Oh what it is to be poor!

Arrived in Ko Samui just fine. It was a bit cloudy actually, and the island was just not the same as dear old Ko Pha Ngan and the sweet sweet Sea Breeze Bungalows. But anyway, we cast our thoughts to a dear brother as the planes landed overhead and carried on to our abode.

After booking the tour to Ang Thong, we counted our cash. "Hmm, running low but there are plenty of cash machines. They seem to be working.... Hmm, this card doesn't work.. nope, not this one either... oh, not this one. Right, that's it, we're out of cards. Oh well, we have enough to get us to the mainland, maybe it's just a location problem.

After a brilliant tour of Ang Thong (AY, the kayaking was a dreamland!), a small yet developing cloud was appearing over our heads. We shared a curry so as not waste valuable cash! OK, so we might have done that anyway!!

Arrived in Krabi after 6.30am pick-up and 7 hours on ferry and coach. Why we had to rest for half an hour after coming off the ferry was beyond our intelligence to work out. Anyway, got a good deal on a room for 600 Bahts and proceeded into town to check out those lovely ATMs. The cloud turned into a cumulus, darkened and emptied itself on our heads. With a mere 3000 Baht left, all that was remaining was a desperate call to the bank. "Reverse charge" said the bank. Easier said than done in Thailand. We were sent further and further down the high street and back where we'd come. Nobody seemed to know the reverse code, or would let us do if they did.

Time to gamble away some of our remaining lifeline Bahts. Bought a phonecard. Miraculously, the dreaded "on-hold" did not materialise and we were served quickly. Clever these banks; they can sort your account in an instant, and they did. Why they blocked the credit card in the first place is really clever - apparently, we paid for a hotel in Salford! Ooh, suspicious, fraud. And here's a tip: if you ever go on holiday, don't just tell your bank that you are, tell them twice. Nope, that didn't work, so tell them three times and then if you use your debit card abroad, they won't think someone else nicked it, fled the country and tried to take out 60 pounds.

So, here ends probably the worst, yet most relieving day of our trip. Have yopu ever wondered what you'd do in a foreign country with no means to access any money? We have. It ain't nice!! But the feeling is nice now. "A problem is just a solution waiting to happen" as a certain History teacher always tells Phileas. The problem now is do we celebrate having cash by eating well, and upgrading accommodation? Or do we value it and aim to stay in the guesthouse we found with rooms and shared bathroom for 2 pounds a night?! We'll let you have your say!

A very tired, hungry yet exhiliarated Phileas.