Thailand-Checked Out

KOH MUK, Thailand 07'21.5N 099'17.4

During our stay in Ao Nang we were visited by our friends Phil, Nuch and their kids Queen and Dear. We spent the day visiting some of the islands just offshore. The water was fairly clear and the kids and I enjoyed some snorkeling and then a long adventure in the dinghy partially circling the island. This gave us a good view of "chicken neck" a rock formation that dominates the end of the island and looks surprisingly like a chickens neck and head. Back in Ao Nang Kathy found some interesting shopping and we managed to get caught up a bit on the internet. There was also a trip to the local veggie market for a re-stocking of fresh things.

Next stop was only a mile away at Rai Lei. This beach area has numerous resorts but is cut off from road access by huge limestone cliffs. All who visit come by boat. In the last several years the cliffs have attracted a large following from rock climbers. Similar to Yosemite valley there are shops renting equipment and we were able to watch lots of activity on the over 400 known routes.

We had a nice trip back to Phi Phi island where we had previously stopped when first arriving in the area. This time we did go ashore where it is crowded with tourists who come mainly for the scuba diving and snorkeling trips that depart from there. Dive shops and tour operators dominate the streets. We walked through the small town and enjoyed a nice dinner at a small local restaurant.

After two weeks spent visiting the Phang Nga area we returned to Ao Chalong. This time we enjoyed an anchorage a few miles east of the main one where we had stayed before. There are two nice local restaurants ashore along with a hotel. One of the restaurants can supply you with water jugs, 20 litres for 20 Bhat or about $.66 U.S. It was nice to fill our tanks again.
Here in Ao Chalong our friends Phil and Nuch once again were so helpful in providing us with transportation to shopping along with Nuch cooking us another great Thai meal. One discovery here has been the expense of taxis. No meters are used and there are set prices but they are not cheap.

After ten weeks enjoying the sights, sounds and foods of this area of Thailand we have now checked out with the authorities and are heading south toward Langkawi Malaysia. We are making several stops along the way. This morning finds us at Koh Muk where later today we'll take the kayak to visit the "Emerald Cave". This is a 80 meter long tunnel through the limestone cliff leading to a mint-green sea lagoon.

It will be a couple of more days till our arrival in Langkawi where we will once again have internet on the boat and I will be able to post more photos.

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Thailand

AO NANG, Thailand 08'01.6N 098'48.9E

The last week has been spent cruising the many islands of Phang Nga bay. These islands rise dramatically straight up from the shallow waters of the bay. The islands vary in size from a rock blob to ones that are several miles long and wide. They are like so many haystacks in a freshly cut field. They are mainly composed of limestone and riddled with caves. Their interiors are dense jungle.

The whole of Pang Nga bay is full of tour boats anything from a thirty-five foot go fast type boat with four large outboard motors to converted Chinese junks or fishing boats to "longtails". They come to swim, sea kayak and visit what are called "Hongs". These are what we would think of as lagoons within the islands. Some can be accessed via the tour boats through fairly large channels, others via sea kayak or dinghy depending on the tide height. One we visited through a fifty yard long tunnel, thou at the end the tide was to high to actually exit into the "hong". One favorite stop is "James Bond" island made famous in Roger Moore's playing of 007 in "The Man with the Golden Gun".

Some of the islands have small resorts which are accessed via the ever present "longtail" boats. These are somewhat remote having only a few bungalow rooms and located on long deserted sandy beaches. We enjoyed stays at several different islands. One of the nice things of this island paradise is their proximity to one another. Our greatest distance from one anchorage to another was 14 miles and we made a stop to have a dinghy adventure and visit a "hong"in between.

We found the anchorages to be secure and uncrowded at least after 3 pm when the tour boats had left for the day. The next days frenzy would begin about 10 am. Most times we anchored in 20 to 25 feet with a mud bottom and very good holding. Though this is still the dry season we had squalls each day in the early evening with thunder, lightening, some rain and wind.

We are now anchored in Ao Nang bay off the town of the same name. Another tourist stop with a long sandy beach backed by the small town consisting of hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Off the bay are seen eight small islands which are just a short ride away. As we have now moved down from the head of the bay these island have clearer water for diving and snorkeling.

We plan to spend several more days in this area before making our way back to Phuket.

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Thailand

KO YAO YAI, Thailand 07'58.5N 098'34.0E

We have managed to escape the Royal Phuket Marina after a stay of only two nights and for the next couple of weeks we'll be cruising in the scenic Phang Nga Bay region of Thailand.

As you have read before we prefer to stay away from marina's but at times stops are necessary. At Royal Phuket our reason was to have some stainless steel work finished that was actually begun in Fiji. Here in Thailand we have been surprised at the overall cost of products for yachts, expensive, along with the labor charges that the ex-pat overseers charge. They seem to want as much for work as in the U.S. or Australia. We found a local, Wi Wat who has his own business and charges fair prices. We had a stainless security grate built in Fiji for one of our companion way hatches at a cost of about $300 US. Here we had one built for our other companion way, a stanchion straightened, and some welding done on another all for $125 US. He looked at the job on our first afternoon in the marina then returned the next afternoon with a crew of 3 to build the grate on site. He had done the stanchions at his shop.

The Marina was quite nice but lacking in having "do it yourself" laundry. We were also not allowed to hang laundry around the boat which is our norm. There was a small store, restaurants and wi-fi. All this for about $41 US/day plus tax and a fee for water and power. A little to much for us on a fixed income. The entrance channel was a zigzag through a mud flat area and we were instructed to arrive with the high tide. The marina actually provided a pilot aboard to steer. The channel was marked with pilings every 30 meters and you were to stay 10 to 15 meters off to one side.

After our short stay we were off with the tide on the 4th. We anchored at Ko Yao Yai for the night. As soon as the anchor was down we had local fishermen approach to sell us shrimp. We had some and declined. they wanted 500 baht/kilo, we had bought ours for 180 baht/kilo. This morning we visited the small resort ashore and then after lunch have gotten underway and are now anchored a Koh Phanak.

The islands here in Phang Nga Bay are of limestone and riddled with caves and lagoon areas that you can enter either via dinghy or kayak. Finally a good spot for Kathy's Hobie kayak.

As we're out of any wi-fi range it will be nothing but text for awhile. I'll try to catch up the photos later. So far the scenery is spectacular.

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Cooking Class

Thank's to our friend Nuch, Kathy received her own private Thai cooking class conducted at Phil and Nuch's house. Chef Nuch is a very good cook.

Ingrediants layed out in various bowls. The nights menu was Phad Thai shrimp, shrimp fried rice and Tom Yum, a spicy soup.

Lots of prep work!

I'm not sure that we have enough bowls aboard for all the ingrediants!

Shrimp, though not on the BBQ.

Noodles added.

The Phad Thai coming from the kitchen.

Sorry YOU missed this it was great!!

If you would like the recipe, send us a comment

A Days Adventure

ROYAL PHUKET MARINA 07'58 N 098' 24 E


Yes we have finally move out of Patong Bay. The accompaning photos show are last day in Patong as we went on a adventure day with our friends Phil and Nuch. We did a bit of sight seeing, shopping and of course the pause that refreashes.
The top piece of a temple located at the southern most point of Phuket Island

A view of the Nai Harn anchorage where we had earlier spent a couple of days.

Another Temple view.

Nuch, our friend and shopping guide. She had finally located shirts and shorts that were made large enough to fit yours truly.

If Kathy's mom and dad could only market avocados of this small size. Price $.50 US, but taste great.

Another pause to refresh. It was "Monday's", who works at the corner bar, 30th birthday

Ronald seems to be everywhere.

As I said we have now moved up to the Royal Phuket Marina and using the wi-fi for posting. Certainly easier then trying to do text via sailmail and photos seperately. We have had some work done here but will be under way with the tide in a couple of hours. I'll try to do some additional posts.