Day 21 Late Morning in Phuket and on Phang Nga Bay

John Gray's Sea Canoe Adventures Await!

The leisurely morning with an 1100 departure for a 30 minute drive to the pier.

We start with lunch once the boat is underway and reach an island with interior lagoons for our first kayak adventure.

We are told to partner with someone and Roong graciously asked to be mine.

Roong is the Road Scholar Asian Director of Tours. She is on this tour to see how it goes since she has been here for only a month and was previously based in Boston. The communication time difference makes efficient working difficult so she will coordinate now from Bangkok.

Toy was our kayak paddler and guide. She was personable and fun. At one point, we entered a cave to the lagoon by laying back flat in the kayak and the rock ceiling was IN MY FACE! She kept saying, "Keep eyes closed, Madam. I tell you when to open." When the ceiling raised, she gave me the ok and I was then able to sit up as well.

Each lagoon we visited had a beautiful cave that she paddled through and the resulting expanse of blue water surrounded by high rock walls was breathtaking. We exited one lagoon, paddled around the island to the next and then returned to the boat by way of close encounters with the many oyster walls and crabs searching for their feast.

Pink and green coral

 

Back on the boat we feast again for dinner but first we are taught how to appease the water gods by offering them a krathong. Toy did the creative part of mine and I just folded the banana leaves. Yes! I would fold one to Toy's two! Then we added the beautifully carved carrots which I pressed the nails through the carrot and into the banana tree trunk. Takes artistry to press nails in, don't ya know?  Next step was adding orchid flowers behind the carrots and they had to be nailed in place too! Toy added lettuce in the center and filled it with flowers. She added the birds' perch and cut into the lotus bud to turn each into a bird!!! Three incense and and candles completed the krathong.

After dinner we watch the sunset and then board our kayaks again to launch our krathong.

Make a wish before placing your krathong in the water.

In the darkest recesses, you drag your hand through the water and witness the bioluminescence created by marine life. And now we return to the boat for our ride back to the pier and the van ride to Proud Phuket Hotel.

Tomorrow will be another day on the water and we must be on the van by 0800 for a private speed boat ride to Maiton Island. Whew! Two days in a swimsuit for me? I'm anti-swimsuits but this is a must! Off to bed.