Day 3 - Wednesday 18 March 2015

Ban Chomlay Resort……..When directed to Ban Chomlay Resort I was skeptical as this type of accommodation doesn’t fit in well with my plans but the owner seemed very helpful. I learnt that this resort of only six bungalows was owned by the Phu Yai Baan (head of the village). After dinner on the terrace yesterday it finally sank in that this was a special place to relax away from mass tourism and at the very least I should stay another night. I brought back from the town something for breakfast although I knew that coffee and toast would be provided. The owner then offered to warm my food and fried an egg to go with it. The resort doesn’t warrant a restaurant but I’ve already realised I can get what I want in the town to bring back and eat at the resort. This would offset the cost of accommodation here and why would you want to go on tour when you are already in magical surroundings. It would be criminal not to stay here another night.

Khanom Port……..With a vehicle available it’s so easy to get out and about yet with the beach just yards away, there has to be good reason for that. I just laze around till 1pm but of course it’s lunchtime. I make an effort to go into town, take a simple lunch and then head to the port area to take some photos. However that excursion is brief as my desire to return to the beach takes over. At the resort, after a dip in the ocean, its siesta time and I don’t emerge again till after 4pm. I figure that’s enough and study a local map. There is one thing that is a feature of the coastline here and it’s the rare pink dolphins which appear offshore in the mornings. There are several locations where you can hire a boat to go out to view them. Nothing like that has been factored into this tour but I would like to visit some of the bays north from Khanom. At 4.30pm there’s still 2 hours of daylight left and I’m soon on my way.

Coastline……..The minor roads are a bit tricky but I make it to the cape, Leam Pratup. This is one of the locations to hire a boat but when I arrive there is little activity this late in the day. However the long-tailed boats lined up at the quay provide an amazing photo opportunity as does the Thong Nien Bay itself. Beyond this bay are three smaller bays then at the next headland is the provincial border with Surat Thani Province. Immediately after is the Don Sak Ferry Port servicing the island of Koh Samui. Leam Pratup is the furthest point possible in a time that allows me to return to Khanom before dark. From the cape I make my way back taking in one bay after another till I arrive back in town. From Leam Pratup the next bay, Thong Node Bay, is quite small and deserted apart from an angler. The bay after Kwang Pao Bay is not much bigger but with a beach road running along its length, there is space for a number of resorts and restaurants. One keen resort owner offers to show me inside one of his bungalows. It’s the same price I’ve been paying but a class above in luxury. I’m impressed with the room but this bay, while still quiet, is far from deserted with a number of foreigners and Thais occupying the beach. Any thoughts I have of changing accommodation however, must be subdued. It’s almost certain I will be moving on tomorrow. Arriving back in Khanom, I locate another bay next to the Khanon Electricity Generating Company facility. It’s packed and dirty. I’ve no intention of staying. I take dinner in the town and buy something to take back to the room. It’s a repeat of last night and the novelty still hasn’t worn away. I complete my blog early and at 9pm simple laze in a deckchair on the beach staring into the gloom with the ever present lapping of waves as accompaniment. Next Page.