Lanta to Lanka...

A longer and more interesting journey than I imagined. Left Lanta Pearl in a private car (at a cost!) driven by A’s brother Lim – everyone’s name in Thailand is one syllable, in fact I am starting to think that every word is one syllable just connected together. They cannot pronounce my name – I tell them “like Marilyn Monroe” and Boom’s assistant says, “Oh “Mellillyn Monlow” and lifts the hem of shirt up in perfect imitation of the skirt blowing scene in “The Seven Year Itch.”

Anyway it was not just a drive to the airport – we had to take a car ferry from Lanta Yai to Lanta Noi and then drive across Lanta Noi to another car ferry to the mainland. The rest of the way to Krabi was very green and pretty scenic – even saw an elephant hanging out in the  shade of a coconut grove.

Flew from the small Krabi airport to Bangkok – one of the biggest and busiest airports in the world, I think. Maybe because I had to pick up my luggage from Thai Airlines and go back up to the ticket counter and re-check-in for Sri Lankan. There rows of ticket counters with every letter from A to U, all in one giant room. Despite the cacophony and thronging masses of humanity, it was mai ni pen ha – no problem – the Sri Lankan Airline people were very accommodating and after walking another few miles through immigration and security checks (so glad I keep hauling my collapsible rolling luggage carrier with me, it so eases the airport hikes!) I finally got to my destination gate where 30 Buddhist monks were among the eclectic group of passengers waiting to board.

Monks watching TV at the airport!

Sat next to a British woman from Brussels who had been living in Beijing, also going to travel through Sri Lanka – who also had been on the Intrepid tour to Lombok. Intrepid is incredibly well known and respected in this part of the world. We had a good conversation – it was nice after days of not really talking at length with anyone.

At the airport
Duty free washing machines!

Duty free refrigerator - put one in you checked luggage!

Sri Lanka airport was incredibly efficient and smooth for a third world airport – the most amazing part of it being the duty free area as you came in – there was store after store of just appliances – washing machines, irons, blenders even refrigerators! What did they think – that you would put them in your checked luggage and take them home with you?!