Koh Yao Noi

The ferry from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi was not so much of a ferry as a longtail boat, crammed with about 10 wooden benches and anything else you could possibly imagine (including a washing machine, some really big potted trees and the post lady). It took about 1.5 hours and took us through some lovely beautiful karst cathedrals, which basically cover the whole area. When we arrived at the Pier there were pick up trucks lined up to take people to different parts of the Island. We asked to be taken to the cheap guest houses, and got dropped off on the strip along the beach. The first guest house we walked into had 500 baht rooms, but another couple had got there just before us, so we were offered the 800 baht room. As the bags were really heavy and it was about 1pm, and approximately 35 degrees we agreed to take it for the night and look for something else. The room was amazing, much more luxury than we have been used to, and absolutely massive.

We dropped the bags and headed straight to the beach for lunch, to be greeted by the following view.

We then trailed up the beach to find cheaper accomodation, and we found Yack @ Coconut Corner. We picked up the bungalow for 500 baht (going down to 400, depending on how long we stay) Its really lovely, everything works, there is a decent mossie net, and a little makeup shelf with mirror (what more could a girl need?)

Koh Yao, is a pair of islands Yao Noi and Yao Yai, local legend says that the strait between the two islands was created when a very angry Naga – Sea Dragon – crashed through on his way to Krabi to see his fiancee being married to someone else.  For centuries it has been believed that the two islands were populated by Chao Lay people, also called Sea Gypsies – nomadic groups who travelled from island to island for fish and other seafood.

The island is basically a jungle with a tarmac/ dirt road all the way round, some of the jungle areas have been cleared for rubber farming, which along with fishing is the main industry. Below is the latex being collected from the trees, they then roll them into these mats, and sell them to Mr Goodyear amongst other people.

The last few days have been spent walking around the island exploring, there is loads of wildlife.

Note - Mum & Amy, I would skip the first photo!

We have seen about 4 big lizards of varying sizes, but this one was the only one kind enough to hang around for photos.  I also met a very obliging praying mantis, who stared at me for abou 5 minutes, quite unnerving!

Craig nearly stepped on a small green snake one day, and i have never seen him jump so high, but it moved far to quick to get a photo.

This is one member of the family of geckos that try to eat the mossies in our shack.

There do seem to be quite a few monkeys on the island, we can hear them behind the shack all day. But when you go to approach them, they do run off. I am not suprised as we have seen a guy driving in town with two in a cage on his motorbike. Also in Koh Phi Phi there were about two or three that were dressed up every day and taken round to tourists for photos. I am finding that quite difficult to deal with as well as all the homeless puppies and kittens that seem to be everywhere.

We hired a kayak for the day and headed out to a island not far offshore

The island was postcard picture perfect and as we got there early in the morning we had a couple of hours before a couple of longtails turned up. The snorkelling was dissapointing, we have since been told that there is too much silt in the water because of the mangroves all the way round the island, Yao Yai also. But there were plenty of things to see in the shallows, and lots of lovely shells to look at.

 

 

 

Whilst we were sitting having lunch on the beach a really big monitor lizard (6/7 foot), walked past behind us, as soon as we saw him he ambled straight up the hill into the centre of the island, he was quite a sight. On the island there is a little area that is perfect for camping, with a little hole for a fire and lots of trees to hang hammocks from. That sounds like a plan for a night or so!

The houses are all built on stilts and apart from the rubber farming and fishing, coconut farming also seems to be everywhere, along with pineapples.

Of course with all that activity, we have had to spend a couple of days lying on the beach, and the beaches are really picturesque, but they are really rocky so not so good for swimming.

I think my butterfly photo taking skills are improving, these are a few of what we have seen so far.

Last night Craig performed his good deed for the day.  Two german ladies came out of their hut screaming can someone get rid of the Cacalaca's in our bathroom.  Craig went to help and i went because i wanted to know what a Cacalaca was, it turned out to be a cockroach, well two very small cockroaches!

The next few days we will be taking it easy waiting for Elliott to get here on the 15th. We then plan to go back to Koh Phi Phi for a couple of nights, then onto Koh Tao and then probably Cambodia. But when travelling plans are very flexible, so we will see what happens........