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After a rainy night and a taxi driver with 558,846 miles on the clock in Phuket we decided to move to Koh Yao Noi, an unspoilt island set between the famous limestone karsts of Phang Nga just 30 mins boat ride from Phuket. We are staying in a wooden bungalow on stilts in the rainforest, but just 3 minutes walk from the beach. We are the only guests! Although we paid £5 each a night for this place, the view is worth 10 times more with sights over the many islands. I have seen a few hornbills with their distinctive beaks and some huge butterflies from the deck chair I am sat in at the moment, not the mention the several storms that I have seen coming from the mainland! The reason why this island is not that popular with tourists is that it doesn't have the typical beaches you might expect, instead they are very small due to the tides and a little rocky. In my mind though they are perfect as we have spent every moment on the beach without a sole in sight!
We did meet some young Israeli honeymooners one night and ended up going on a longtail boat trip the next day with them. It was cheaper to do it this way as the prices are for the boat hire. We went to Koh Hong and other islands, the ones we can see from our balcony. I particularly enjoyed the turquoise lagoon we swam in nestled by rocky stacks and mangroves, and the national park where blue and yellow fish surrounded us in the water. It was at this national park where we visited a nature trail and came across rather large spiders and two giant water monitor lizards- apparently not harmful but after googling it I now know that they are the second largest lizard to the Komodo Dragon and are carnivorous! Next time we will be more careful! Overall a great day.
Today we hired bicycles for free thanks to our bungalow owner (the islands' only policeman). After consulting the map we aimed for a few beaches north. It looked about 2km on the map but turned out to be about 6km due to the hills, which probably seemed worse as it was particularly hot today! We made it finally and had another beach to ourselves apart from the few kayakers in the distance. We then stopped at somewhere to eat, a noodle dish of course and then headed back to our balcony in the hills.
I would recommend this place to everyone, if you can handle a fan instead of air con and a cold water shower, the view out ways any negatives! Off to Ko Samui tomorrow which is going to be a long boat, bus, bus and then another boat to get there.
Stats to date:
Number of Changs: 6
Islands visited: 6
Mosquito bites: 7
Fireflies in the room: 15+
- comments
Debbie Hiya, your photos are amazing, looks like your both having a great time, how Are you getting around the islands , by boat?? Bungalows look great , really only £5 that's so cheap , not sure about the lizards and spiders though! We are all fine, I've just put the heating on today, it's got really cold , speak soon xxx
Becci Hi Guys!! Sounds like you are both having an amazing time!!! Scott and I got back from holiday on Sunday and reading this has made my holiday blues so much worse! Looking forward to keeping up with what you are doing :) Lots of Love Becky (& Scott)