Day 5: Getting to grips with Island life... Sigh

Not such a late start this morning... Must be getting acclimatised.

We put in some hard core pool time in the morning. The pool complex at the Hansar is stunning. There's a great big infinity pool which allows you too float up to the edge and look across to the beach and sea. Very relaxing indeed.

 This morning also heralded one of the trips major discoveries... The pool side restaurant does literally the best ham and cheese toasties in the world! Dave promised (and delivered) that he would try Thai food. In fact, he rather enjoyed it. But those toasties!

Once all that grub had gone down, we walked to the village (about 100m if anyone was thinking we might be getting adventurous or energetic) and hired a scooter... It was a pretty girly thing and we later noticed that Dave's crash hat had a big sticker proclaiming him a "pretty lady".. Nice.

We took a short ride to the Big Buddha temple for a look around and a rummage through the endless sea's of seemingly identical shops. Laura was still looking for a replacement elephant statue!

After a pretty relaxing day we got ourselves ready and headed out briefly into the walking market along fisherman's village before grabbing a taxi and heading to Chaweng for a bit of a lively night out.

The initial plan was to go watch an hour or so of the Thai boxing before heading off for a swanky meal before getting smashed in a neon bar somewhere.... The plan didn't really work out.

First thing we learned is that the boxing arena is not very close to anything else in Chaweng... or at least, not the way we were heading. The second thing we learning is that Davey is always hungry. So, we decided to eat before the boxing. After all, it's on 'til midnight? Right?

We strolled off into what we thought was town. It wasn't...

We walked for about 40 minutes, by which time Dave has got the right hump and declares that everything fun happens at the beach, we need to find the beach!

God Damn Mother Flipper.... the beach is quiet (apart from Dave's muffled complaining and rumbling stomach).... at least there's a breeze. So off we wander.

Another 15 minutes or so and we find a beach restaurant. I'd like to think it was called Oasis, but it probably wasn't. Either way, they had cold beer and food and a single Bob Marley album.

Whilst enjoying the above, we surveyed the situation and squinted optimistically at "some sort of flashing lights" at the other end of the beach... "Oh stuff it, lets go see what's going on and if its rubbish, we'll get a cab and go home".

We found the ARK bar. Fire dancers, house music, cheap beers and cocktails and MONKEYS!

Yes good people of the Interweb. Monkeys!

We were sat at our little table tucking into a bucket of Mai Tai (don't judge us, it's culture innit) and this man walks along and plops something on Laura's shoulder. Dave's protective instincts momentarily kick in until he realises its a flipping gibbon.... and with that, ARK bar became the best bar in the world. Ever.