Day 3 - Friday 20 November 2015

Koh Tao full day trip……..I can’t say I’ve had a bad night’s sleep but I’m awake early. After a session updating my blog I try to get other hours slept before I need to get ready for the day’s activity but eventually as breakfast is not included at Utopia Guesthouse, I trudge off to 7Eleven to find something. That done, I turn to the day’s planned activity which is a round the island tour. I’m told to report to the booking office at 8.30am but then they tell me I will be collected at 9am. Why didn’t I stay in bed? Then at 9am I’m collected in a pickup truck and I’m curious where it’s headed. When they deposit me at the main pier it’s hard for me to contain myself. What is 2 kms by road is 400 metres on foot: Just crazy! What is the actual departure time I wonder? At the pier we’re greeted by the guide, a foreigner most likely from the USA. He’s clearly been here a long time as his Thai is quite good. We’re soon on the boat, a converted trawler, I believe, and there is further delay while they wait for more passengers. Really this is one of the most idyllic locations in Thailand yet we can’t get started. Perhaps the only consolation is that coffee, tea and water are free. Just help yourself. OK let get going!

Shark Bay……..According to the itinerary there will be five stops around the island, culminating at the iconic Koh Nangyuan. All of the stops offer snorkeling as an option and almost without exception, the complement is eager for this. It’s what tourists do here. The boat heads out around the south of the island offering stunning views of the rocky coastline. Unlike yesterday there is sunshine with well broken cloud. This should be some trip. The boat rocks in a slight swell that adds a taste of adventure. Koh Tao has hardly any flat land and here resorts and residences cling precariously to the rock face. Some are accessed by road climbing steeply over the mountain. Others can only be reached by boat. At Shark Bay: We’re told there are sharks but they don’t bite, the boat stops and we get the first taste of snorkeling. But to be honest this is a bit disappointing as much of the coral is dead. Is this going to be the pattern? Nevertheless it gives me chance to practice: I haven’t done this for a few years. Back on the boat we head for location number two.

Aow Leuk……..Ao Leuk translates as ‘deep bay’. Some of the passengers who prefer to be on the roof are told it’s safe to jump. I’ll use the ladder. Directed to rocks on the shoreline, at last I see fish in abundance. It’s like being in a large marine fish tank: Just wonderful. We get more time here but it’s always over far too soon. I can’t believe it’s lunchtime already, as most are aboard eating rice from plastic containers. I know what I feel about the meal but more to the point it’s a good chance to feed the fish. On to the next bay.
Aow Hin Rong……..Aow Hin Rong is a horseshoe bay on the eastern coastline. The compliment is asked whether they want to snorkel here or head straight on to Koh Nangyuan. Now I’m confused. This is stop three and Koh Nangyan is the last. What about number four? After some confusion most jump into the water once more. Certainly where the boat anchors there is the same coral not looking too healthy. We’re recalled after fifteen minutes.
No mangoes……..Heading off the boat now reaches the northern tip of Koh Tao. Here is Mango Bay but it seems that number four goes missing. When somebody mentions Mango they're told there’s no mangos only pineapples. Ever get the feeling you’re being ripped off by sharks?
Koh Nangyuan……..The guide is now anxious to reach Koh Nangyuan. I must admit this is not a name I’m familiar with but those who know Koh Tao will readily explain that this is the most iconic location it has to offer. Basically Koh Nangyuan is an island cut off from Koh Tao by a stretch of water a couple of kilometers across. It is famous for its diving spots and its great snorkelling beach. It is actually more like two islands which are connected by a sand bar. Normally you can walk between the two in shallow water. It’s this impressive beach that attracts perhaps 1,000 people per day. They all arrive by boat at a pier. There is now an element of protection of the reef and foreigners are charged 100 baht for entry. Arriving at around 1pm there are three hours allocated for this stop. The boat cannot wait at the pier similar to Halong Bay in Vietnam: It’s just that busy. You can take what you need off the boat but no plastic bottles or cans. This means if you need a drink you will pay vastly inflated prices much as you do at airports. For me there are only two activities I can manage. Snorkelling of course but also I'm able to climb to the top of the hill on the smaller island where there are easily some of the best views in Thailand: Well worth the effort despite the heat. But to stay cool the only place to be is in the water, preferably for snorkling. At 4pm everybody queues up to get on board the boat. It’s now just fifteen minutes back to jetty at Mae Haad.

Street food........We’re in no hurry to get back to the guesthouse but there is transport waiting. I see little point in using it as I look around for something to eat. Here at the port there are a few street food vendors: I doubt if there is any elsewhere on the island. This will help with the budget as things today didn’t go exactly as planned.
A wake up call........Despite everything, today should have been perfect. The tour of Koh Tao ticks all the boxes, a must for everybody arriving here and one of those days that will stick in the memory a long time. Just one stupid mistake I made has caused me to finish the day in a rather subdued mood. At Aow Leuk, while swimming back to the boat my mask and goggles wrapped around my head became detached. By the time I realised it, it was too late. The guide did go out to look for it but to no avail. So rather than my blog today being of no use to anyone but me, there is a lesson for all. Don’t lose your equipment. The fine is 1,500 baht. Apart from that my upper arms are red: I normally cover up and stay out of the sun. It’s another early night and I’ll take that beer to ease the pain. Next Page.