We were picked up in a mini Sawgthaow and taken to Hat Noppharat beach about four kilometres away from Ao Nang. On arrival it looked like a film crew were setting up a scene on the beach. There were a few elephants around and other extras. Maybe a new film set in Thailand? Or is it another Thailand promotional video shoot?
Out journey to the Ko Hong area was by a traditional Long-Tail boat. The islands were about an hour away giving us plenty of time to enjoy the views of the coastline, including the sight of one of the Royal Residences sitting high on the cliffs in the middle of a forest.
Long-Tail Boat from Hat Noppharat.
Our first stop was at a small island with two cove beaches. The view from the main cove where we landed was stunning. The sea looked inviting and we were eager to go snorkelling. Again, the experience of the Phi Phi Islands has probably raised expectations too high, as the quality of the water wasn’t great for snorkelling. We headed out towards a large rock in the bay to see if it was any better there. It wasn’t so we gave up and headed back to the beach.
Beautiful cove.
Back on the beach and I noticed a problem. I had somehow managed to lose the breathing tube that was attached to the facemask. I went back to look for it near the rock but the water was too murky near the bottom to see anything. We told the crew on our return to the boat and they weren’t happy. They were upset because the snorkel gear wasn’t theirs and they had had to rent it. The main guide was keen to know where I had lost it and for a minute I thought the tour would be postponed until he had dived in and found the tube. Monica was having known of it and ripped into him. The highlight being "if you didn’t take us to shit places for snorkelling we wouldn’t have lost it!". That had the rest of the boat in stitches. Monica’s dulcet Italian tones must have struck a chord with our guide as he quickly let the matter rest, probably fearing that he would be sleeping with the fishes if he continued.
The second stop was Ko Phak Bia. This island joins to another smaller island by a thin stretch of sandy beach that is revealed at low tide. We arrived just as the tide was going out. Another snorkel stop and I was a bit fearful about asking for another mask. Monica showed no such fear and demanded a new snorkel for me from the petrified guide. Again, the water looked lovely from the beach but not so great when you are snorkelling.
Preparing for a snorkel at Ko Phak Bia.
The next stop was Ko Hong and we were in luck. Apparently the tides around the Island are not very predictable and our guide claimed that even at high tide it was not always possible to enter the lagoon. Today it was possible so we sailed between the limestone cliffs that made the entrance. The lagoon was lined with mangrove trees and the guide said we could explore them later by Kayak. Now it was time to land on the main beach and have lunch.
Entrance to the lagoon from the inside.
Ko Hong is an uninhabited island with no cooking facilities. The lunch was a picnic style buffet served in a shaded area inside the protected park. We would be joined today with a couple of menacing looking monitor lizards, which looked suspiciously like komodo dragons to me. We were encouraged to feed them with the remains of our chicken legs. Monica took up the challenge and threw a chicken bone to one of the lizards. It gulped it down whole and wanted more. We made sure to keep a safe distance as it might take a fancy to our legs.
Feeding time.
Reminders of the 2004 Tsunami are all around you at Ko Hong. A memorial plaque is in the centre of the recreation area. A number of tourists and locals lost their lives whilst visiting the island on a day trip. The authorities decided to leave the wrecked remains of the fishing boats that were swept as far as 300 metres away from the beach and into the forest behind. A permanent reminder of the devastating power of nature.
Wreckage from the Tsunami.
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