Thong Sala

Cloudy morning and Michele has a cold, so Kerry and I decide to have a day in the main town, Thong Sala. Ram drives us across the island and leaves us at the fruit and vegetable market. It's wonderful walking down the street surrounded by so much fresh produce. I get myself some sprigs of Thai green peppercorns to take home - I hope they survive the journey.

We spend the rest of the day wandering around, getting lost, and finding ourselves again. The town is awash with full-moon partygoers.

Brunch is at Bubbas. I have shakshuka (the best yet) and Kerry has food envy. Then it's shopping time. Kerry gets knock off Gucci T-shirts for her boys. We buy wine for the evening. I shop for cookies. A couple of Leo beers are had at Beck's bar, while we check things on their WiFi.

Early afternoon we head to the local temple (extras) where there's some sort of week of festivities. It looks like there will be an excellent market tonight, but for now things are just being set up.

Ram is too busy to come and pick us up, so we look for a shared taxi home. It doesn't take long. Three Germans get off at Secret Mountain and a couple of Australians are deposited at Wanderlust. The it's just us plodding up and over the hill.

For dinner we go to Som's for fish. Kerry goes for tuna, while I choose snapper (extras). The place is dead (everyone is off to the party), but they seem happy enough to get the BBQ going just for us. A really, really excellent meal - and frighteningly good value, because it's "off the beach"!