Phuket to Langkawi

We anchored at the large island of Tarutao, which is a National Park. As with so many islands we have visited, this too was once a penal colony for political prisoners, but it was closed in 1946 and made Thailands first National Park. 

As we stopped to look at the beach we noticed wild boar foraging on the beach. With full zoom on my camera I managed to capture them, a female with her 2 piglets.

My favourite are the Sea Hawks. We were lucky to see one grab what looks like a half eaten fish, out of the sea. Interesting that while carrying his load, his beak is open.

Diving photos

I dont have an underwater camera so took these from the video that was made of us on our last dive.

Having fun under the water, 15m down!

Red Firefish (from behind)

 Black spotted puffer fish

Scorpion fish

Royal Phuket Marina

Royal Phuket Marina is a very pretty Marina on the East coast of Phuket. This has been our base when not as sea. It is easy to get maintenance work done we hired a chap to remove all old Sikaflex and replaced with new. This seals the boat 'pieces' that have been joined together. The Sikaflex gets old and stops insulating the boat so has to be replaced after a few years.

We are off to Langkawi, Malaysia tomorrow. Hope to do some diving on the way. Wish I had an underwater camera to take some photos. 

Diving Certificate

We have just completed a 4 day open water diving course and are now qualified to dive to 18m! Very proud of myself, it was quite daunting being 18m under the water knowing that you only have your tank of air as life support. The course is all about safety and making you feel safe down under. We had to practice breathing from our buddy's air supply, take our mask off and put it on again and clear the water from it and many other safety exercises. Sea Bees Diving were fantastic and have a very comfy boat that we went diving from. We had 3 dives around Phi Phi and 3 dives off Racha Noi islands.

Here we are celebrating passing the written test. 

Krabi

Krabi is across the Phang Nga bay East of Phuket. It is becoming a popular tourist spot with good beaches. Some of the beaches can only be reached by longtail, we soon realised we were anchored in their path and moved to a spot off the main 'transport' route. One attraction is the rock climbing, there are shops with all the gear you need to try this. Its just too hot to do that much exercise! 

Maybe we are getting old?

Catching Jelly Fish

Near Krabi we stopped to watch the longtail fishermen collecting the big Jellyfish. Apparently they eat them. The Jellyfish float just beneath the surface. From our flybridge we had a good height advantage, so I could point them out in the water. 

Isolated huts

On the way to Krabi we passed two interesting homes on the sides of island cliffs. I can only presume that these chaps are working in the  fishing industry and its easier for them to stay here than go all the way home each day.

 The stilts holding this one up are ingenious, plus a rope pulling it sideways.

 The blue bins are for water.

 When I zoomed in on this photo, I could see 2 chaps in the house.

The Bay Regatta, Phuket

It was time to leave land and go back onto the water for a while, we decided to follow The Bay Regatta (Yacht Race). Conditions were ideal as they all set off North to the first night stop over. Its a 4 day race with a sleepover at a new spot in the Phang Nga bay each night. (A moving party)

There were a few small 20 foot catamarans, this oneTwin Sharks, had fun decals and were fast. Quite intimidating.

The first day finished at The Paradise Hotel, Koh Yao Noi Island. The yachts look so peaceful anchored in the bay. When the tide goes out its impossible to get to shore, the hotel has dredged a channel for the small boats to use. Tides are always a consideration when sailing here.

We left the next day for Krabi, but intersected the race on the last day as they headed south for Chalong. It was wonderful to see them all flying their bags of different colours and design. The leaders were the catamaran yachts, (of course) they just took off when the bag went up.

Monkeys and Cashew nuts

Cashew nuts are abundant here and so we visited a Cashew nut factory on Thepkrasattri Road. They told us that all nuts are removed from the shell by hand. They are then dried. The fruit is about the size of a pair and produces one nut only. Two examples of the fruit are hanging on the machine.

 They had the nuts coated in a variety of flavours. We bought chocolate and chili coated nuts.

 Cashew pip which contains the nut

                  The Cashew tree.

There are a few hills in Phuket, one with restaurants on top and one with huge radio and TV antennae, this is Monkey hill. We drove up to see the view not realising that Monkeys are still living on the hill. On the way up we came across a few eating fruit the locals had left for them. They are a pretty brown colour monkeys and are very relaxed. The one big chap was taking a nap on the pavement!

Tasty Sea food

Thailand is well known for its abundant seafood and we had a feast in Rawaai (Southern part of Phuket) last week.
First we bought the fish from the street stall and then walked across the road to a restaurant and they cooked it.
A Grouper, Snapper, prawns and some octopus.
Its amazing how inexpensive it is and great to eat Fresh fish again.
The style here is to grill the fish whole with sauces.
A memorable feast.

Rob and Axel buying our fish

Cooked with Garlic and lime juice

Cooked with Garlic and chili

Bugs for sale

When walking about a real local market last week we came across this stall, selling grasshoppers, and other insects.
The children were munching on them. Takes some getting used to, no we did not eat any.

Gekko eggs

We back on on SeaWolff and its very hot. We pulled down the side awnings for shade and eggs fell out, some broken and some still unhatched. A tiny Gekko also ran out so we knew what the eggs were. We had seen and heard a large Gekko on the boat and now we know what she was up to.  At least they will eat the ants and mosquitos.
My concern is they make droppings, similar to rat droppings, except it has a bit of white on the end. (the urine is solid and white) If there are too many aboard I will be cleaning these droppings all the time.
They are a pale creamy colour. Dont see them often.