13th Jan- sea kayaking with Gemma

The 11th was a rest day and I didn't feel well at all, luckily able to sleep it off. Bit better for flights on 12th to Bangkok then down to Krabi. Gemma had arrived from England, made an instant friend and had a nice day at Railay. We had a basic room for 450 baht a night with fan and bathroom and made an early night of it.
We had planned to climb originally but Gem had seen the crowds, was feeling the heat and wasn't really keen. After some debate and some breakfast we arranged to go sea-kayaking. 
First experience of a Songthaew now, a sort of jeep with 2 benches facing each other in back for seats with the sides and back open, a little precarious at high speeds!
Along the road to Ao Thalen and first glimpse of the incredible karsts- huge rocky outcrops rising out the sea and also out of the land- we have yet to find out what causes these to be formed. 
We were lucky enough to have a guide to ourselves and set out paddling into the mangrove swamps- quiet at high tide, it was cloudy with some warm rain. Between trees growing out of the sea and huge tree-covered cliffs it was an amazingly atmospheric place. We paddled out into the open across a stretch of sea onto a small, deserted white sandy beach which was stunning. 

Later on, achy from kayaking we decided to have back and shoulder massages and this may have been a mistake as it was incredibly painful! Gemma's masseuse declared that she had a back like stone which I would have found more funny if I hadn't been having my shoulder knots pummelled into oblivion. 2 days on and still a little tender- but less tense!