We had such a brilliant day today and saw so many breathtaking sights! We started off the day a little stressed out as our pick up didn't arrive on time and we thought they weren't going to come!
When we got to the pier at Baan Tai they rammed as many people as possible on to the wooden rickety looking boat! It was quite large and had two decks, with a slide and diving board off the top of the boat.
When we got on the boat there was some pineapple, watermelon and short bread biscuits as a breakfast snack.
The boat ride was very bumpy and it wasn't long before Nath was feeling unwell and ended up downstairs with his head near the window- but luckily wasn't sick- although other people on the boat were though!
The first stop was Koh Wao, a rocky island with a little cave entrance. We did some swimming and snorkelling and saw some lovely coloured fish! The water was so clear. We also both did the big slide off the top of the boat (which I thought was scary, ha!)
Lunch was then served when we got back on the boat and we had rice, sweet and sour curry, spicy vegetable curry and breaded chicken pieces. With fruit for afterwards- yum!
Next we stopped in the waters of Talay Nai and had to get smaller boats to the beach to get in our kayaks. We kayaked to Koh Mae Koh across the sea, which was very bizarre and unreal- but was fab!! Me and Nath obviously bickered about the time keeping of the paddles and the steering of the kayak- as usual!! After kayaking across the open sea we got off our kayaks on Koh Mae Koh and were given free time to go and see the viewpoints on the island. We had to climb up some ridiculously steep stairs to get there, which was awful and I had a bit of a freak out (and cried). The view was worth it though- after climbing one set of steps, you could see over the National Marine Park to many of the other islands. At the next viewpoint we looked over the emerald lagoon Talay Nai, which was so stunning and emerald (the name gives it away!)
The next island we stopped at was Koh Wua Talap Island. Here we decided to hike up the path in the rocks to a viewpoint. We went up 350m and weren't allowed to go up the full 500m to the top because the path was so bad because of the weather. It was shut the day before so it was lucky we could go up but it was pretty bad. My boots were no good even though they are suppose to be walking boots! The path was muddy, very very steep and was made of huge limestone rocks and had tree roots through it. The rocks were so slippy, I ended up covered in mud (and seemed to be the only one that did!!) but the view was the best we had seen. It is suppose to be the best view and hike in the gulf of Thailand! We could see around half, if not more of the islands that make up Ang Tong National Marine Park. The water looked so clear and a blue/green colour- it literally looked like paradise!! The photos do not do it justice at all!!
After the hike back down to the beach we had around 10 minutes before heading back to the boat. And luckily in this time we managed to see the monkeys in the trees!! They were so cute and had fluffy looking faces!
The wooden boat that we had to get back to our boat was an experience. We had to get this to and from the shores of the island so our boat could anchor in deeper waters. It was a large wooden hand held motor boat! They fit about 20 people rammed in the boat! We had to get in the sea to get to the boat and the waves were so fierce! We had the camera with us and Nath had to hold it over his head to stop it getting wet whilst trying not be knocked over by the waves!
Back on the boat there were chicken sandwiches waiting, which we weren't expecting but were glad about as we were starving!!
This was the end of the trip and the boat headed back to Koh Pha Ngan. It took no prisoners on the way back and didn't care about the huge waves that were crashing into the boat and knocking us from side to side and into the air. The boat just went as fast as it could. I was pretty scared and kept grabbing Nath's arm. It felt like a really bad pirate ship ride! Nath tried to get some sleep, along with most over people, but I kept jumping from the crashing of the boat. Once Koh Pha Ngan was in sight Nath woke up and then I couldn't keep my eyes open! My head kept falling off my neck I was that tired!! It was such a long tiring day! We left at 9am and returned about 7pm.
We saw so many beautiful sights and viewpoints that I can't even describe-other than paradise. The National Park was beautiful! We had so much fun kayaking across the sea to other islands, snorkelling and seeing tropical fish, and hiking on stupidly slippery paths! It felt like we had done everything in one day- and all for £40 each! Unbelievable!
We were so tired after the trip that we didn't even bother with dinner! We walked to the shop, picked up some nibbles and water for the next day, came back and showered and got into bed!
We both woke during the night because we had been bit all over our legs and arms over the last couple of days and it is so damn itchy and uncomfortable!! I seem to keep waking at the crack of dawn which isn't like me and woke up at about 6.30am, as well as waking through the night! Nath got his beauty sleep until 7.30am and then the next day began! Can't believe it's New Years Eve already!!