Asia: exploring New Places

  Our seven day  Catamaran trip has come to a close. The last three days were especially wonderful.  I got my sea legs and began to enjoy climbing in and out of the nooks and cranies of the boat. I no longer needed to force myself inch by inch into the somewhat chilly sea, I just went in and fully embraced being one with the ocean.  We both enjoyed the whole group of people we met aboard and by the end we all wished the experience wouldn't end. The crew were impressive.  Kung, our cook was a genius in the tiny galley-kitchen turning out several courses, three meals a day. Do, our captain took us to nearly deserted coves to snorkel and we were grateful. Chai, the shipmate filled several roles each day from handling repairs, helping in the kitchen, to stearing the boat.  But most of all Nolte, our wonderful leader, who calls South Africa his home, was incredible.  He is warm and generous with his time telling us stories, filling us in about the places w...

 January 29, 2026 What can one say about Koh Phi Phi other than like Railey it is crowded and spoiled. Since Michael and my visit 2008 much has  c hanged. A row of tidy white cement block store fronts, two years new,  line the beach. Ferries of various sizes and speed vie for room on the pier. Long boats take up most of the beach front.   Numerous visitors are lined up to disembark and others, laiden with suitcases, are waiting to leave. It is a crowded and somewhat chaotic scene. Our little rubber dingy slips in between two long boats and let's us off to explore. The weather is warm with a mild breeze and not much humidity.  We set off to meet at Anna's Cafe for a goodbye lunch with half our sailing buddies who will depart for home or other adventures.  We are sad to say goodbye to Brian and Colleen from Canada.  Brian,  our only male traveler managed wonderfully amongst nine women. Ellie and Kelly have a couple of nights to experience Phi P...

  It is Wednesday, January 28th.  Yesterday we snorkeled in the morning. The water was warm and lovely. The fish went about their daily routine not bothered by our presence.  Then, after lunch we moared just off Railey beach and, in the heat of the day, we were sent by dingy to shore. It was hot, humid and immediately I realized I'd left my water on the boat. Dozens of long tail boats ferrying people from Oh Nang were lined up on shore and many others wove among swimmers to come and go after a quick stop to unload yet more people.  The water was a murky aqua blue where people were swimming likely due to sunscreen rinsing off into the water. Due to the crowds, the boat traffic and unpleasant water, Annalisa and I headed into the town to seek refuge. The town is a collection of clap-board shacks sharing common walls on a mile long sandy walkway. Numerous pot and shroom shops are intermingled with souvenir and clothing stores. The musky smell of pot wafts through the hu...

  A mild cool breeze greets us each morning on our sweet Catamaran home for a week. Breakfast is being prepared by a lovely Thai woman , Kong, who works the hardest on this boat. No sooner is a meal finished and the dishes done than she starts to prepare the next multi-course meal in her tiny galley. Annalisa and I  scored a beautiful 4 person suite with a private bathroom with a door. Others were not so lucky. One room, a double, has a toilet in the middle of their tiny space, privacy be damed!. The water is a beautiful turquoise blue. Not a bath water warm as I remember from my previous trips here but refreshingly warm. Also there are lovely dinner plate size pink jelly fish pulsating through the water. They look like disgarded pink tu tus after a ballet performance.  We are told that if you "Just touch the top of it and push it aside it won't hurt you" Today we traveled for about an hour to our first snorkel site. Large limestone karsks just up several stories into ...