Day 214 (Tues 6 Feb) - Koh Lanta

Up early for a light breakfast.

At 8.30am our boat arrived and moored up just beyond the rocks. We waded out and had to sit at the back of the boat adjacent to the three powerful looking engines as there were a load of people on board.

We powered off and traveled for about an hour; Jo and I receiving a thorough soaking as we went!

We stopped just offshore from a small island where we donned snorkels and fins. The water looked absolutely fantastic; turquoise blue! Jo decided to wear a life jacket as this was her first time snorkeling. Sarb debated whether to wear one or not but decided against.

Jo got in first and was soon seen bobbing up and down some 20/30 yards from the boat. When Sarb got in he managed to inhale a large quantity of the ocean that left him spluttering and clutching the side of the boat! Once he'd got himself together he soon met up with Jo and we had an excellent time of it. Unknown to Sarb, Jo was having her own issues concerning the mouthpiece of the snorkel. Once she'd figured out how to clamp it in her mouth, and divested herself of a couple of unwanted litres of sea water, she was all set.

The corals and fish were amazing. Huge cauliflower shapes of coral were below us; some so high they were no more than 2 feet others were some 20 or 30 feet deep. Saw all kinds of highly coloured fish!

After about 40mins we got back on the boat and headed off to a larger island where we had lunch on the beach. Got chatting to an English couple that had recently married.

Post lunch we sat on the beach, occasionally having a swim or a snorkel. As we sat there a huge clipper came towards the island and moored up. Looked quite majestic!

After lunch we were back on the boat to another small island for two more snorkeling sessions. One of our sessions was very close to the rocky shallows where we saw schools of thousands of tiny fish. Swimming through them was quite an experience.

Both had a brilliant day as we headed back to Koh Lanta.

Whilst Jo went to tend her sunburn Sarb went for a beer. Turns out that as Jo was wearing a life jacket her butt was up very near the surface of the water and was hence duly frazzled. Sarb met up with an American guy, who now lived and worked in China, and his mum who had come over from Florida for a holiday that had also been on the boat. Whilst we chatted Jo joined us and we were all soon comfortably settled on the rugs laid out on the beach.

Jo and I had dinner at the restaurant and booked our bus to go back to Krabi for 1pm t'row. Just before lights out Jo decided to show Sarb the colour of her butt. Has to be said that there are few simians out there that have a redder rear!