Railay through the rear-view mirror

I came to Railay to climb.
Instead this trip largely turned out to be about meeting some great people.  

Had this been a trip for climbing then returning home I would have been disappointed. Notes for this as a climbing trip destination (for next time).  Be climb-fit before you get here.  Have a climbing budy or partners sorted out before you come.  If bringing a rope make sure it's a 60m (tick for that one). Do spend a day with a good local climbing guide to get the lay of the land.

I look on this first stop on this journey a bit philosophically.  I was unfit when I arrived.  The lead-up to my trip was made up of lists and working my ass off to get things done before 5 months away.  Sport was off the radar and other than a basic level of strength/fitness afforded by working around the farm I did very little to keep in shape. 

That said, this is my first set of climbs in 5 months worth of climbing. Hauling 7kg of climbing gear around Europe and Asia is a good incentive to actually use it!

As for Railay...it's great.
It is all here.  If you want the resort and tourist lifestyle, it is here (In Railay West). If you want to climb and live (very basically) there is Ton Sai.  If you want to climb, party and meet some real characters there is Railay East.  Fate pushed me into the third and I am happy for that.

I have kept my King Climbing guide book.  It's too heavy to cart around with me.  All proceeds from each book go to the new titanium bolting project on Railay so a good cause.  I intend to send the guide to Philippa (my main climbing partner in NZ) and get her to circulate it around.  I hope we get to use it jointly on a future climbing expedition here in the not-too-distant future.


There is an old Maori saying:
He aha te mea nui?
He tangata.
He tangata.
He tangata.
What is the most important thing?  It is people, it is people, it is people.

I wonder if the rest of my journey will unfold in a similar way?