WEEK 12: 24 April - 30 April - Ao Chalong to Phi Phi Don Thailand

Congratulations to Jeremy and Claire on their engagement

DAY 78 - Saturday 24 April - Ao Chalong, Thailand
Greg and Chris (Windchimes) went off in their hire car for the day and we commenced cleaning up the boat and trying to rearrange all the stuff we keep on the back bunk to free it up for Debbie and Phil. At the end of the day we were all too tired to go ashore so ate on board.

DAY 79 - Sunday 25 April - ANZAC DAY - Ao Chalong
We went to say hullo to Pam off Helly then joined Greg and Chris ashore for breakfast. Had a beer at the Come On bar and talked to Doug off Helly. Shopping and cleaning then a very pleasant evening spent with Wind Chimes.

DAY 80 - Monday 26 April - Ao Chalong
Debbie and Phil come tonight! Finished tidying the boat (how messy could it be!!) and headed in to collect the hire car from Nina's. It was red but turned out to be a bit smaller than we thought. We went to sort out our internet then to Boat Lagoon to see how work on Neptune II was coming along. Had a chat to Neptune's skipper and he was very impressed with the work being done. Then we headed to Yacht Haven to see David and Jean on Whistle Down the Wind. They have totally pulled their whole dodger off and are working on it. They have done a lot but there is still a lot to go. It poured rain while we were there so they put a tarp over the companionway and we went below for a beer or two. Then we went to the restaurant and then headed to the airport. It was great to catch up with Whistle again. We got to the airport at 7.20 but we were not allowed in and had to wait outside. Debbie and Phil came out at about 8.10pm and we made the long drive back to Ao Chalong. Had dinner at our little restaurant and Debbie ordered a meal which had omitted the word "hot" on the menu! She persevered and with tears rolling down her face she finished it. We then did the long walk along the jetty and clambered on to a boat and then to our dinghy who we have named Zed. For a long time we were trying to think of a clever name for our dinghy and then Peter was looking at it the other night and it has a big Z on the front (Zodiac) so he said Zed and we thought that was pretty clever and it had been staring us in the face all along!

Day 81 - Tuesday 27 April - Ao Chalong
It was a bit of a rocky night but we all survived it. We tied Zed up at the jetty as it is spring tides at the moment and the jetty moves with the tide. We went up to the Big Budhha and then stopped for a meal on the way down. It was really cheap and absolutely lovely - a nice surprise. We then headed to Nai Harn and had a swim and another snack and a walk around. Then we drove over the range (very slowly!) and saw the elephants. Then to Patong Beach where we parked and walked down the road - it was 4pm and just starting to liven up. We went to the Aussie Bar because we knew it had good toilets and noticed a man lying on the floor - he had collapsed and hit his head. Ambulance came and carted him away. Returned to Ao Chalong and went to our little restaurant.

DAY 82 - Wednesday 28 April - Ao Chalong
Happy Birthday Sandra!!
Went to buy another fan for the boat and then to the supermarket to provision then to Patong to the wet market to buy fruit and veggies. They have all kinds of interesting things in there including live toads, and eels (which really looked like snakes) along with the general fish and chickens and gizzards etc. It poured rain which made us pretty happy as Peter had the water catcher up on the boat but when we drove back to Ao Chalong we hadn't had a drop of rain!! Went to our little Tamarind restaurant for dinner. The cat sat behind Debbie on her chair again. We had left Zed tied to the stairs at the jetty and when we got back with our supplies the tide had gone out and Zed didn't quite have enough rope out and was starting to rise at the front so it was as well we got back when we did.

DAY 83 - Thursday 29 April - Ao Chalong - Phi Phi Le
On buoy
The boys did a water run with the jerries and we upanchored around 10am and headed to Phi Phi Le - dead calm and wind on the nose. We got to Phi Phi Le and there was only one buoy we could have and it was occupied. We went in to see if they were staying and they were leaving as soon as they got their motor fixed. So we hung around and as soon as they left we grabbed the buoy. We jumped in the water and there were no fish. So we went for a snorkel over the reef and it was fantastic. There was only one other yacht in the place so it was wonderful to have the place to ourselves.
Miles: 26 Total: 6,329

DAY 84 - Friday 30 April - Phi Phi Le to Phi Phi Don
We started our day early jumping off the back of the boat and there were fish everywhere. Went for a snorkel and then took Zed all around the edges of the rocks. We left at 9.40am just as all the tourist boats were starting to swarm in. Went around Phi Phi Le with Debbie and Phil sitting on the deckchairs. The only thing missing was the Pims! We went past a lovely little beach at Ao Nui with rocks around and noticed a buoy so grabbed it and went ashore and had a snorkel round. There were a few interesting fish but nothing startling so we returned to the boat and had lunch on the way to Hin Klang Reef. We could see a buoy so headed for it. Dell though it was a little close to the reef but we picked it up anyway. Peter did a snorkel round to make sure we wouldn't hit a bommie. We all went for a snorkel from the back of the boat. The coral was hard coral and was spectacular - absolutely beautiful. Like a great big garden. Motored to Phi Phi Don and anchored then it rained so we had a shower on the deck. What an amazing day. Went to shore for dinner and walked around then stopped at a cafe on the way back. Got back to the boat in the dark to find that a huge boat had taken the very small buoy near us and put out lots of line so we were in danger of getting hit. So after the rain we upanchored in the dark and anchored further out.
Miles: 17 Total: 6,346

Sorry this is so late - we seem to have been so busy!! We have really noticed that the high season has finished and the low season has started and even though there are still heaps of tourists it has definitely quietened down.
Love and Cheers
Fair winds and calm seas
Dell and Peter
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