Sunday 9 December........(cont. from Page 10)

Back on two wheels……..As a change I take a full American breakfast at the restaurant I’ve used before just a couple of minutes away from Sea Beach. I can also pick up the weekend sports news on the internet. Unfortunately the WiFi signal at Sea Beach doesn’t extent to my room. I also manage to collect some information on local tourist attractions. So far I’ve not been able to locate a decent map of the area noting there doesn’t seem to be a tourist information centre on Haad Thung Whua Lean. I also have some difficulty when I come to rent a motorbike. Two shops nearby have only newer machines and the practice here is to charge extra for these. I seem to have left it too late to have a choice. However I persevere and much further down the beach I find one for 200 baht at one of the resorts. Formalities complete I head off south. My destination is the port of Pak Nam Chumphon and the nearby beach at Haad Sai Ri however by taking the coastal road and referring to local signboards other tourist attractions present themselves. Most of the tourist attractions and direction signs are in English as well as Thai so it’s not too difficult and if one can overcome language difficulties I find Thai people generally most willing to help. Soon a number of viewpoints from this rugged coastline are signposted.
Sahm See-am……..This is a small fishing community not far south of Haad Thung Whua Laen. Easily missed to the left of the main road it is a refuge for small fishing boats on a river tributary leading to a pier. While at midday there is little activity, being a weekend, a few individuals and families endure the strong sun to fish off the pier bringing with them beer and snack meals.
Ao Kaw Kwang……..About 15 kilometres south of Haad Thung Whua Laen a blue tourist signboard indicates the presence of a viewpoint. Following the sign takes you along a headland with magical views of the bays on either side and the islands beyond but otherwise there is nothing here. Ao Kaw Kwang is translated as the deer’s neck bay.
Hua Thannon…….. At the end of the next larger rocky bay really unsuitable as a beach location where I stop for a coffee and to replenish the fuel I’ve used, Hua Thannon is the former pier for ferry boats departing for Ko Tao before the new port was constructed at Pak Nam Chumphon. Hua Thannon translates as head (of the) road, really end of the road or dead end.
(cont. on Page 12)