Paradise found!

 Kho Ngai

Today is the day we move onto the first of the Trang Islands. Kho Ngai (pronounced KO nn-yan-aye-ii) A tiny island 4km long by 2 km wide with very little other than beaches.

The long boat skipper picked us up at 08:10 as arranged along with another couple from our lodgings. A short drive to the south of the island took us the the pier head near Old Lanta town. It looked a little like Southport seafront without the old people and mobility scooters. Crispy thought her luck was in and wandered off to find a penny arcade and some candyfloss but soon returned sorely disappointed.  I wasn't aware till this point that our transport to the island was actually a day tour around a few of the small island but the skipper was going to  drop us off as it passed by Ngai. 

It was very busy with longboats taking tourists to all the different places of interest.

Our little boat was full but it was only an hours crossing to our destination so it didn't matter. when travelling you meet some interesting people. Your paths only cross for an hour or so but it's great to chat and compare experiences with people who have the same passion as us. Like the couple from Sarawak. Borneo and Sarawak have always been on the radar but has of yet not happened. This chance meeting  has really spurred us to go there. Maybe next winter as it's only a skip and a jump from Kuala Lumpa.

The crossing was a little choppy but experience has taught us to sit in the prow so we avoided getting soaked from the spray that splashed over the sides. We don't mind getting wet but didn't want our packs soaking if it could be avoided. 

Before long we saw our destination draw closer. Jungle clad and glistening white sand in a turquoise sea. The skipper beached the longtail on the beach directly in front of our new home.  There are no roads on the island and all of the hotels stretch along a 2km beach that runs along it's eastern shore. I say hotels but they are a collection of beach huts and chalets. From the sea it's hard to see any of them and the island looks perfect. It is stunningly beautiful. I'll let the pictures paint the picture.

Crispy loves it. I just need to arrange our onward travel to Kho Muk in a couple of days. You can see Kho Muk from the beach. It's mountains a blue haze on the distant horizon. I've seen a little hand painted sign saying boat tickets nailed to a tree. I'll try there at some point today.

There's nothing to do here apart from swim, snorkel, admire the views, take dinner on the beach, partake of a few cheeky drinks and sleep. 

There is a jungle path across the island to an even more secluded beach so if Crispy gets bored or fractious I'll take her there for some skinny dipping. She loves that. Otherwise it's cards and Yahtzee ( she's still winning at both which is a good job as she is a very, very poor loser).

Bare and Crispy signing off, somewhere in paradise, Kho Ngai, Thailand