A sea voyage is fun

After two days of lazing around, relaxing by the pool, and eating non-stop, it is now time to go on an exploration tour.
We head out to sea. We have found a small company called Raksabei Adventure that specializes in longtail boat tours around the island of Koh Lanta.
We are the first group they have taken on a tour in two years, due to the complete halt of tourism caused by the Corona pandemic in Thailand.
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 only had 500 Thai Baht, equivalent to about 13 Euros, per week.
Of course, she and her husband are now full of anticipation for our trip together, and we start off in good spirits.
We glide past the enchanting scenery of Koh Lanta. Our granddaughter immediately becomes friends with the owners' little dog, and they play together on the first uninhabited island we visit.
The sand on this island is like snow. We walk through it and feel like we are 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 under the rock. However, the Thai government has closed the cave, foiling our plan.
No problem for Jeannette and her husband. So, we proceed to Thalang Bay with the Secret Beach. To be honest, I am not even that unhappy about it, as I don't really like cave climbing.
On the way to the bay, our two men get acquainted with Fisheran's Friend, a cigarette made from banana leaves, which Jeannette's husband offers to them.
Neither of them is really excited about it. Matthias says the taste of the cigarette reminds him of the smell of burning garbage bins. But strong men cry quietly, so they endure until the cigarette is finished.

Then we arrive at Thalang Bay.
It is stunningly beautiful. We glide on the dark green water past the bizarre karst cliffs that make the Krabi Province so famous.
A tiny beach appears before our eyes, visible only at low tide. We anchor here and enjoy a bath in the 27-degree warm water. It is wonderfully quiet here, and we savor the fairytale-like scenery.
Soon, it is time for lunch. Here, we go to a small island where a Muslim Thai family prepares an excellent lunch with delicious fish and seafood for us.
We are so full that we can hardly move, and during our journey to Kho Pho island, we become very tired.
But there is no time to sleep. We reach the small island of Koh Poh, the ancestral island of Jeannette's husband. He proudly shows us this idyllic spot where time seems to stand still.
Beautiful nature and very friendly people await us here. Of course, our guide chats with each of them for a while.
Now it is time for revenge, and my husband treats our guide to a cigarette. He proudly says, "Wow, a German cigarette." But his face reveals that he doesn't like the taste of the German cigarette any more than my husband likes the Fisherman's banana leaf cocktail.
Arriving at the beautiful little beach where our boat is waiting for us, I suddenly have a human need and return to the small village we just passed through to ask for a toilet, which is kindly shown to me.
But now I remember that Thais often use a kind of bidet for cleaning after using the toilet. However, this toilet has neither a bidet nor toilet paper. What should I do in my distress? Sweat is pouring down my face as I look for an alternative. Then comes the saving thought. I still have 20 Thai Baht in solid paper in my pocket. There is no choice, I have to use it

I hope the Thai King will forgive me for placing his image on my posterior. Your Royal Highness, I was in a dire emergency.
We continue to enjoy the beach and the wonderfully warm water, and then we begin the journey back.
On the boat, we relax and chat with the boat owners about this and that, and soon we are back at Saladin Pier, the starting point of our trip.
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.
An adventure of a special kind awaits us there, with elephants.