Klong Khong Beach on Koh Lanta Island

Sunday morning we left Trang for Koh Lanta, 3 hours and 2 ferry crossings later we were on the island heading for our hotel room.  Driving through the countryside of southern Thailand, the rice fields change into miles and miles of date palms and rubber tree plantations.  We saw trucks loaded with clumps of dates and people up the trees cutting down the clumps and lowering them to the ground where men were loading the trucks.  I couldn't get the minibus driver to stop so we just had to see this quizzing by.  We also drove by Palm Oil crushing plants, seeing trucks loaded with the clumps turning into these places.  The trucks were mostly old tandems but also anything with a box, 4 tires and a motor worked also.  We found out what all those rows of trees with little cups hanging  on the trunk were, they are the rubber trees.  This is what Fred found out about them, they only collect the rubber in the rainy season when the tree is in full bloom.  All the liquid collected is exported as they don't manufacture here in Thailand.  It is hard to believe the diversity of the country.

We found a great place here on Klong Khong Beach so are planning to R & R in the sun , shade, or sea for a few days.  We promise to stay hydrated with a few cold ones as it is in the mid 30'a here with a nice breeze off the sea.  We will blog again when we do something exciting or move on so till then just know we are ENJOYING...