WEEK 14: 8 May – 14 May –Ko Hong (Krabi) to Yacht Haven Marina

DAY 92- Saturday 8 May - Ko Hong - Koh Pak Bia
Debbie, Phil and Dell took Zed around the island looking at the caves and rock formations and could see heaps of fish. Missed the hong entrance at first as it was low tide and there is actually heaps of coral there which we had not noticed on our last visit. We rowed in and were the only ones in there so it was kind of special though it was quite shallow so we didn’t go too far. Enjoyed the ambiance till another dinghy motored in and as we left a longtail boat went in. We came back to the boat for lunch. It is very hot. Upanchored at 11am and headed around some islands and ended up at Koh Pak Bia. Anchored and Dell, Debbie and Phil took Zed into the beach but it was no good for snorkelling so took Zed and went back around the island to a neighbouring island and had a swim off the sandspit. There was quite a current running and Dell had her back to it trying to feed some bread to some fish when a big pink jellyfish missed her back by about 3 feet and Debbie had a close call with her face and a jellyfish so we decided that was enough swimming and took Zed out around the island back to the boat. It is amazing when you accidentally hit these huge jelly fish with the outboard motor (poor things!) but they kind of get all mooshed up – we do try to avoid them!!
Miles: 3 Total: 6,632

DAY 93 – Sunday 9 May – Koh Pak Bia - Koh Pan Yi (Gypsy village)
Happy Mother’s Day
We headed to Koh Pan Yi and motored without a breath of wind. We arrived around 3pm and went ashore. Walked through the village and Debbie and Phil found it very interesting. There was a game of soccer (mini) going on at the school – they seemed to have two small soccer fields – not bad for a village built on stilts! Did some shopping and ate on board. Had to get out the mosquito coils and nets on the hatches. Next thing we hear bat bat bat as Debbie had spied a bat (or two) flying around the boat.
Miles: 16 Total: 6,648

DAY 94 – Monday 10 May – Koh Pan Yi – Ko Hong (Pha Nang)
Went into the village again and then left at around 11am and headed through the channels to Koh Hong. There was a catamaran and a yacht already anchored so anchored between them and ended up a bit closer to the cat than Dell would like. Went to the hong and motored around in Zed. The tide was a little low to get into the cave hong but the rest of it was beautiful. Went to a little beach for a swim and could see the National Parks blokes sitting in their boat waiting for people to return to their yachts to charge them the fee. They gave up before we got back. Dell was a little worried that we seemed too close to the cat but when we got back it looked fine. A little later Phil pointed out that they were a little close. They had ridden up over their anchor and we were also surrounded by 6 sunsail charter boats so decided to move right out the back. It was initially a little windy but at least that was cool and then it quietened and we had a comfortable night though Debbie and Phil reported mosquitoes on the deck. When we anchored we were quite close to a drink bottle on a rope so Peter pulled it in to move it. Up came a rock and then a fish trap but then he and Debbie couldn’t pull up whatever was attached to that. They moved it a little way away.
Miles: 7 Total: 6,655

DAY 95 – Tuesday 11 May – Koh Hong - Phanak
Went for a motor around the hong at high tide – it is one of the more beautiful islands around. When we upanchored the fishtrap line was wrapped around our anchor chain so Peter had to cut it away. He tried to rejoin the line but couldn’t hold it so unfortunately that fish trap will never be found again! Had a slow motor to Phanak where we had brekky and then jumped in Zed and headed around the island. This is Dell’s favourite and we went under lots of overhangs and went around an inlet which looks like an ancient city. There were a couple of monkeys on the beach but disappeared when we went in. Had a cooling swim but bubbles were coming up from the sand – really weird. Went around to the other side of the island and saw where the tourist sea canoes were going in. The tour guide said we wouldn’t get Zed in but we could walk so we left Zed on a small beach and took our torches and started walking into the cave. These are openings in the cliff you would never notice if the tour boats weren’t there. Luckily it was a sand bottom and we had the torches so walked about 100m in the dark – ducking as the top of the oyster encrusted cave came down and came out into the most amazing hong – there were mangrove trees in the middle but it was sand – obviously at high tide it would be covered. There were little mudskips and we were the only ones in there – couldn’t believe our luck. Spent some time and then walked out again. A wonderful experience. We came back around and the tide had fallen enough for us to find the entrance to “our” hong so went in there and it was deep enough to row around. Came back around to the long cave and the monkeys were on the beach so watched them for a while. It was now one hour after midtide on an ebb tide so decided to have a go at the big scary cave. Peter and Phil did a mighty job rowing against the current and outcoming canoes and the water was shallowing. Cant tell you how pitch black it is in there – we finally got past all the canoes and made it to the end of the tunnel and finally (third time lucky) we could get through to the hong and we were the only ones in there! We knew we wouldn’t have long as the tide was dropping. We rowed into the hong – really big with lots of places for future exploring when we have time. But then we saw the most amazing thing. There was a gathering of monkeys and all the juveniles were swimming in the water – duck diving down and coming up and ducking each other, leaping from the tree into the water and swimming back to do it all again, splashing and playing with each other in the water – it was an awesome experience and something we have never seen before – swimming monkeys!!! Couldn’t stay too long as the tide was going out and the boys had an easier time getting out as we went with the tide. It is so very dark, bats on the ceiling – you can smell them as soon as you enter the cave. Great stalactites which looked like chandeliers and then we were out. Came back to the boat for a well earned beer and lunch and just sat looking at this awesome island.
Miles: 3 Total: 6,658

DAY 96 – Wednesday 12 May – Phanak to Yacht Haven
Upanchored around 11 and motored slowly with no wind to anchor off Yacht Haven marina. Headed for shore and called in to see Whistle Down the Wind on the way. Walked to the little village and then organised a hire car for tomorrow and then had a shower – a real shower albeit with cold water but in this weather that is very welcome. Met Jean and Dave for dinner at a little place called Coconut which just has one lady to do everything – cooking, cleaning, serving etc. Quite a feat.
Miles: 11 Total: 6,669

DAY 97 – Thursday 13 May – Yacht Haven
Picked up the hire car – heaps of room and fantastic air con!! Headed for old Phuket town which was fascinating with lots of wonderful old shops. Good material shops which were cheap without bargaining. Lost Debbie and Phil but found them again in time for lunch. We went to a little local restaurant and had good food. Then we went to the shopping centre so Phil could have his Swensons ice cream Sunday – we all managed to eat a huge ice cream Sunday and very nice it was too! We then headed to the beaches but it was a little late for a swim. Saw people having elephant rides – the elephants walking along the road. Saw a local market so stopped – it had fruit and veg, fish, chicken, clothes and all sorts of things. Headed back to the marina and didn’t have time for a shower as it was straight to happy hour and the barbeque buffet which was expensive but very nice. Geoff from Wavesweeper was there as well so we had quite a table full of people and it was a good night.

DAY 98 – Friday 14 May – Yacht Haven
Debbie and Phil’s last day – where did the time go!!
Headed into town to do some shopping. Dave and Jean came too as they had to collect their anchor chain and someone else’s anchor which had been galvanised. We stopped at a store called Super Cheap which turned out to be a huge warehouse that sold absolutely everything – food, meat, groceries, clothes, shoes, stationery, electrical, furniture – you name it and it was there. We spent an hour and didn’t scratch the surface – no air con in there so it was quite hot. Found the place to get the anchor and the chain – it was the biggest darn anchor – but we managed to get it all in with Dave tucked in the backseat behind the anchor and the chain neatly folded behind the back seat. Went to the supermarket and did some shopping. There was the strangest bug outside the supermarket in the garden (see the photo). We stopped at a temple on the way back which had a big reclining Buddhu on the roof of the building and lots of statues around the place. Then back to the boat for final packing. Debbie and Phil had a shower and we met them at the restaurant for dinner. A storm was threatening so they moved us further into the restaurant under cover and we had a huge meal then at 6.30pm headed to the airport just as it started to rain. Debbie and Phil checked in – the plane had been delayed an hour. All the passengers on their flight had their luggage searched but the Jetstar passengers to Singapore didn’t – odd! We said farewell to Debbie and Phil and headed off. We have had a wonderful time and it is kind of lonely without them! When we went to go out we didn’t have a parking ticket as we weren’t given one when we went in so we had to pull over and try to make them understand we didn’t have one. In the end they issued us with a ticket and took our 40 baht! Slept on the deck but at 4am it bucketed down rain so we had to quickly move inside.


It has been a wonderful few weeks with Debbie and Phil on board and we have thoroughly enjoyed their company. The boat is a little bigger and quieter now they have left and just a little bit lonelier. We want to thank them for all the help with the anchoring etc which saved Peter’s back – happy to report that his back is much better now. We are just waiting to get another quote for getting the boat painted and then we will be on our way back down to Langkawi. We are looking forward to the birth of our new grandchild who is due on 2nd June.

Take care all.

Love and Cheers
Fair winds and calm seas
Dell and Peter