One of the best things about our Krabi holiday was the ability to disconnect from technology and just enjoy the ‘here and now’. We were blessed with great sunny weather that was perfect for baking under the sun, despite what the weather forecast predicted prior to our departure.
I am grateful for M, my travel buddy and amazing boyfriend for putting up with my unpredictable languidness and peaks of excitements… with much compromise on his part. There were a couple of times when we were snappy with each other, or at least, I felt that it was me who caused the misunderstanding but the important lesson is still being humble enough to say sorry and make up for the dispute with a hug and a kiss.
Other stuff note worthy about our first holiday together (and many more to come!) was the lovely staff at Pranang Flora House, which essentially was a hotel at hostel price. You can’t blame me if I told you I almost refused to leave the place; with its spacious room, queen-sized bed, comfy pillows and fluffy sheets, hot shower and a safe deposit for a piece of mind. We also ate our weight of Thai food- Tom Yum soup, Tom Kha Ga, Phad Thai…
Truth be told, we kept returning to the same eatery because the food there was extremely delish without burning a hole in our pockets. While Ao Nag is a convenient base of operations for exploring nearby islands and beaches, it is also very touristy. We saw many more white tourists than locals and there is an array of souvenir shops, restaurants plus a wealth of dive shops. day-tripping and snorkelling possibilities.
And who could forget the S$8 per hour Thai massages where we were massaged into a blissful, oblivious piece of pulp? Well, that was how I felt after the massages, because for those who have put themselves through Thai massages before would know that it involves a lot of stretching and cracking of knuckles. I had to ‘tolerate’ the heavy pushes that the masseuse yielded into my body during the hour long sessions. Not that I am complaining because I would love to have unlimited Thai massages for the rest of my life at an affordable price!
Personally, I feel that the best holidays I have are always close to nature. There was Alishan mountain that made me fall in love with hiking when I was in Taiwan back in 2007. Then, there is the Niagara Falls in Canada, the amazing valleys and peaks at the Grand Canyon and the Appalachian mountains which I cycled through in 2010 while on exchange to the States. And just last year, I also cruised down the Mekong Delta from Ho Chih Min city in Vietnam and took a unforgettable bumpy jeepney ride and an arduous trek to the stunning rice terraces of Bataad in the Philippines. Not to mention, climbing Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines after a 45 minute ride on a four-wheel drive towards the once-explosive volcano.
Likewise, this holiday in Krabi was meant to be surrounded by nature, away from the crazy city life that has characterized Singapore. Sheer limestone crags spike every horizon and the translucent Andaman Sea laps the sandy beaches. Talk about an idyllic beach getaway with breathtaking panoramas.
What made this holiday such a special one was not only was it my first vacay with Mike but it was also my first time spending Christmas overseas. We spent Christmas evening under the night sky with the sea breeze gently caressing our faces, and a lovely voice from a nearby restaurant doing covers of evergreen classics like The Carpenters’ ‘Yesterday Once More’ and John Denver’s ‘Leaving On A Jet Plane’. M also went down on his knees to say some very sweet stuff which I will not disclose here… but it made me tear. No, he didn’t propose to me… not yet anyway. 
I can’t wait to plan another trip… I really do want to explore Europe. I haven’t been there before but hopefully that’s something I can strike off my bucket list really soon!
