After a great meal last night we slept like the blessed in our glorious little tree house. Desperately quiet and very comfortable. There is no air con but there is a large fan directly over the bed and a mosquito net.
Today was kayak day. The lodgings provide a kayak for use by the guests so we decided to take to the high seas once more. Crispy is an expert kayaker and it's a great way to get to the more secluded beaches. After we had broken our fast we launched our little sit on into the surf. It was a little choppy once we broke the cover of the surf but nothing to write home about. We paddled up the coast to the north of the island and a beautiful sandy beach known locally as the secret beach. We put ashore for a swim and to get some water as it was very hot. The Beach bar here is rustic and has no electricity so we just purchased our water and had a swim. We decided that we would stop here for refreshments on the return voyage.
There was no one here other than the beach bar owner so it was all ours whilst we swam and relaxed in the shade. After resting we again put to sea and paddled a good way around the headland. Once we had broken the lee of the headland the sea became a little more choppy and it was hard work paddling against the waves. Not perturbed Crispy steeled herself to the challenge and powered us through the swell to the next beach. This was more busy as there were 4 people here. All staying in the little beach front chalets in the forest to the right of the beach. It's called coconut beach as the farmland behind is now a coconut plantation. Only small but very pretty. It reminded us of some beaches we visited in southern India. Again we beached our small craft and swam in the crystal waters. Crispy was on wildlife watch today and found a purple jellyfish whilst swimming. She scooped it out of the surf with her snorkel mask. These type of jellyfish are one of the most common here. Firm and transparent with a dark purple hue. A sting off on of these is akin to a nettle sting back home. Annoying but not dangerous. There are nasty ones here that can be fatal. The most common being the box jellyfish but they only tend to come inshore after a storm. We haven't seen any this time thankfully but it's wise to keep an eye out for them. She also found one of the incredible red starfish. When we were on the Malaysian island of Langkawi there is a particular beach, oddly enough called starfish beach, where it is difficult to walk into the sea due the the amount of these beautiful creatures. It's the first we have seen here in Thailand.
The only other creature of note was the bubble crab. Tiny crabs that burrow holes in the beach by removing sand and forming it into perfect small spheres before creating clever patterns with them around their little homes Only to have them washed away by the next tide.
After a good few hours swimming and bailing out our kayak, unbeknown to us it had been taking on a lot of water, we cast off and made our way back to the little beach bar on the first beach we stopped at. We had a couple of drinks before once more heading back to our lodgings.
By the time we got back we had been at sea for over 5 hours and the tide had gone out considerably. It was a real effort coaxing our now sinking kayak back through the rocks to the beach but we managed it eventually. After showering and a little rest we went back down to the beach and the "resort" beach bar for pre dinner drinks and cocktails. They have a happy hour everyday between 5 and 7 so we tried a couple of the MaiThai. It seemed rude not too. The chairs are three legged affairs and with chatting to another couple I got giddy, turned around and the chair went over with me in it. I hadn't even had one drink by this point but the few other people in the bar gave me that look that I know means " bloody lush, English abroad, shouldn't be allowed". Crispy just gave me "the look".
I have been told to add that Crispy is winning at cards. We're playing for Baht and currently she is winning four games to one. She's a demon at 7 card brag so unless I start winning some money back I'll never hear the end of it.
We are not sure what tomorrow will bring. The other couple mentioned a jungle hike near our lodgings. I'll Google it and see what it's about. Crispy loves trekking through jungle covered hills and I'm sure she'd be chuffed to give it a go. I have arranged a boat to take us even further south in 2 days time so tomorrow is our last day on this gorgeous little island.
Bare and Crispy signing off. Still in the back of beyond, kho Jum, Thailand
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