October 21-25, 2011

When I left Tonsai Beach on February 25, 2011 after a phenomenal two week trip, I wasn't sure that I'd ever make it back. This trip came together as a tag-along to a business trip in Hong Kong and Southern China and I'm incredibly glad we made it happen.

October in Thailand was a wildly different experience than February--there were puddles everywhere, Bangkok was partially submerged, temperatures were a little more comfortable at night, and clouds were present almost every day. We were worried coming into the trip that we would be skunked by the heavy rain battering Bangkok and our flight into Krabi suggested that we might be right. Storm clouds with lightning filled my window as we made a bumpy descent. From the airport, the bus ride down to Ao Nang was a bit moist.

But when we got to Ao Nang and met some other climbers trying to get an inexpensive long tail to Tonsai, things had cleared up a bit. It was pretty dark, but the ominous outlines of cliffs were visible as our boat skimmed its way to Tonsai.

A nicer bungalow at the same "resort" we stayed at last time cost about $13 a night for all three of us this time. Peak season was at least 3-5 times that cost. We immediately decided that we were going to treat ourselves right during our four days on the beach.

Every day was remarkably similar and also remarkably awesome. The daily schedule went something like this:

• Wake up and eat tasty breakfast alongside most of the other climbers in the alley near the beach
• Find some world-class limestone to crush for the morning, often laughing out loud at how ridiculous the holds are
• Hit a shady spot to eat delicious Thai food and drink coconut milkshakes
• Lounge
• Find more incredible routes and pump ourselves silly
• Drink beers at one of the platform bars on the beach and watch the sunset
• Clean ourselves up and then eat more phenomenal Thai food
• Get an hour-long massage for about $7
• Pass out face down

We had a few work-related fires to put out, but the trip was incredibly relaxing and fun regardless. Having been there twice now, I'm confident that I'll go back. It's one of my favorite places in the world.