off Phra Nang beach

A sculpture in the Penis Cave at Phra Nang

Steph outside the Penis Cave

Me all sweaty, sick and delerious after being sick and not eating for over 4 whole days

More Tonsai and more illness... bah!

02.02.09

Another lazy morning... Was up for breakfast at 8am and to see my friend Lucie off as she is off to Koh Phi Phi today. Going to climb in the afternoon but will be lazing about this morning which seems to be the best routine for me I think... the early morning starts aren't that fun, and stuff it, I'm on holiday haha.
Yesterday Dave, Agnes, the two Ryans and I headed off to The Keep at Railay East. I had a cracker of a day, didn't get on anything too hard but had a no fall day onsighting 6 routes from 6b to 6c, all 20 to 30 metre long enduro face climbs... was great fun and such a great position perched up on a ledge overlooking the sea with white faced monkeys playing in the tree's below us... fantastic!
I am feeling really solid onsighting up to 6c+ consistently and having fun keeping my head together on onsights, haven't been projecting anything really though so I might have to go get back on 'Cross Eyed' soon.
This afternoon Dave, Agnes and I headed to The Nest here in Tonsai and did a few moderate routes, was good to do some more easy onsights again, good fun!


03.02.09

Another rest day. Lazing around, reading, listening to tunes, slacklining (my juggling skills on the slackline are definitely improving!), talking trash and watching pretty girls on the beach - heaven.


05.02.09

So, my rest day bliss didn't last for long... I didn't keep my breakfast down, or my lunch and I didn't even try dinner. I didn't feel ill but I couldn't keep food down... weird. Then I woke up during the night with sharp pains in my stomach and started shitting liquid... ghey. I didn't feel sick as such, just sharp stomach cramps... so I couldn't eat at all yesterday, I just lay in bed watching films and running to the loo every half hour.
So this morning I ate a small breakfast making it the first food I have kept down in 60 hours. I call it the Tonsai Weight Loss Program as I am wasting away to nothing faster than you can say Jenny Craig.
I am hoping now that I feel better I can eat some food and restore my glycogen levels enough that tomorrow I can climb as today marks 3 days in a row off climbing...grrrr.
Here's hoping for a miracle recovery!

Tonsai by night

Dave, Lucie and I off to Ao Nang, Ao Nang!

Dave at The Keep

Drunken slacklining, beer in hand haha

Dave showing how ghetto he really is on a 6a at The Nest

Dave finishing the same 6a at The Nest

Agnes on the same 6a at The Nest

Me onsighting a nice easy 6a+ at The Nest

Agnes and I with the Pyramid Bar kitten

Me holding the pet baby squirrel one of the girls working at Dream Valley keeps in her pocket

Ao Nang, Ao Nang!!!

31.01.09

The end of January already... 3 weeks in and loving it :-)
The last 2 afternoons have been spent climbing at Cat Wall. The first afternoon I had a cracker of a session. Onsighted a 6b, then onsighted a 6c, then flashed a fantastic 7b called 'April Fools'. Was probably a touch soft for the grade but I will take it as a 'holiday tick' haha. Then I flashed a 7a but went to the wrong anchors so I went back yesterday and did it to the correct anchors.
Such a great crag with all the routes being 25 metre endurance fests, just my cup of tea!I have just moved bungalows today, still in Dream Valley (or as we say - "Living the Dream").
Welsh Dave, Lucie the crazy Czech and I are off to Ao Nang for a touch of city madness and cheap internet for something different today as we are having a rest day.
Around the end of next week a massive crew of us is off for the full moon party in Koh Phangan (sp?) then bouldering in Koh Tao for a week before coming back to Tonsai. Should be a blast!

Climbing, diving, drinking, chilling...

26.01.09

Happy Australia Day!
I'm all over my illness and welsh Ryan and I got out for a killer day at the crag today. We had a reasonably early breakfast then headed over to Thaiwand Wall at West Railay. What a blast! Bosched up a nice little 6a+ to warm up then did the mega classic, 35 metre long 'Equatorial' 6c on my 2nd shot. A never ending arete that my 70 metre rope only just gets you off by rope stretch alone that finishes in a cave with the most amazing view ever! Then we went through the massive cave system that runs through the entire wall to pop out at Phra Nang beach. We lazed on the beach watching tourist girls in bikini's, playing 'my wife' (great game, explanation pending haha) listening to tunes for a while then headed back to Escher World where I onsighted a great 25m route called 'The Best Route In Minnesotta' 6c, one of the best routes I have ever done, a fantastic, crazy arete on a crazy feature inside the entrance of a massive cave... amazing!
We headed back through the massive caves then abseiled out of them (with a group of 19 cute little 19yr old Canadian girls... fantastic sport haha) before walking home to Tonsai with a sunset swim at Railay beach on the way... perfect. With a few beers with the crew to round out the day it was a great way to celebrate Australia Day!


29.01.09

Fun in the sun... love it! I have been here for 3 weeks now and it feels like 3 days. Having the greatest time. Fantastic company, beatiful scenery, tropical beaches, great climbing, pretty girls, cheap beer... what more can you ask for???
No more illness for any of the crew any more so it's game on, time to get involved. Tuesday ended up being a lazy rest day followed by a fun evening (drinking straight Sangsum from the bottle and slacklining is always a winner haha). Yesterday we got down to the beach at a reasonable time and warmed up with a lap on 'Stalagasaurus' then headed to the shady part of Dum's Kitchen to do a bouldery little 6c called 'Jumping For Jugs' which was well friggin hard for the grade but I did it 2nd shot so I was happy with that.
Then I had to call it a day early to go see Jack & Steff off home to Sydney and Seong Jae off home to Korea... was sad to see them all leave, they have been great fun to have around these last few weeks.
At 2pm after seeing the guys off, myself, Kentucky Ryan and Welsh Ryan went out for a sunset snorkelling trip. Fuckin brilliant! We headed out on a cool big boat out past Koh Poda and Koh Chicken and did 3 different dives on different parts of the reefs out there. The 2nd dive was fantastic.. schools of Barracuda every where (scary big toothed buggers!), brilliant coral, amazing fish at every turn... just sensational. Then we went in to a secluded beach on the reef and watch the best sunset I have ever seen and had a bang up dinner on the beach at night. It was then back onto the big boat and back to a spot for one more dive, a night swim. We all climbed to the top deck, they turned off all the lights and we jumped from the top (5 metre) balcony of the ship into the dark and eery water. But it is FULL of bio-luminescent plankton! You more in the water and the plankton lights up around you like fireflies in the water... so cool. We banged on some goggles and swam around underwater in the dark and it is like swimming through a moving galaxy of stars underwater... simply amazing! All in all one of the best days ever.
Today Welsh Dave and I are chillin and having coffee at Pyramid Bar then we are off to Cat Wall for the afternoon to get some milage in on the rock. Keen as.

Alain high up on Thaiwand Wall with Railay West in the background

Kentucky Ryan chucking a backflip of the dive boat

Me and Ryan enjoying the reef

One of the billions of fish we saw

Sunset from our private dinner beach... stunning!

And even more from Tonsai...

23.01.09

So I ended up having 2 rest days then yesterday went climbing in the morning and felt shite so only climbed in the arvo. I had a shot on 'Cross Eyed' again and fell at the tech crux below halfway then made my way to the top... sure I can do it before I leave, just have to keep getting fitter. After that I flashed a nice 6c at Wild Kingdom Wall and relaxed for the evening and had an early night. I have had to impose a 'no leaving Dream Valley after dinner' rule on nights when I plan to climb the next morning to avoid my rubber arm being twisted into going out for beers and ending up out late at the bars haha. Its just to easy to party all the time, but there is climbing to do!
Today I went and sent a cool 6c+ called 'The Lion King' at Dum's Kitchen after having fallen from the last move to the chains last time I was on it. Tomorrow morning I have to go back to he beach and send 'Babes In Thailand' then hopefully off to check out the amazing looking Thaiwand Wall.
It has been a bit hot the last few days with temperatures in the mid 30's each day so we have been spending the lazy hot part of the middle of the day lazing at the Pyramid Bar just near our bungalows. The local Thai's that run it are so fun, chilling with us, playing the guitar (they love Metallica songs being played for them haha). The Thai's have the most wicked sense of humour, always smiling and laughing and always cracking jokes with us at our expense... all the Thai's I know now at the crags and at all my favourite bars and restaraunts are great fun... The Thai's are fantastic people, they really make this place special :-)


25.01.09

The Tonsai Flu.
A terrible affliction that renders the hapless victim unable to leave the proximity of a toilet for the best part of a full day. I foolishly thought my iron stomach would keep me free of the sickness but guess what? Yesterday was spent driving the porcelain bus interspersed with lengthy periods of shitting myself. Bloody horrible. Most of our crew have all caught it at the same time so we are all relaxing today doing nought but sitting in the shade and wasting time nursing our aching bodies and tender stomachs... ghey.
So no climbing has happened for a few days but I might climb something easy this arvo if I feel up for it, but probably not... might just save it for tomorrow...
Other than that things are great here, having a ball!

Another Tonsai sunset

The Crackatinnie Tribe gets to Tonsai (just for you Boundy!)

Like it steep? Me lowering off a 35m, 20 degree overhanging route

Tonsai, from Cat Wall

All the bungalows are amoungst this grove of coconut palms

The damn monkey that stole my wter bottle haha

The Welsh flag flying proudly outside welsh Dave and Ryan's bungalow

Chris spending a lazy day at the Pyramid Bar

And more...

18.01.09

I spoke too soon. Yesterday was meant to be a day of climbing but I woke up after a bit of a night out the night before with a fever and feeling soooo tired still... I had breakfast at about 9.30am and went back to bed and slept fitfully with a sweating fever all day till about 5.30pm only waking to drink water. No throwing up or shitting rings around myself though... When I got up in the evening I felt wasted but after a bite to eat with Dave and Stan I felt back to normal so we watched a movie in my bungalow then I headed out for a few beers.
I woke up this morning feeling much better so Dave, Stan and I headed out to climb While the rest of our crew headed off to the Ao Nang hot springs. We did a nice 6b+ at Tyrolean Wall then I flashed a great steep 6c+ route called 'Stalagasaurus' on the Tonsai Steep Wall. Was great to flash it as I had been saving it for a flash shot so I was well chuffed! Then I went to try a cool looking 7a at Dum's Kitchen but got shot down on the steep roof start, but I was close so I'll head back to try it again soon.
It's so nice here now that I have settled right in, hanging outand climbing with a great extended crew of people we have going on from all over the world (Seong Jae from Korea, Dave from Manchester, Stan from Norway, Ryan, Sam and Sean the Yanks, Jan, Liz, Lizzie and Ben from London, Jack and Steff the other Aussies and so many others), playing pool and blazing up with the locals, hanging out every night at the Sawadee Bar drinking Chang and slacklining (My slacklining is getting heaps better too! I can do sit starts, jump onto it, walk, turn, walk backwards, juggle on it and nearly walk sideways haha, loving it!).


20.01.09

Damn hangovers. So glad today is a rest day because its 2 in the arvo and I just got up after a very long night of shenanigans and my head feels like it is stuffed with cotton wool.
Yesterday was an awesome day. In the morning I flashed a 6b+ then flashed a 7a so I was really happy with that! In the afternoon I went to Melting Wall with Dave and tried a 7b route called 'Cross Eyed' and oh my god it is the best pitch ever! 30 something metres long and massively overhanging all the way with amazing movement on perfect grey limestone pockets and edges with some bold runouts and a perfect setting high up looking over the beach. I will be working on it for while I think. I did all the moves without much fuss but it is such an endurance fest that it will take a little while to build up the fitness to do it but I am soooo psyched to do it! This afternoon I am going to swim to Railay and back then have an early night... gotta have a quiet night so I can go try it again tomorrow!!!
A couple of mates and I have made a little plan for the next full moon in early February... Dave, Ryan and I are going to go to catch the overnight train over to the Gulf of Thailand and go to Koh Pan Yang (sp?) for the massive full moon party there (15000 people on the beach, sounds wicked!) then go bouldering in Koh Tao for a week before coming back over here again. Should be a riot as the boys are a great laugh and keen for some shenanigans... keen as!

More Thailand...

16.01.09

The last few days have been amazing! The 14th saw us head out Deep Water Soloing with Wee's Climbing School. It was such a fantastic day, 12 of us plus 2 Thai guides headed out to Koh Poda in a big longtail with a kayak. The first area we got to I was first into the kayak and headed straight up a 15m high 6b... I onsighted it then looked down to jump and nearly shit myself haha... 15m is a well long way to jump! The Thai guide in the kayak was laughing and yelling 'jump! jump!' so off I went... scary, but so fun! We spent a few hours climbing most of the routes at the area then went to a secluded little bay to have lunch and vboulder on some great problems in shallow water just off the beach. I did a fun little v5 and nearly finished another that was about v7... might have to kayak back there to finish it.
Then we went and spent a few hours at another big roof and wall on Koh Poda doing some great fun routes over the deep water again. A young swiss girl topped out this crazy high 6b+ that everyone else chickened out on... and with reason.. it's 23 metres high! She climbed it then sacked up and jumped straight away.. soooo bloody high, so impressive!!!
Yesterday was a rest day that included nothing but laying on the beach, swimming, slacklining and drinking Chang (the local beer). After a lazy day I hung out in the Sawadee bar slacklining, drinking more Chang and blazing up with the bar staff, then off to a friends room for a movie then off to bed.
Now that I have been here nearly a week I am really getting into the swing of things. When to go to what crags to avoid the sun, where the best food is (wow the food is all soooo good!), where the best massages are, what bars are the best to chill in, etc, etc... so relaxing and so fun. And I haven't felt even a little bit sick yet (touch wood!). Friendly people everywhere from all over the world, climbers, backpackers, friendly locals all mixed into a vibrant little community stuck in one of the most beautiful places ever with amazing climbing and a sunset over the ocean that I just can't see enough... I have watched the sun set every day and probably will till I leave... so beautiful.
Today I had a kinda late start, had breakfast about 9am then off to 'Tyrolean Wall'. Warmed up with onsighting a 6c+ then tried a 7c+ and got my ass handed to me haha... did most of it but it was well hard!
This afternoon we will climb somewhere else, but for now its off to the beach to swim and relax!

Steff on 'The Groove Tube'

Koh Poda Deep Water Soloing

Jack at Koh Poda

The crew on the boat at Koh Poda

Francesca jumping off a 23 matre DWS routes... so scary!!!

Me jumping of after doing a nice 6a at Koh Poda

The longtails at the beach we stopped for lunch at

Our secluded little beach for a lunch and bouldering stop

One of our Thai guides for the DWS trip

Thailand!!!

Hi all!

I am sort of going to try and keep a diary of my travels on my laptop and post it in here as I go.
I might keep it up or I might get lazy and let it slip, but we will see... so here goes!


11.01.09

Sawat Dii!

Well after months of saving money and planning I am finally here relaxing at Tonsai Beach in Thailand!
The first few days so far of my trip have been an absolute blast. I stayed in Sydney with Chris and Teegan for a few days just hanging out with them and Matty J in Teegans sisters apartment in Randwick. I got up at 4.30am on the 9th and got a taxi to the airport at 5.30am, checked in and had breakfast with my mum then it was on the plane and out of Sydney to Bangkok at 9am.
The 9 hour flight was pretty good, watched movies, drank scotch and chatted with some nice Thai girls that were sitting with me. When I landed in Bangkok I was feeling a little grimey but couldn't get changed out of my sweaty clothes as all my luggage was being transfered to my flight to Krabi. I then had to spend nearly 5 hours hanging around Bangkok airport waiting for my flight... ghey... I felt dirty, and got bored as hell riding the travelator's around the terminal to pass the time, but soon enough I was boarding my flight to Krabi and turned around to see Seong Jae boarding the same flight, which was awesome as I didn't know where we would be meeting up.
We flew to Krabi, taxied to Ao Nang pier and caught a longtail boat at 10pm in the dark to Tonsai. After 22 hours on the road I had arrived!
We went to Andamans Bungalows and got a tiny shitbox of a room for the night, then went to the famous Freedom Bar for a beer then it was sleep time.
The next day we went and found a good bungalow at Dream Valley for us (and only 400 baht each including buffet breakfats every day.. score!) then headed of to have our first taste of the climbing.
Walking down to the beach for the first time in daylight gave me my first proper view of the place... amazing... beautiful black, white and orange streaked limestone cliffs strewn with jungle towering over perfect sandy beaches and an azure blue sea dotted with islands and boats... such a great sight.
We went to Dum's Kitchen and jumped on the 3 star 'King Lion' 6c+. Seong Jae sent it 2nd shot and I fell from the very last hold twice taking a massive 8 metre whipper both times haha... gotta go back and finish it soon.
In the afternoon I moved our stuff into our new bungalow and relaxed. Shortly after I bumped into our next door neighbours Jack and Steff who happened to be from Sydney so we all went to Freedom Bar For drinks and to watch the sunset over the ocean for the first time. The sunsets here are the best I have ever seen... it was amazing seeing it for the first time. At the bar I met two nice people Kris and Clara who both were out to party for their last night at Tonsai and seeing as it was a full moon and there was massive full moon parties on (what a stoke of luck, full moon party on my first night here... booyah!) we decided a big night was in order to celebrate my first night and their last in style!
We hung out mainly at Mambo Bar drinking cocktails then a completely obnoxious amount of buckets (Thai Whiskey, lime, soda and red bull in a big bucket haha... so nice and sooooo deadly!). Then some girl who was having her 21st bday came round with 'very' happy birthday cake for everyone that the bar staff had made for her, I asked why it was 'very' happy birthday cake... silly really... fairly obvious... chocolate hash cake, so good, and we got so wasted haha. Needless to say I stumbled the long way home, half lost, completely wasted at 4am... such a fun way to kick off the trip :-)
I slept in past breakfast, went and lay around Freedom Bar watching people climb, had a swim and watched the monkeys playing on the cliffs above the beach then went for a great hour long massage then relaxed the afternoon away. Tomorrow is all about the climbing now that I have partied and relaxed for a bit!


12.01.09

Today saw me up at 6am with Steff and Jack for an early session at Dum's Kitchen. On the way we saw a squirrel looking animal for the first time :) We did a 6a, 6b and a 6c, all great little routes climbing up great pockets, tufa's and stalactites.They were super polished from the amount of traffic they see but still great routes non the less.
There are so many animals around here, which is cool, I am keen to get some great photo's of them all... monkeys, squirrels, amazing birds... plus all the local dogs and cats that come and play with you at the bars haha, and one little pet rabbit that lives at the climbing shop at Freedom Bar.
After our early morning climb we got back to Dream Valley for our breakfast... unlimited fresh fruit, crepes, pancakes, eggs, omlettes, bacon, toast and coffee... I will be making breakfast my main meal each day seeing as its free with our bungalow, might save me some cash by stuffing my gills after a morning climb every day :)
About midday we jumped in a longtail for the short boat ride to Railay West, such a pretty beach! We walked through to Railay East and climbed at 'One Two Three' crag. We climbed 5 great routes from grade 5 to 6b including possibly the best pitch of climbing I have ever done, a 6a+ called 'We Sad'... amazing huge hanging stalactites to start, past a massive chandelier that you stem off then up a great head wall of tufa's to the top... fantastic!
We walked back through Railay, got cash from the atm and walked the low tide route all the way back to Tonsai. Now its of to have a beer at Freedom Bar while watching the sunset then have dinner :)


13.01.09

Today was another early start, 6.30am we were off to the Dum's Kitchen to warm up then back to the Tonsai Overhang for a flash attempt at 'Babes In Thailand' 7a... I fell off the tufa at the top throwing for the jugs at the top... argh! Oh well, back to try it soon for sure.
Today we are going to chill the rest of the day and swim then go do some easy routes at 'Fire Wall' in the evening then an early night before going on a Deep Water Soloing trip with Wee's Climbing School tomorrow! Cant wait!!!

Beer at Randwick the day before leaving

Seong Jae waiting at Ao Nang pier for the longtail boat to Tonsai


Steff & Jack at Freedom Bar for sunset over the ocean

Dum's Kitchen

Our bungalow at Dream Valley Resort

Jack beside Freedom Bar and Tonsai Overhang at sunset

Woo hoo!!!

So I am finally here kicking back on Tonsai... its awesome so far!

Will write more soon, just thought I would let y'all know where I'm at :)

Leavin' on a jet plane...

I'm off!

I am about to head to the airport to head off on my trip... check back for posts on my shenanigans asap!!!

See ya soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLIDAY!!!!

So its nearly here! After many months of saving my pennies and planning this and that my trip is finally just around the corner!

Next friday I leave for a year or two on the road, living like a climbing bum out of my backpack a visiting amazing world class climbing destinations.
I fly to Thailand first for 3 months of sport climbing and deep water soloing at Tonsai and bouldering at Koh Tao, then on the 27th March I fly to Hanoi in Vietnam. From there the basic plan is 2 months deep water soloing and climbing around Ha Long Bay with some side trips to Laos to climb and to Cambodia to see Angkor Wat. Then it's China for a few months of climbing at Yangshuo followed by a side trip back to Thailand then 3 months or so bouldering and climbing at Hampi & Badami in India and trekking and bouldering in Nepal.
That will take me through to the end of 2009 and from there I will decide what to do for 2010 but at this stage I am thinking Rocklands in South Africa followed by Europe... but we will see, it's a long way off yet!

So thats the basic plan and I wouldn't be more excited if I tried! Haha :-)
I will endeavour to post updates and photo's as regularly as possible so keep your eyes on this blog to see what I am up to! Also if anyone is goingto be in the same places at the same time be sure to hit me up to meet up for some climbing!

Well, I hope you have all had a great chistmas and new years break and that you are all safe and well.

Check back soon!

Duncan 'that bastard going on that awesome holiday' Brown

;-)

Happy Holidays!!!

So with Christmas tomorrow I thought I would just wish everyone a fun and safe holidays!!!

I'll post some details on my trip soon... I'm off on the 9th Jan so I'll lay out all the details so far for you all soon :)

Keep safe and I'll see you all soon :)

Duncan

Just quickly...

Thought I should better drop a quick line in here seeing as I haven't posted in a while.
Tings have been busy lately with getting ready for my big trip coming up soon.
I leave on the 9th of January 2009 and won't be back for a year or two!
I will post more about the trip soon, but rest assured I will be bringing you all every juicy bit of the trip though here :)

Take care and I'll be back with an update soon :)