Christmas with the bood

Welcomed my sister Megan into my travels for the holiday season, which is said to be a heart-wrenching time for travellers. It was a surreal Christmas, complete with a thai massage, a mai tai, and a short, exceedingly thin thai santa. Railay beach, per recommendation by some friends I've met along the way, is a rock climbers heaven. While our long boat is still quite a ways from shore, you can see the limestone face peppered with climbers. When you're climbing, you're face is practically buried in the side of the cliff, but when you reach the top ring and turn to face your accomplishments, you understand why Railay beach rates among the best rock climbing location in the world. I am far from the first to climb this rock. There is practically a line forming below each climb, and every good foothold and grasping hold is caked with the white powder which keeps ones hands dry in the humid climate. Placing legs impossible distances apart, I twister my way up and bang, I'm in love with rock climbing.