2012-10-06 - Day 7 - Emerald Cave, Charlie Beach

What a lovely first night. We woke up and walked straight onto the beach to explore. Los of starfish and crabs everywhere! What an amazing view!

We picked up some snorkels for our boat trip, then headed out on our boat to Emerald Cave. The water was pretty rough on the way there. We put our life jackets on, and then swam in pitch black through the cave and came out into the most amazing secluded beach and forest - it was out of this world, the cliffs just shot straight up, covered in jungle. The girls were so brave going through the cave, and it got amazingly calm as we went further into the cave. Paish did lots of backflips while we were there - typical!

We swam back through, and the closer we got to the exit, the rougher the sea got. On the way back, we stopped to do some snorkelling, but a little disappointing. Coral was bleached and not many fish. Roxy realy enjoyed it, but Paish didn't as she was a bit scared.

We came back to the beach, the girls went to the pool and Daddy did a run on the beach - so hot he got blisters, but he did 14 laps though and was very enjoyable.

Went back to the house to finish dragon eyes and magosteen, then walked into the village, bought crisps and saw some huge fish in the market for Tom Yam! Then we took at really small dodgy car to Charlie Beach. We saw Dan on the way, who waved then fell in a ditch off his motorbike - funny. We also had to get out at one point to cross a small river! Clara's dog tried to follow us, but could not keep up - sad.

Charlie Beach was deserted, apart from one other person! We played poison wave, then collected hermit crabs, then did some running races! Mummy also went for a swim - very brave! We went and explored the rock pools that were full of fish!

Found a taxi to take us back - tried to drive through the river, but could not make it - we had to get out! Saw the chinese guys again! Aiysha and Daddy went to the pool, and Aiysha won catchy 5-4, and we played pool poolball too, which Aiysha also won 5-4.

Mummy had Jungle Curry - hmmm, not so nice.

Another crab hunt! Maximum security prison needed! The purple crab was huge!

What a day!

2012-10-05 - Day 6 - Koh Muk

After another lovely breakfast, we went in the pool for the last time, while Mummy packed up. We watched a family trying to teach a boy how to swim - looked pretty hopeless.

Tut then picked us up and drove us to the port about a couple of hours away. We stopped for fruit, which was great. When we got to the port, we waited for our boat, and then had the most amazing boat ride to the island through mangroves, and was very mysterious.

Apparently Koh Muk is one of the last underdeveloped islands left in Thailand. It was vey overcast when we arrived at Pawapi resort. We met Dan who showed us our room, which was very basic but had two stories. He didn't know English too well, but tried really hard and we liked him immediately. His boss was not around, and when we talked to Dan about the keys and the safe, he could not get the keys to work and explain why they did not. The girls went off to look for another resort, and we decided to move to Sivilai. Dan was really sorry, and we left him a tip. He was pretty upset, which was a shame.

Sivilai was amazing - completely the opposite, for not much more! The hotel turned out our beds in the morning, and our rooms were amazing, with working locks! It was also right on the beach, so we could listen to the surf as we fell asleep. Lovely! This was perhaps the best room we have ever stayed in, ever!

We paddled in the sea and settled in. Dinner was lovely - satays, noodles, steamed fish and spaghetti for the girls. Aiysha was beginning to like the Thai fried rice!

There were some chinese people next to us who seemed to go wherever we went - funny. We had a night walk home, and we were followed by a pack of dogs - Roxy and Daddy made friends with two of them - Roxy's was brown (Emily?), Daddy's was black (Stephanie).

We played Go Fish on the veranda, and we were so exhausted we went to sleep early.

What a place to stay!