Koh Samui and Krabi, Thailand

Koh Samui is the second largest island in Thailand with a mixture of rowdy backpackers, flashy holidaymakers and energetic locals; we were definitely taken aback after our relaxed retreat on the quieter islands. We stayed in a dreadful hostel run by miserable staff who literally dragged themselves out of bed (otherwise known as the sofas in reception) on a daily bar crawl which we can only assume was to send you to sleep. The best part about this place was a disabled puppy called Hope who taught us that even when the chips are down, you can always find something that makes you happy. 

With Hope's wagging tail in our mind, we endeavoured to fill our days with exploring the best parts of this bustling island. Our favourite attraction was the Secret Buddha Garden which is tucked away on one of the highest points in Samui. The sculptures are mystical, with many fascinating depictions of Buddha as well as animals, demons and a waterfall which was unfortunately spoilt by hoards of tourists arriving on 4x4 tours, sigh. Another highlight was the trio of temples at Wat Plai Laem which glistened by the water which we saw just before the intriguing mummified monk and the one you can't miss, the giant golden Buddha by the sea. 

There's a big attraction in Samui which we decided to avoid and that is the Na Muang Waterfall. The reason why? The cruel elephant riding being offered at the site. We spoke to a few people who had been to the waterfall and were sickened by what they saw; the elephants are kept in atrocious conditions to lure upset tourists into paying money for them to have food and water. We couldn't guarantee that our entrance ticket wasn't funding this atrocity so we decided to stay well clear, share the message and write as many scathing reviews as we could. Unlike northern Thailand, there is no end to the number of shackled, tortured elephants being ridden as well as other animals such as tigers, monkeys and crocodiles that are abused and forced to perform in shows. 

We didn't get off to the best start in Krabi after a four hour journey involving 5 vehicle changes, but it was nice to be back on the mainland again. The town itself is very quaint but there really isn't a lot to do unless you're heading over to Ao Nang or Railay beach for an adrenaline filled adventure. We stayed in Pak Up Hostel which was lovely; the bunk beds are huge and even have an under bed locker whilst the rest of the hostel is modern, clean and welcoming. This was a short stop before we headed over to Phi Phi so we only had a couple of days to soak up the rain, visit the amazingly weird vegan cafes and go to the glorious Tiger Temple.

We were warned before we visited the Tiger Temple that there were plenty of steps, 1,237 to be exact, but we weren't prepared for the mountain that we were met with. Our monkey guides only followed us up the first 100 steps so we were left to puff and sweat our way to the top as each step is equivalent to at least two ordinary ones, totalling around 100 floors. The view at the top was sensational and most definitely worth it, although you have to spend about five minutes getting back your breath. Apparently a tiger used to roam these mountains a long time ago, which is how the temple gets its name and led to the monks creating this beautiful shrine to a divine creature. This was a wonderful end to our time in Krabi and sent us smiling to our next stop, Koh Phi Phi.