From Railay to Phi Phi ~ Please tell me this was just a nightmare!

Recall our stress from the last post regarding water transportation?  If we were to rate that journey on the TSS (Tammy’s Stress Scale) from 1 to 10, 10 being most stressful, that situation would have probably been rated an 8, had I not had the experience you are about to read.  Now let us tell you about our “10.”

When we were leaving Railay Beach, David had arranged for a tractor device to take us out to the long tail boats, providing an easy transition into the boats.  We were able to board quite easily (a 1 on the TSS).  However, what we weren’t informed of is that this long tail boat took you out to sea and then you had to board a ferry there. We learned of this as all of the long tail boats leaving Railay were hovering out at sea.  Soon a small ferry arrived.  I could feel the anxiety swell within me.  Later, I would learn that David was anxious for me, as well, but would have never let me know.  As usual, I waited until after everyone else had disembarked the long tail.  David would also tell you that as he watched fit, young, athletic women with two good legs struggle to board the ferry, he could only think, “Is there a hoist onboard?”  Now imagine a small ferry filled with probably 100 backpackers all sitting along the outside edges of the boat, watching us board.  Between David and three Thai workers, they all tried to "help" me get my leg up on the edge of the long tail and then a big step up to the ferry.  Unfortunately, my leg doesn’t move that way.  No such luck.  As part of me left my body and observed from above, I watched myself do some version of the worm (think of the dance) on the deck of the ferry, with the Thai men pulling on my arms and David pushing on my back side until I finally got my entire body up on board.  I glanced up and saw too many sets of eyes on me.  The entire front of me was filthy from scraping along the deck.  I made a bee-line to the cabin so that I could settle in to cry.  I’d like to say that I didn’t develop a cold sore or popped blood vessel from the stress of the situation, but that would not be the truth.  Ninety minutes later we arrived at the Pier at Koh Phi Phi and my nightmares from less than two hours earlier were replaced with the beauty of an island paradise!