Railey Beach

After taking a long tail boat from AuNang to Railey beach, vacation finally started to settle in. The beach here is breathtaking, and the place I stayed for 2 days was luxuery compared to the bungalows (think hot water, minibar, pool). I settled into a lounge chair by the pool and ordered a Lychee shake and papaya salad. By the time that my food arrived, it started to rain. Not the typical Thailand rain, where is comes and goes in a flash, but a constant rain like the pacific northwest (though MUCH warmer). I relocated myself to a tablet to finish my meal before it started to drowned. Since the rain didn't want to let up, I chose to join it, in the ocean. Ah, I can't even desribe how wonderful it was. Walking on the fine white sand beach, an intense dark sky, a deserted beach, ominous rock formations, and the water... The water was shockingly warm. So as I tread the remarkably warm water I felt the cool rain pattering on my face, and watched it gently tapping the oceans surface. The view was amazing. I was boyant, in disbelief of the beauty around me. There were little european boys running around in speedo's, and very young children bathing butt naked. Little fiddler crabs hard at work, doing what ever it is that they do. It was so beautiful, that I couldn't help but giggle to myself, though maybe out loud.
I finally dried off, and went for a cup of iced tea and time with my book at a covered cafe. I met a girl from England, named Jo, and two Canadians (travelling alone) Michael and Dave. So that nite we sat and watched the sunset, drank stupidly expensive (yet good) wine, then went over to the sunrise side of the beach for some dancing. Ah, it was grand! We got to the Gecko bar, and everyone was just sitting around, despite the fact that the DJ was really putting out the music. So I grabbed Jo by the hand and drug her to the dance floor. No sooner had she turned around (she was not about to be the first one out there), did everyone else jump out on the floor. The bartenders were even out there with us! Good stuff.
The next few days the mornings were bright and beautiful but by lunch it was dark and rainy. Which was fine, it suited me anyway. I was starting to feel a bit home sick, and cold sick too. All that fun finally caught up with me. The day I checked out of the Sand Sea Resort, one of the bellmen didn't want me to go. He said, no, stay one more night. I explained that I couldn't afford it. He nodded in understanding, then suggested that I should stay in AuNang. I hung out for as much of the day as I could. I enjoyed the pool, and all of the tourist commotion. The bellman came up to me again, Tara, you can stay. You can stay right here at the pool! (How did he know my name?) I laughed, and thanked him, yet politely declined. I left late in the afternoon to AuNang. Found a clean place with a hot shower, for about 1/8 of the price I was paying in Railey beach. I need to keep reminding myself that I am on vacation, and it is almost over!