Day 16: 9 Islands

Our old, not-properly-functioning boat.

Today started off not so great, but ended in an awesome way.  I wanted to double check that the 9 Islands Sunset Tour provided snorkels and life jackets, so I gave them a call.  I was also told, at least I thought I was being told, that I would be picked up from the hotel at 10:30, not 10:00 as the travel agency had told me.  I waited until 11, and finally gave them a call.  There was some confusion -- the guide thought I was going to walk to the beach area.  So, he came and picked me up then.  But, apparently right after I got picked up, another employee came by and tried to pick me up.  In any case, we ended up at Noparathara beach, running behind schedule already.

The tour guide, I think his name was Hop, told me that there were 13 people going on the tour...but when we departed, there were just 7 of us.  The Australian couple I met last night, a group of three other Australians, a woman from the UK, and myself.

The boat did not look like a longtail, but it also did not look like a speedboat.  Something in between.

Poda Island.  No good for snorkeling.

Our first stop was Poda Island.  I tried snorkeling here, but the waters were not clear.  The beach was mainly for swimming and lounging around.  There weren't too many crowds.

Next, we visited Tup Island.  Here, our trip really took a bad turn.  To visit the national park, each person must pay an entrance fee.  The tour price already indudes the fee though.  But...as we were approaching the island, Hop claimed that he forgot the money, and asked if he could borrow money (2500 THB) from us, which he would pay back after we got to Ao Nang.  Um, no.  Some of us considered cutting the tour short.  In the end, Hop said it was no problem.  I think he arranged to pay the Thai park employees later on, which he should have done in the first place and not ask us.

Tup Island.  No chance to lounge in the waters though because
of our weed-smoking, ill-prepared tour guide.

Hop offered us lunch, but many declined his offer.  I felt bad for him though, if no one were to eat the food, so a few of us tried it.  Veggies were good actually.

We continued on.  Chicken Island was seen, but we just passed by and took photos from the boat.

The 4 Islands (but counts as three islands for the trip) offered some awesome snorkeling.  Clear waters, numerous varieties of fish.  I cannot even count how many types I saw...huge blue parrot fish, schools of striped fish, with a separate school of baby fish, angel fish...it was amazing.

Our 7th island was Deang Island.  This island is not very memorable to me.  Sometime around this time, I got seasick and threw up :(. I ruined the nice waters!

Hong Island was the 8th stop, and it was amazing.  When we arrived, the beach was deserted!  There were two sections of beach, one where we arrived, and another Maya Bay-like beach to the side.  It was stunning.  I did not snorkel, was told the waters were not clear enough.  The cliffs surrounding this secluded spot were tall and beautiful.  The waters calm and pristine.  The sand was fine, although many seashells and rocks are within the mixture.  Eventually, a longtail with a handful of tourists arrived also, and we left shortly after.

Thanbok Khoranee National Park at Hong

The 9th island was Lading Island, where we arrived as the sun was setting.  This spot was small, and did not seem well known to the public.  We were the ony tourist boat....and were interrupting a private celebration, perhaps a honeymoon.  They had set up a candlelit dinner, with a chef and other employees helping.  We felt a little bad to be hanging around during their romantic night.

Beautiful sunset on the way back to Ao Nang

Hop cooked dinner for us on the boat, rice with tomyum soup.  Was very good.  Then, the highlight of the tour -- night snorkeling with luminescent plankton!  I don't even know where he took us...but there were two locations.  The first, I did not go in the water, but could see slight green sparkles when the other tourists moved their arms and legs.  The second spot, I had to jump in.  And it was unforgettable.  The plankton here seemed brighter.  Maybe it was just darker here or something.  It was amazing, anytime you moved, green sparkles would light up all around you.  Looking underwater, the plankton reminded me of firecrackers.  They were so vibrant.  I wished I had a waterproof camera.

Made it back to the hotel at 9 something, so it really was an entire day trip.  I am so tired...but have to pack up for tomorrow's departure to Bangkok!