Some of you may remember watching Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn on their safari aboard the African Queen. If you haven't, you should, it's worth it! The movie was old when I was a teenager. It was in black and white. It was so steamy! Everyone dripping all the time whether from the heat, some crazy side-tracked adventure or danger. The movie made quite an impression on me. And then we came to Thailand and there we were on a long tail boat, heading out an hour and a half from Koh Lanta, for some kayaking. Through the mangroves. Jungle noises buzzing, screeching, kaw kawing! It was steamy and I had my own Bogie beside me. We were also dripping with sweat, it was exciting! What an adventure.
This was our first major excursion into Thailand. The unknown. Lunch was on board, lots of water. Bogie - oops Ed! I meant Ed! - was gung ho. The scenery amazing. Blue water tinged in that glacial green (sans the glacier), birds, fish and other long tail boats (loud but very cool to look at). We were taken out to some islands, the biggest being Talabeng, which is the one we kayaked around. Ancient Karsts and really not very many other people. Just us and our guide.
We were dropped off on one small island and got into the double kayak and just started paddling. We didn't wear (I know, I know) life jackets so our boat didn't let us too far out of sight. It was great! Being so close to the karsts, being able to see the fish below us and just being in the moment. No phones, no radios crackling.
Once we came around to the outside of the island there were little nooks and crannies to poke the kayak in. We joined another small group and went into a cave. Our guide came in with the boat and we climbed up and up. Stalagmites, stalactites and large bats. So cool!
From there it was back into the long tail and off to Koh Kam for lunch. It very much reminded me of the Chesterman Beach crescent, except the sand was white. And it was hot. And we were dripping again - so into the water for a quick refresh!
This little company we went out with was great. Young Thai men, concerned about their environment. They talked about the mangroves being cut down to make charcoal - they had us each plant one and they do that with everyone they take out. They talked about the pollution in the water, the plastic in the ocean. They have beach cleanups after the monsoon season and before high season begins. It just all is so familiar and yet we are so far removed!
And so Bogie and I had a great day! Learned lots, taught some English and dripped.
We were dropped off on one small island and got into the double kayak and just started paddling. We didn't wear (I know, I know) life jackets so our boat didn't let us too far out of sight. It was great! Being so close to the karsts, being able to see the fish below us and just being in the moment. No phones, no radios crackling.
Once we came around to the outside of the island there were little nooks and crannies to poke the kayak in. We joined another small group and went into a cave. Our guide came in with the boat and we climbed up and up. Stalagmites, stalactites and large bats. So cool!
From there it was back into the long tail and off to Koh Kam for lunch. It very much reminded me of the Chesterman Beach crescent, except the sand was white. And it was hot. And we were dripping again - so into the water for a quick refresh!
This little company we went out with was great. Young Thai men, concerned about their environment. They talked about the mangroves being cut down to make charcoal - they had us each plant one and they do that with everyone they take out. They talked about the pollution in the water, the plastic in the ocean. They have beach cleanups after the monsoon season and before high season begins. It just all is so familiar and yet we are so far removed!
And so Bogie and I had a great day! Learned lots, taught some English and dripped.
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