East of Suez, 2025 – The Big Seven O!!!

17th January to 23rd January, 2025

OK, here we are again and apologies for the delay, but we have actually been busy for a change, at least relative to the rather relaxed life we are otherwise living.

Friday, 17/1 was pretty straightforward with our usual trip to the gym and a massage and supper in the evening, where Val tried to capture my pre-haircut likeness…

Anyway, that at least proves I am on this holiday.

Saturday saw us off for our haircuts with a lovely husband and wife couple. I did wonder how it would take an hour to cut my hair, but he did somehow manage it, largely by treating it like a work of art. I think he did a pretty good job….

And then we come to the big day – my 70th birthday (and that of Sir Simon Rattle!). A quick nod also to my dear brother, James, who, as ever, also celebrated his birthday.

The day started with birthday cake at breakfast and a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ from the staff.

We had decided to have a treat of a rather more up-market spa day, so we headed off quite early for Ao Nang. We were then treated to various treatments, slightly varied as Val could not do all of them. So I headed for the steam room for 30 minutes, followed by a body scrub, oil massage, head massage and a collagen facial!! We even had a manicure and pedicure, which in my case were something of a labour and I have vowed to try and keep my feet in better shape in future..

The spa was all excellent and we emerged after several hours feeling very relaxed, scrubbed and polished and, we hope, looking years younger!! And were then presented with ANOTHER cake by the staff at the spa….

The fun and games did not stop there as we got back to our room, I had another surprise….

We then went out for a nice meal in the evening and so to bed, very happy and another day older!

Now, as mentioned in the post before this one, we had another treat in store as our very great friends, Ad and Babes, flew up from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi on Monday, 20th to spend a few days with us. It was so lovely of them and, as ever, great fun, including some fizz after a swim to celebrate my three score and ten..

We went with Ad and Babes to the Ao Nang Night Market and feasted on a variety of street food. As ever, there were lots of wonderful sights to see…

That was Tuesday and on Wednesday we went for a massage (yes, another one), but I managed to snap a few nice photos of Val….

This is the beach near the hotel, which I managed to capture…

We had a marvellous dinner last night (Wednesday) at a beach restaurant where you will be delighted to know there was …….. a SUNSET!!

OK, I think that will do. You can have too much of a good thing, after all.

We dropped Ad and Babes off at the airport today and have been resting (and doing this blog, of course). Back to the exercise and more restfulness tomorrow!!

All the very best…