Waking up at Mr “Air’s” house caused a scramble for the two downstairs toilets and two shower rooms. We were spoilt with Western toilets (good) but the shower was just a large container of cold water, with a dipper, which was used to splash water all over the place, including one’s own body.
After breakfast we were on our way again but just for a short ride to Krabi Town where we arrived around 09.00. It was much too early to get our rooms at our next accommodation, Ben’s Guest House, or so my diary told me, so we left all of our belongings in a store room for later retrieval. Then it was back into our mini-van for a 30 minute drive to a sea kayaking area.
I’d never been in a kayak before so this was going to be an interesting day! I just hoped my camera would stay dry. I guessed it wouldn’t matter if I fell in and got wet. At least it would be one way of cooling off. But my camera might not appreciate a swim so I put it in a zip lock plastic bag to be on the safe side.
It was in another stunning landscape surrounded by more of those Karst formations.
I was teamed up with John who had done some kayaking and, after donning life vest and listening to some basic instructions, we set off on calm waters in our red and yellow craft.
It was dead calm so the zip lock plastic bag was dispensed with and photos a plenty were taken. Here, John is doing the same.
Milling around on our frequent stops.
It was a very easy paddle.
Quite leisurely actually!
More of the same.
We paddled up a steep sided gorge.
Mangroves formed an impenetrable thicket along the muddy banks.
We met an earlier group already heading back to the launching place.
On an open muddy section I spotted this mud skipper…
…along with this blue-legged crab.
Nearby was an orange clawed crab.
The whole exercise was most enjoyable. It was very hot but being on and in the water made it all the more bearable.
Back to the hotel and reunited with our luggage, the afternoon was free. I remembered to take a photo before we messed up the bed by having a papa nap. I am a granddad now! And I had time to download my photos into my small computer.
We met up again at 15.00 to walk the short distance to the beach… going via a convenience store to buy some beer, soft drinks and nibbles to have on the beach while watching the sun set. “Stupid” left his SD card back in the hotel, didn’t I, having been interrupted while downloading my photos. I had my camera, just no SD card. So no sunset photos.
The sun having set and the drinks finished we moved on to a restaurant where we had another wonderful Thai dinner. I chose mixed seafood which was served in a whole fresh coconut. Scrumptious!
Brian got chatting to a young German couple sitting just behind us. Somehow or other the four of us ended up in a nearby, very noisy, bar where great conversation was had over another couple of beers. We eventually parted company and wandered back to the main street. It was virtually deserted since it was 01.45! The plan was to walk back to our hotel but we missed the turn and ended up getting lost. What to do? We eventually got a tuk tuk that took us back to the hotel. We were just a little the worse for wear.
After dinner, Brian and I ventured into a show where 12-15 ‘Ladyboy’ performers strutted their stuff all tarted up and dressed most lavishly in bright colours and covered in sequins and feathers. There was no expense spared in the amount of make-up used either. It’s not the kind of show I’d go to at home but in a different country where you’re unlikely to be spotted by someone you know, well, anything goes.
Brian got chatting to a young German couple sitting just behind us. Somehow or other the four of us ended up in a nearby, very noisy, bar where great conservation was had over another couple of beers. We eventually parted company and wandered back to the main street. It was virtually deserted since it was 01.45! The plan was to walk back to our hotel but we missed the turn and ended up getting lost. What to do? We eventually got a tuk tuk that got us back to the hotel. We were just a little the worse for wear.
And so ended 18th March, or rather began 19th March. More anon.
David
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