Cruising The Karsts, 2

Our voyage to the islands off Ao Nang continues...

Heading back from Chicken Island

Good view of a long-tail boat; Thai specialty, but seen throughout southeast Asia

Low tide sand bar

Caves at another island

More distant islands

Looking back to the mainland

Puda, again (I think)

Falling arch

Tower

No room at this inn

Note overhang on left

Under it and its stalactites

Another island, another overhang

Thus

Now headed back in toward Railay beaches

Swinging around for Ao Nang

We are wading ashore as our boat heads back to Railay; another good trip

Cruising The Karsts, 1

So we set forth in our own hired long-tail boat for the circumnavigation and closer look at some of the islands off of Ao Nang and Railay beaches, principally Puda, Tup, and Chicken Islands. Our pilot, Fred, got us there quickly, a rougher ride than previously, owing presumably to a light boat and a slightly choppier sea. Perhaps he was hoping to make us seasick, abort the trip, no refund. The rougher ride was actually fun, however, and we persevered.

Looking back to the unvisited Railay Beach East

On our way

Random island/karst on the way

Puda Island; many boats, many people lying on beaches

Not us

Ever onward; note color of shallower water

Approaching Chicken Island

Thus

Random island off the port bow

In the distance, out of our range, the Phi Phi Islands (I think)

Rare dorsal view of Chicken Island

More islands

Selfie

Vicki

Fish feeding

Us, there, off Chicken Island, Andaman Sea, etc.

Railay Beach West

After a day of rest, we decided we had had enough of the long-tail boat excursions to the islands and their sun and fun but that we would visit just one more beach, Railay Beach, which is ten minutes east of Ao Nang, accessible only by boat. There are some big karsts in the way. It's in part a resort destination and also jumping off point (so to speak) for rock climbing in the area.

Another day, another long-tail boat ride, this one very short; two other couples,
one rock climbers from Colorado, the other tourists from China who had to carry
their suitcases on their shoulders in order to get to the boat, which was anchored
in knee-deep water off the beach

Islands off Ao Nang; as close as we'd get, we thought

Ao Nang development

At an intermediate beach, dropping off the rock climbers

Landing at Railay Beach West

The plan was to have a look at Railay Beach West and then take the trail, to the
left of these karsts, over to Railay Beach East for a look and then return; that was
the plan...

Helpful map of the Railay Beaches

Main Street, Railay West

Checking out the climbing shop; I did some climbing in the 70s and 80s (walk-ups
since then), but never would have considered climbing on limestone...the metamorphic
stuff is a good bit more reliable...

Last shot of Railay Beach; when I returned from my exploration of Main Street,
Vicki announced she had struck a deal for a boat ride out to the islands off Ao
Nang; no landings, just cruising around the karsts, just us and the long-tail boat
guy; it was what we had wanted to do anyway, no lying on beaches, and I
readily agreed; as I have often observed, we only make plans so we can change
them...

Koh Hong and Environs, 2

Continuing our January 16th cruise to Hong Island and environs...

So we are headed for the island on the right, which has a small beach on the
other side: Rai Island, or possibly Paradise Island, or maybe Pakbia

Our vessel, #14, anchored for lunch

The view

Setting up for lunch, Vicki resting in the background

Which turned out to be two curry dishes, chicken and maybe pork,
a veggie dish, and rice; all Thai-flavored, but not too spicy

Vicki testing the waters; I do not go in water with less than
1% chlorine content

I think the meaning of the rock hanging here might have been
"mind your head"

Adjacent island where we were to have lunch--no parking space ("uninhabited");
"nobody goes to the Silver Slipper anymore, it's too crowded"

Anyhow, with the water rising, we long-tailed back toward
Hong Island

Now on the other side of Hong Island, Vicki swimming

Us, there, beneath a humongous stalactite

Looking up into a giant cave

The view; the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Ocean, was calm as a lake that
day

Now in Hong Island's famous lagoon

Selfie in the lagoon; no sign of Leonardo Di Caprio; nor of
The Creature (wrong color lagoon)

Looking toward the narrow inlet, about two boats wide

On the homeward leg; the pilot is siphoning fuel out of the
reserve tank while the guide steers...just a little more
excitement

We made it back in fine order, an excellent outing