Look at all the fish

 I've been trying to get Dear Old Crispy snorkelling for years. I have spent many happy hours face down in the sea marvelling at the world below the waves whilst Crispy swam above.  I have always wished she could see what I could see under the water. Missing out on the sharks in Phi Phi must have struck a chord in Crispy and she agreed to learn snorkelling. She is a very strong swimmer and loves the sea so it was only a skip and a jump to build her confidence to snorkel. It only took half an hour before she grasped it and now there is no stopping her.

  At the far south of the beach here is a rocky outcrop and outlying coral reef. It was there that we headed, donned our gear and swam out. Crispy was ecstatic at what she saw. Fish of all different sizes and a rainbow of colours. No sharks as yet but there is still time. She swam against the tide and did a fantastic job. She is sold hook line and sinker on the underwater world.  I am so pleased that she saw what it was like. 

I was a little nervous about leaving our stuff "unprotected" on the beach. Not because someone could take it, the island is empty, but because a monkey could have it away into the jungle and you would never get it back. We have no monkey dogs here to look out for us so I asked a local guy about the monkey situation and he assured us that there are non on the island. It is a huge relief and makes life so much easier.

We spent the remainder of the day swimming snorkelling and resting on a little beach we found. There was no one else there so I sat and played my beautiful new uke and Crispy chilled. Really life does not get better....we are so very lucky.

Tomorrow we are going to take the jungle trek to the other main beach. It's supposed to be even quieter so again we will take the snorkels and uke. We might even get our chance at skinny dipping again. We did on Kho Jum. I have never really grasped the nudist thing and never fancied getting my mediocre tackle out for the world to see but until you have tried nude swimming on a secluded beach don't knock it till you have tried it. It is liberating.

Nothing more to report other than it's freezing and snowing at Crispy central. I am so glad we are here and not there. Bless em and thanks for keeping the home fires burning.

Bare And Crispy signing off, Paradise, Kho Ngai, Thailand

(Well done Crispy)

(The local travel agency. Onward transport sorted)

(Crispy with her first retrieve. A swimmer crab)