Beaches and beers

Koh Tao is the bees knees. Perfect sandy beaches, appropriately placed palm trees, huts lining the seashore selling mango smoothies, pad thai and banana pancakes. 

Good old Tom (ex housemate) met me after the sick boat ride. Swede Linus and I wobbled our way up the hill as Tom led us in search of some breakfast to settle our stomachs. He kindly put up with my lack of sleep and pale face and so after checking me into the 20 bed dorm where he and his two other travel companions (step-brother Sam and friend Brad) were staying we decided a day on the beach in the sun was in order. 

As I mentioned before, the most incredible banana pancake (+ nutella) and mango smoothie were consumed. 

Food on Koh Tao ranged from burgers (mostly avoided on my behalf - much too British - in fact managed to avoid most of the British on the island where possible too...) to fresh fish - my preference. Oh and what fresh fish it was. On my final night persuaded the boys to take me to one of the places where you could point at a fish and they'd cook it there in front of you and toss it on a plate with a mound of rice. It was lush. No more needs to be said. 

In between the sunbathing, swimming, beer quaffing and fish fondling I did frequent one of those flame throwing beach parties you hear about. The Thai's practising said flame throwing were nuts - both in that they were incredible, and actually nuts. One in particular was poy-tastic. The flaming limbo was a laugh, although we didn't have a go (much too sensible obviously, what was coming over me?!). Again unbelievably, two Thai guys limbo-ed under about 2 foot of space, one holding the other off the floor, and then another of the Thai men on the beach picked up an unsuspecting girl from the crowd and sidled his way under the spitting rope holding her too.