The Rayners in Hong Kong: The Thai'm of our lives

On Saturday we packed our suitcase and headed to the airport for our first holiday since we arrived in Hong Kong. Having missed out on our Easter holidays we were both looking forward to getting away and relaxing for a bit. D had managed to find a great hotel for us in Phuket and booking the flights through Air Asia ensured that the cost wasn't too high. The airport train from HK was swift as usual and we soon arrived in on of the most impressive airport terminals/ shopping malls I have ever visited. Both terminals are full of yet more watch and jewellery shops, and even right at the departure gates there is a huge selection of shopping choices.

Unbelievably, even though the average height of most south-east Asian is about 4 inches shorter than Europeans, the seats on Air Asia still had more legroom than the likes of Whizz Air, Easyjet and Ryanair. We didn't arrive in Phuket until just before midnight so our journey to the hotel wasn't particularly thrilling, but it was when we woke up in our room on our first day that the true beauty and splendour of our resort became clear. After a hearty breakfast of a mixture of Asian, Continental, English and American breakfasts we headed down to the infinity pool for a spot of sunbathing and swimming. The pool lay right on the side of the Andaman Sea and we quickly found ourselves frying in the morning sun. (As we were to find out later on, frying a little bit too much).

Infinity Pool on Andaman Sea

Our room was a sea-view room which had wonderful views over the Andaman and when you looked out from the bed looked like the sort of view that you would find on the desktop of your computer. We made our way down to the restaurant to try out the hotel's Thai restaurant. The food throughout the week was brilliant and we made the most of breakfast each morning (especially me) in order to keep us going till dinner.

View from our room!!!!!

One of the best features of the hotel was its private island, Bon Island, which is situated a 15 minute boat ride away from the hotel's launch. We spent most of our time on the island and because we were there during the off-season, the beach was partially empty most of the day. The coral and fish were not as impressive as the Red Sea on our honeymoon, but the quiet, blue, tranquil waters were still a pleasure to swim in. There was also a bar and restaurant on the island so we were never to far away from a source of mojitos.

Bon Island

Bon Island again

Relaxing on Bon Island

During our week in Thailand we also booked ourselves onto a boat trip around Koh Phi Phi and some of the smaller islands. We boarded the boat in the Phuket Boat lagoon and we were soon bouncing across the waves of the Andaman at high speeds... well we were for about 15 minutes until one of the boats engines decided that it done enough work for the day. After a 10 minute wait on a small deserted island we were on our again and headed for 'Monkey Beach'. This was a small inlet on Phi Phi crammed with tourist boats, each queuing for their chance to feed the ravenous monkeys. I think its the monkeys who definitely have the upper hand in this battle of evolution. They just sit on the tree, waiting for the hoards of tourists to throw bananas at them, offering little in return. It is a very one sided relationship, but one we both enjoyed (just perhaps not as much as the monkeys).

Monkey from aforementioned beach

After a lunch break, at a busy, but pretty cove we headed for the headline attractions of our tour. Both film locations, for famous films, and both equally breathtaking. The first that we headed to was a lagoon on the coast of Phi Phi. The island and lagoon was used in the film Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World and is 10m and filled with the bluest water that I have ever seen. Unfortunately my photos don't really do it all justice. We were given the chance to swim in the lagoon, which was an experience we will never forget, to have such blue water in a lagoon so deep was both eerie and beautiful at the same time.

Jurassic Park 2: The Lost World Island

Nice location for a spot of lunch

Lagoon we swam in that was used in JP2

VERY VERY blue water from lagoon

After our swim we headed a bit further around the island to the beach used in the Leonardo Di Caprio film 'The Beach'. This again was full of tourists when we arrived, but having just finished reading Alex Garland's book on which the film is based I was really looking forward to exploring the beach and this side of the island. The bay and beach are both absolutely stunning and I am afraid again that my pictures really can't express what a truly beautiful place it really was. We were given the chance to have a wonder inland from the beach and they have even left some of the original set from the film just a bit back from the beach, where the film's protagonists camp was located. After an hour or so relaxing on the quietening beach, we headed back for the mainland on the boat and back to the peace of the hotel.

Approaching the beach from 'The Beach' in our boat

Camp left from the film set

Got to be one of the most beautiful places we had ever been

More of 'The Beach'

Relaxing on 'The Beach'

Below are a few pictures of in and around the hotel so you can see where we were staying, I hope they don't make you too jealous.... That is of course a lie, I hope that they make you very jealous.