Haad Salad, Ko Phangan

Yesterday we moved to the next island to the north - Ko Phangan - which is a little smaller but a lot less developed than Ko Samui. We are staying at a nice resort called Cookies in Salad Bay on the north-west of the island. There's a great view down over a small beach which has a couple of nice resorts and a bunch of more basic bungalows and bars. No real town to talk of, just a small concentration of a few shops and motorbike hire places. Very very relaxed place.

Right next to us there is a relatively swanky resort which has just opened, it has lots of staff and not a single guest as far as we can see! They had two guys sweeping the beach this morning!

The boat ride here was fairly rocky. The weather has changed to unsettled night before last, and a few moments before we boarded the boat a storm came; the rain was lashing the boat by the time we departed and the sea got fairly rough. The ride was only about 35 minutes but most of us started to feel a bit green... and a few threw up. The next surprise was the road from the Haad Rin pier to our resort - for the first few km, a rollercoaster ride up and down hills and around sharp corners.

By the time we arrived it was nice and sunny again so we chilled out at the resort, eating, swimming, strolling around. I snorkelled out 100m to a small coral reef where there was a nice selection of fish.

There is a place nearby where a British lady lives giving courses in Yoga etc. I went to a Pilates class there this morning - been meaning to try this for a while. Enjoyed it. She holds it every day if enough people so I'll go again. Gy might do a yoga class and they have a special Herbal Steam room operating a few days a week, and there is a kids class on Sunday we could bring the girls to.

The plan is to do a few days diving here. Weather is not ideal for diving, rather stormy periods again today between the sunshine, but hopefully it will be good enough. Gy still has some ear pain and would like to dive but not sure yet when it will be possible.

Gy was kept awake last night by the people in the neighbouring room watching tv until late. Turned out to be Irish, fortunately leaving today so we don't have to complain :-) Also another Irish lady here originally from Sligo.

We are really chilled out now, just enjoying doing very little, hanging around the pool and beach, eating well (too much of course - smoothies especially are delicious here). Briana is swimming really well, Fiona still a little cautious but gaining confidence.

On the 9th, before we leave this island, there is a world-famous Full Moon Party - the beach at Haad Rin is taken over for the full night with trance, techno, etc djs. Probably we will go for the show (the music is fine for me, not sure for the others!).