Phuket

As you can see from the previous post, we are now in Phuket, spending one more night here before continuing our journey north. It’s been a little over two weeks since we left Langkawi, and we now find ourselves about halfway to our final destination, the Surin Islands.

Though it makes me feel slightly old and out of the loop to admit it: we are new to this blogging business and finding it somewhat of a struggle. Nevertheless, we started this project with the hope of sharing our experiences and thus will keep insisting.

In Langkawi our days went by quickly between settling me in and preparing the boat for the trip. This mostly consisted of checking that everything was in running order, filling up water and petrol tanks and a fair bit of grocery shopping.

Koh Lipe was the setting of my first visit to the boat so I was very happy to be sailing back there a year later. Who could have imagined it? Phil and I enjoyed a few quiet nights there, me getting reacquainted with the boat and the two of us with each other.

We stopped overnight in Koh Adang where the beach is interrupted by beautiful rock installations.

We arrived in Koh Rok after a ten-hour sailing day. At the moment, on days we have to move, we have been waking up early in the morning to make the most of the last of the Northeasterly wind. It usually dies at around noon and we find ourselves motoring the rest of the way.

Koh Rok is comprised of two small islands, Rok Nok and Rok Nai – both equally beautiful in different ways. Rok Nai is the main island, hosting a small campsite and a makeshift restaurant. Opposite lies Rok Nok which has dense jungle fringed by orange sand.

We had a few days of great snorkeling at Koh Rok. The water is stunning at every hour of the day and I was lucky enough to celebrate my 25th birthday there – cake and all!

Life on the boat thus far has been ‘smooth sailing’ (couldn’t help myself!) and Phil and I are forced, in the nicest of ways, to know more and more about each other.

After Koh Rok we made our way to Koh Lanta. Arriving just in time to see the sunset from the beach, we enjoyed the tranquil atmosphere of the evening on the island.

In the morning, we left for Koh Phi Phi. Arriving in the southern bay of Koh Phi Phi Don at midday is not something we would recommend. After the relaxed pace of our previous stops, we found ourselves thrust into the loud reality of the popular tourist destination. Boats of all kinds, shapes and sizes sped in and out of the pier, teeming with tourists – also all shapes and sizes. It felt like being anchored in the middle of a highway in big city during rush hour.

Despite the noisy start to the day, we had a great night out (as Phi Phi promises). In true Thai style, we enjoyed some of the most agile fire dancers I have seen as well as cheap alcohol and a bit of rain.

After a night to recover on the northern bay of Phi Phi, we made our way to Phuket. Here we have been re-stocking the boat and catching up with some of Phil’s sailing friends. After four days here we are excited for the next leg of our trip.

Iva & Phil