a quiet little hippie climbing mecca in the south....please put your speedo and gucci glasses in the trash before entering

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After a two hour ferry ride, a 1 hour long boat ride, sweltering heat and what appeared to feel like an alien clawing its was through my abdomen.....I arrived in the Climbing mecca that is known as Ton Sai. commonly mistaken for Ton Sai beach on Ko Phi Phi, this world class rock climbing site is one of the few places in the south that hasn't been over run by resorts, high priced accommodations, and the speedo invasion. There aren't even any roads so there are no vehicles, pollution and noise.

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Daniel and Emily managed to find me a cheap place to stay, the Andaman Nature Resort, while I watched our bags and tried to contort my body in ways that would make the pain stop all the while getting eatin alive by huge mosquitoes. Needless to say, this wasn't how I wanted to spend my first days in stunning Ton Sai.

It was nice to get my hands dirty and cut up again...to feel the rock on your fingers

I spent then next 2 days slowly recovering in bed, taking short walks around the beach, and eating rice and water. It was nice to be away from the in your face Ko Phi Phi lifestyle, away from the bars and speedos, and into a quiet area where some of the worlds best rock climbers come to test their skill and might. Surrounded by limestone cliffs, the jungle and a beautiful beach...i can see how climbers come to Ton Sai for a week and stay for 4 months.

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Once I began to feel better I spent the rest of my time in Ton Sai either climbing or laying out on the beach. Me and Daniel parted ways as he had to go back to Sweden for work. I was sad to see him go, for its always nice to have someone similar to travel with, but I was also ready to be solo again.

While climbing I met some great people. Dan and liea from Germany: Josh from Oz: Al, Sophie and Jimmy from the states (who I ended up traveling with to the Thai Wedding I got hired to Photograph). Some of the routes where massive....30 to 40 meters high...on an average rating of 6.8+ or so. It was great to be climbing again even though I wish I brought my own gear....it was nice to get my hands dirty and cut up again...to feel the rock on your fingers...to climb what a normal person would think was impossible...what a feeling!!!

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Ton Sai is definitely one of those places that you have to come back to. May not be this trip...but I will be back.

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