Argitaratu: 12.12.2018
With an extensive Thai massage we say goodbye to the tourist hot spot and find a Tuk Tuk driver who takes us to the next accommodation at a fair price. The island is relatively large, but the longer travel times are due to the hilly landscape. Our motorized vehicle can only crawl up the steep inclines in first gear and with a lot of noise. The roads become narrower and lead to a remote area. Our resort is nestled at the end of a road on a hillside surrounded by lush vegetation. Birds sit in the palm trees and greet us with a whistling concert. The hill leads to a small private beach where snorkeling is wonderful. Colorful and curious fish swim just a few meters from the beach. We end the day with an impressive sunset by the sea. Tomorrow we plan to find a snorkeling tour provider.
However, this is not so easy. The neighboring village is more developed in terms of tourism, but there are only a few shops and restaurants here. We quickly rent a scooter and drive to Rawai pier. But even here we don't find what we're looking for. There are some boats that can be rented, but floating is not what we have in mind. Fortunately, we finally discover an agency. We decide on a tour with two islands and even get a discount of 25 euros per person... these Thais are crazy ^^ After this stressful morning, a massage is of course needed. This time we choose a studio with a very special atmosphere. This massage salon looks like a huge tastefully furnished greenhouse... here you can relax very well and enjoy the atmosphere. Then we go back to our private beach to relax. In the evening we return the scooter and decide to walk back. This way we discover an extremely sympathetic restaurant. Right on a small cliff with a view of the bay and excellent cuisine... we will definitely not get enough of it.
The next morning, the alarm clock rings early because we will be picked up by the hotel at 8 o'clock. Our driver takes us to the pier after two more stops and we are assigned to the 'blue team'. In addition, we have very entertaining instructors who do an excellent job. With a speedboat, we reach Raya Bay after 30 minutes. The boat glides over the small waves so fast that we take off a few times. The fun factor is definitely given! The first stop is for relaxing and swimming in very clear water. Then all snorkel fans are picked up (there are actually vacationers who prefer to stay on the beach). Just a few meters away, the boat anchors and we jump right in. Here, too, we are greeted by various fish and we enjoy this different underwater world. Then we pick up the remaining guests from the beach and drive to Coral Bay with incredibly white beaches. After a quick lunch, we head directly to the next snorkeling spot. We drift among the colorful fish and discover hermit crabs on the seabed. As always, time passes too quickly and after 1.5 hours we have to return to Phuket. With a big appetite, we reach our favorite restaurant and enjoy curry and Pad Thai. In the past few evenings, we have spent some hours at the in-house billiard table. Even though it can't hide its obvious independent life, we have an entertaining time.
After the exhausting day yesterday, today is dedicated to relaxing hours at the beach. We pass the time with lots of reading material, snorkeling, and doing nothing. The temperatures are incredibly pleasant, and if you ever get too warm, you just have to fall from the lounger directly into the water. Here, the water actually offers a cooling and refreshing effect. As usual, we spend the evening in our favorite place with coconut and cocktails. A few rounds of billiards can't be missed at the end. Because tomorrow we will leave our beloved little bungalow and private beach and hop to another island.