Day 05: Similan - Khao Lak

It was our last day at Similian Islands. The sea condition was not the best for snorkeling, but our guide changed the itinerary to the places with better visibility and we managed to enjoy ourselves. Today, we had spaghetti for lunch. American boy was so happy about it. I guess chef saw many foreigners on 3-day trip, and she thought it's about time they (we) miss non-Thai food. In the afternoon, Daniel spotted a meter long fish with white spots (we want to know its name!) and an octopus himself. It was so big that we can probably make takoyaki for 50 people. Ayumi was not so good in spotting wildlife in the ocean or on land. Probably her eyes are not made that way, born and grew up in a city. We liked this trip so much and were so sad to leave the islands. On the way back to the land, Ayumi met a Thai guy who was working on a boat and who joined a Ship for South East Asian Youth organized by the Japanese government in the same year she joined Youth Exchange Program to Tunisia. We haven't found out yet, but we definitely have friends in common. Cool! We booked our trip to Surin Island as soon as we landed, and he might be able to work for the trip tomorrow. It'll be nice if he comes with us. We'll be offline for 3 days again. After we come back , we stay for one night at Phuket town and head for Ko Phi Phi to meet Paige (Ayumi's friend from Peace Boat)!

Checking out a big tent we stayed for 2 nights - too early in the morning for him

Our favorite breakfast onboard: omlet on toast w/chili sauce!

You actually don't have to snorkel to see fish

Spaghetti lunch!

It's hard to leave the paradise

Sandal dryer
We followed this rule

Bye Simlan Islands!

Back to the hotel

"Please come visit me again" in front of Medsye office

Day 04: Similan Islands

Good experience of the day 03 completely changed Daniel's attitude towards snorkeling trips (Oh yeah, he wanted to skip afternoon trips and stay on the island on day 03). He became the one who jumps into the water first, and who is able to spot sea lives. In the morning, we snorkeled on Island No.9 where we had sudden rise in the sea level. We thought it could have been small-scale tsunami, but we are not sure as we had no access to internet, TV etc, even no electricity for private use. After that we went to three more islands. where we snorkeled 45 minutes on each spots, and all without any fins on our foots (for protecting corals, our travel agent had forbidden usage of fins on their tours). We managed to follow our snorkel guide Ya who was so good in spotting turtles, trumpet fish, octopuses. Our favorite was octopuses. It was so cool to watch them chasing each other and changing colors. It's amazing. They can change the color of their body entirely or even partially in a second. Food on board was also great. Ayumi was so happy to have rice, vegetables and seafood on every meal.

It was supposed to be a short hike before breakfast

Honeymoon Bay on Island No. 4 from View Point

Daily load of drinking water from mainland

Remember this view from Long Beach where we stayed.
Same spot comes back later. This is a morning shot.

No barge needed

Sunset dinner off Island No. 5

Evening shot

Day 03: Khao Lak - Similan Islands

Before we went on this trip, we decided that we wanted to go to a really isolated island, so we booked two tickets to the Similian Islands following the recommendation by Karin. At first, Daniel was negative about so many noisy people, and he thought it's not very much like a paradise. But because we had chosen a three day / two night trip, there was plenty of time to change Daniel's mind. When all noisy one day trippers left the island there were almost only people like us who loves quietness left. Private hike up the trail (yeah, they say so but it's really rocky and not recommended for our parents), encounter with local crabs which cry like chickens, enjoying Thai beers and rum. Yes, they do produce rum somewhere in this country. Of course, our original purpose (at least Ayumi's) of snorkeling was great here. Daniel didn't even know that we were on snorkeling tour. Ayumi is 120% sure she told him many times and we agreed. We saw a sea turtle on Island No.8 while having dinner on board. After a couple of beers on the beach without any disturbance, we slept comfortably on our spacious tent. One finding of the day: mosquitos like Daniel's blood better than Ayumi's. Oishii!

Check-in for Similan Islands Tour
Landing on Similan Island No.4 where we stayed for 2 nights in a tent
Huge bats hanging from a tree
White sand, so soft
First injury from rock climbing

No shoes allowed
Our spot on snorkeling boat
Exploring Island No. 8
I made it!
Yo!
Cock a doodle doo! No, it's more like chick chick chick chick

Kaizoku Day 02: James Bond Island - Khao Lak

Before reading this blog it can be good to know that Daniel is drinking guinness (Not really a thai beer but it tastes good), and Ayumi is drinking local Chang beer at the time we are writing this. There is somethings that you just have to do when visiting thailand. First watch the james bond movie "A Man with a Golden Gun" (This one you can actually do when you are still at home in your comfy sofa). Second you need to see a monkey, third ride a long tail boat (which is a long boat with a long tail basically, or that's what our guide T told us...) and last (For this time) go and see a big stone
standing in the sea, Yes the same stone that you can see in the movie.
Lucky us, they can offer a guided tour which shows you just that and a couple of other things like traffic accidents on the way, monkeys at a buddhist temple and a floating muslim city. After the tour to James Bond Island etc., we took a private cab we pre-booked (1200 Bahts = 3500 yen = 250 SEK = 25 EUR?) to Khao Lak to leave for Similan Island trip on the next day. Ayumi was sleeping during the 1.5-hour ride with a private guide (why do we need a guide in a cab?), but Daniel was in charge of protecting her from invisible evils.

Buddist Temple in a cave

Ayumi's future husband

Sea canoe

James Bond Island

Is it ok to eat in an outdoor restaurant?

Kitchen of the place we ate. Dinner for two - 60 Bahts

Kaizouko Day 01: Kata Beach, Phuket

Hi all.
We have finally arrived in Thailand, They have all kinds of things here airplanes, Fish made out of money, black bearded men and a bird in a cage.


All kinds of good grettings to you all.
time to go to James Bond Island.
/D

Our airplane

Arowana (is this how you spell this expensive fish?) at seafood restaurant
Of course, they don't cook this one

Thai people like to have birds

and Money!