A sea voyage, which is funny

After two days of lazing around, relaxing by the pool and eating non-stop, it is now time to go exploring.
We set sail. With Raksabei Adventure, we found a small company specialized in longtail boat tours around Koh Lanta Island.
We are the first group in two years to go on a tour with them again. The Corona pandemic has brought tourism to a standstill in Thailand as well.
As Jeannett, a Swedish woman who came to Thailand 25 years ago for love, tells us, she and her husband had to live solely on their savings during the pandemic and had a total of 500 Thai Baht, which is approximately 13 Euros, per week.
Of course, she and her husband are now eagerly looking forward to our trip together, and we start off in high spirits.
We glide past the enchanting scenery of Koh Lanta in a relaxed manner. Our granddaughter immediately befriends the little dog of the owners, and they frolic around on the first uninhabited island we visit.
The sand on this island is like snow. We walk through it and feel like we're in a winter forest in the tropics.

Soon, we approach a rock that looks like a skull. The plan is to descend into the cave beneath the rock. However, the Thai government ruined this plan by closing the cave.
No problem for Jeannette and her husband. So we head to Thalang Bay with its Secret Beach. To be honest, I'm not even that unhappy about it because I don't really like cave climbing.
On the way to the bay, our two men make acquaintance with the Fisherman's Friend, a cigarette made from banana leaves, which Jeannette's husband offers them.
Neither of them is really excited about it. Matthias says the taste of the cigarette reminds him of the smell of burning trash cans. But strong men cry silently, so they endure until the cigarette is finished.

Then we arrive at Thalang Bay.
It is beautifully laid out before us. We glide on the dark green water past the bizarre karst rocks that make the Krabi Province so famous.
A tiny beach unfolds before our eyes, only visible at low tide. We anchor here and enjoy a bath in the 27-degree warm water. A wonderful silence reigns here, and we enjoy the fairytale scenery.
Soon, it's time for lunch. Here we go to a small island where a Muslim Thai family conjures up an excellent lunch with delicious fish and seafood for us.
We're so full that we can hardly move, and on our journey to Kho Pho Island, we become very tired.
But there's no time to sleep. We reach the small island of Koh Poh, which is Jeannette's husband's home island. He proudly shows us this idyllic spot, where time seems to stand still.
Beautiful nature and very nice people await us here. Naturally, our guide has a little chat with every resident.
Now it's time for a rematch, and my husband treats our guide to a cigarette. He proudly says, 'wow a German cigarette,' but his face reveals that he doesn't enjoy the German cigarette any more than my husband enjoys the Fisherman's banana leaf cocktail.
When we arrive at the beautiful little beach where our boat is waiting for us, I feel the need to use the bathroom one more time, so I go back to the small village we just passed through and ask for a toilet, which is kindly shown to me.
Now I had completely forgotten that Thais often use a kind of bidet for cleaning after using the toilet. But this toilet has neither a bidet nor toilet paper. So what should I do in my distress? Sweat is pouring down my face as I search for an alternative. Then a saving thought comes to me. I still have 20 Thai Baht made of sturdy paper in my pocket. I have no choice but to use it.

I hope the Thai King will forgive me for placing his picture on my buttocks. Your Royal Highness, I was in a situation of acute emergency.
We continue to enjoy the beach and the wonderfully warm water, and then we begin the journey back.
On the boat, we chill and chat with the owners about this and that, and soon we are back at the Saladin Pier, the starting point of our journey.
A beautiful day comes to an end. Thailand is truly blessed with incredible natural beauty.
Tomorrow, my husband and I will travel to Phuket with our granddaughter.
Here we will experience a special adventure with elephants.