We got back in Bangkok at 6.30pm but this was too late to get the overnight train to the south. We therefore spent another night in Bangkok and this time saw the darker side of the city. When we tried to continue drinking after 3am we found streets lined we prostitutes and late night taxi drivers trying to rip us off. The next day a tour company also tired to charge us double for accommodation and train, instead we booked direct at the station and online for hotel.

The following evening we left Hua Lamphong station at 7.30pm on the overnight train to Surat Thani. The overnight rain was great in 1^st class. We had 2 private couchettes that opened up into one large area. We drank beers then slept through to 7am. At the end of our carriage was a very unappealing asian squat toilet, but luckily the next carriage had a western toilet. The western toilet did however have a direct drop onto the tracks! At 7am we woke with breakfast delivered to our door, with 2 eggs next to 2 slices of pinapple.After the 13hour train journey we boarded a coach. We thought this coach would take us directly to Krabi, instead it went to a out of town depo. From here we waited 30minutes then raced on a tuk-tuk to catch up with a coach on the way to Krabi. When we got on the coach we realised there was no seats and we had to stand in the isle with 15 other people for 1hr 30minutes in a warm coach. Luckily some Thai people got off at a small town and we got a seat for the remainder of the 1hr 30minute journey.

We stayed in Krabi town for 24hours. The town had a lovely night market where we sampled some of the street food. I tired fried Quails eggs, Marcus tried spicy meet balls and Jo tried friend chicken on stick. After had a fantastic Thai meal (chicken, ginger, lemon green, spring onions and rice) and booked our accommodation for Rai Leh at the restaurant tour desk. After dinner we went for drinks with a nice couple who had just finished teaching English for 2 years in South Korea. Krabi town was really nice for a day but the beach was too far away (17km).

The next morning we went to Krabi pier and got a Thai long boat to Rai Leh for £4, a 45minute journey with 8 of us on board a small woodern boat. It was by far the the most informal boat journey I've got during my travels. After we paid for the journey we got offered other substances by the ticket seller, which we quickly declined.Once the long boat left Krabi town, Thai Islands and amazing limestone cliffs became visible. At last the Thailand I'd been dreaming off.