Hi everyone,

Well - went from the hotel on a full day baot trip today. It was fantastic. Picked up from the hotel in the old datsun bench bus fora 20 min ride down to the river, and then as there were 12 of us into 2 longtail boats for the trip.

The sun was really beating down but there was also a slight breeze which meant a swell on the sea and so sitting in the front me and a German guy got totally soaked between the islands when we had to go out into open water. It was great for cooling off, but at end of the day I was totally salted up.

We visited about 8 different islands, got off at a few, into limestone caves, lagoons. The scenery was stunning and I took some good photos I think which I have put a few on the site. Check them out. Lunchtime we stopped on a deerted beach and the boatmen cooked up our lunch of chicken and prawns with rice. An hour free time, so into the sea for some swimming hoping the salt water would help my cuts finally clear up and also a good gentle workout for my arms.

Later in the afternoon we visited the James Bond island, and whilst very beautiful with its limestone pinnale mini island, it was totally over run by tourists. Loads of trippers around the ilands, but during the day you didnt see to many other boats, but hey they all seemed to go to James Bond in the afternoon.

Getting in and out of the longtail boat wasnt easy for me as you have to sort of just scramble in and out....ok nomally, but as I cant really put any weight or pressure on my wrists yes, I had to just do the best I could with my legs....I looked a right pratt compared to everyone else! At the James Bond island on leaving I almost fell from the pier into the water with my stupid approach to the boat. I didnt thankfully. I was a little shaken...not stirred.....ha ha ha....

We also went to an island, Pan Yee, which has a small muslim village on the side of it all on stilts.....and a huge mosque built on stilts too...really strange.

Finally got back around 5pm and what with the water,sun and getting in and out of boat I was thouroghly knackered! Just spent the rest of the evening resting with a good book and aate out again on the street.

Tommorrow I need to get closer to the airport.

Steve