It was good to get up in the morning without having any commitments today except having a lazy day on the beach starting off with a great breakfast next to the pool.
On the way down, we passed through the gardens where one of the gardeners was tending to the luscious plants!
The gardener and his early morning duties
At breakfast we bumped into the Dutch couple whom we’ve been meeting since Kao Sok – they were actually leaving the Jasmine Resort today as it was officially their last day of their holiday but they extended their stay in Thailand and hence were moving to another hotel on the island. I learnt from them that nowadays the tourist visa is valid for 45 days instead 30 – we’ll even if we were tempted to extend our holiday, we had too many commitments when we got back to the Netherlands!
A fruity breakfast
There are a number of German guests staying in our hotel and most of them had already reserved sun beds on the beach strip in front of the hotel by laying their beach towels while having breakfast!! Ooh that made me so angry but anyway we enjoyed our breakfast and then went up to our room to collect our beach towels!
Luckily we found two unoccupied sun beds and settled ourselves on the beach. Actually I was still updating my blog for the previous 2 days and I thought I would be ready in an hour’s time – no such luck! WiFi was not too good on the beach and I just couldn’t upload any pictures – most frustrating so I decide to go for a walk on the beach.
We did some swimming together – it was quite a slope to get into the sea – but helping each other Gerry and I got into without a problem. Oh it was great to be swimming again however after a while we got out to relax on the sun beds – well for me it was working at updating my blog and getting frustrated that the WiFi was so slow!!!
By 4 pm we realised we had gone without lunch so we just settled for a denk at the outdoor bar – well Gerry had his usual and I just had water. ……… and finally managed to finish updating my blog and to publish it! Hip hip hurray!!!!
Back in our room, we decided to have an early dinner and I had looked up what seemed to be a good restaurant serving steaks ( for Gerry) – The Kichen – run by a Frenchman – and we had a superb meal! https://timesamui.com/place_the-kitchen-lamai-beach_1287
What a delicious dinner we both enjoyed!!
It was an early dinner as we wanted to go to bed early as our alarm was to be set for 6 a.m. This was because we were going on a whole day trip to the Angthong Islands Marine National Park the following morning and pick up was at 7.15 a.m.
However, we did go for a short walk before getting back to our resort and again I was astounded with all the lights, music and buzz of Lamai’s nightlife!
Nightlife on the streets of Lamai
Friday, 3rd February
The alarm went off at 6 a.m. I had a restless night waking up a few times thinking I missed the alarm! Any like a pair of zombies, we got ourselves ready to go down and wait for our pick up at 7.15
Apparently it had rained all night – the gardens and street were completely wet – but I never heard the rain pelting down, Gerry did! Anyway we picked up our takeaway breakfast box as we had ordered it because we were leaving earlier than the resort’s breakfast opening times! But even then, it was too early to eat anything!
Our driver was punctual and besides us, he had 3 more passengers to pick up from another resort and then still early, we made our way to Nathan Pier.
The interior of our pick up van was very luxurious!
We were the first ones to arrive and filled in the various forms ( for insurance purposes, we were told), paid our National Park entrance fee of 300 baht per person and once we got on board we were given life jackets – only to be used when being transferred in the long boats to the islands! This was a big slow boat to the archipel of 42 limestone islands where we would be visiting some to climb to view points and salt water lakes!
Quite a few slow boats moored and ready to take out guests for the day
Breakfast pack but first coffee on board!
In total we must have been some 30 passengers when we set sail. Most of us still somewhat sleepy, we enjoyed the calm sea as we left the pier and sailed towards the Angthong archipelago’s.
After sailing for a couple of hours we arrived at the first island where we would be climbing the 500 meters high cliff up to the view point. Luckily there were different view points at different heights – we only made it to the first 100 meter high view point!
Being transferred by longboat, we were packed like sardines – gave us a hint of how boat refugees feel when crossing over to a new life
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park https://www.thainationalparks.com/mu-ko-ang-thong-national-park is under the protection of the king who like his father supports projects to protect the Thai people from draughts, floods, famine and other natural catastrophes. This marine park is a perfect example of how nature is being protected in this country!
It was hot and humid hence we only got to the first view point, close moving many uneven steps – but the view was breathtaking just the same!
Back on the beach we lounged around till most of us were back from the 500 meter cliff climb. Not being sour grapes, but apparently the view was more or less the same as the first viewpoint- obviously the natural surroundings were different and finally right at the top there was no more green vegetation but just limestone rocks!
Once again we travelled per longboat to our slow boat where lunch was ready to be served! It seemed we all had worked up an appetite! It was an authentic Thai lunch with curried chicken, stir fried vegetables, boiled white rice, salad and fruit
Lunch on board our slow boat
Our next stop was to go kayaking and swimming on another island but there was so much to see when we were sailing! I took the video below standing on the top deck of our boat – we were surrounded by these small limestone islands!
By the time we stopped to drop off the first group of kayakers, the clouds started gathering and looked quite menacing – hopefully they would pass over!! But we weren’t really worried – we enjoyed the marvels of nature!
We continued sailing a little bit further where we dropped anchor and as we were in the second group we boarded the longboat to go ashore. Here we were going to climb up (again!) to the sea salt lagoon some 150 meters high – Ta Le Nai Lagoon
The lagoon was formed through fissures in the limestone rock whereby the sea rose and formed a salty lake
The view from the lagoon overlooking the islands and relaxing on the beach before the heavy rains came.
When the first group of kayakers arrived it had started pelting with rain – we all waited under the one shelter on the beach but the rain didn’t want to stop. It was over half an hour that the rain started easing so the second group could go kayaking – that was including Gerry and me but we opted out!!!
Just an observation from me – when we had gone to the National Park at Kao Sok, we bought a dry bag to put our stuff in it when kayaking – did we think we brought the dry bag with us today? No!! So most of our stuff in my ruck sack got soaking wet!!
Raining and swimming at the same time
It was good to get back on the boat where coffee and cake was awaiting us – we wrapped ourselves in our towels and started our way back to the harbour!
Everyone was quiet – we were all tired out from the fresh sea breeze and all the activities but it was great fun! The young staff on board were most friendly and helpful and I was most times aided by two young men getting in and out of the longboats!
Good to see Nathon Pier in sight – and the rains have stopped!
Our driver with his luxurious van was waiting for us so we got in and certainly our fellow passengers fell asleep straight away and had to wakened up when they arrived at their resort!
Gerry and I were happy just observing the Friday evening buzz and traffic jams – our driver got us back to our resort by following the back streets as the main road was stuck with traffic jam!
Happy to be back and able to shower – actually I treated myself to a relaxing warm bath!
Dinner was at the resort – we just couldn’t walk another step outside and actually my tiredness caught up with me – a restless night before and so much activities during the day, I was fast asleep by 9.30pm!
We had a simple meal – spaghetti marinara in white wine sauce for me and a basket of fish and chips for Gerry
Tomorrow will be a lazy day for us!
