We load onto a big speedboat with three Yamaha 225 outboard motors and head out into the Andaman Sea.\u00a0 It takes about 40 minutes to arrive at our first destination.\u00a0 The ride is pretty bouncy for the first half.\u00a0 I\u2019m worried that Judy\u2019s proclivity for seasickness will come into play, but she has no problems.<\/span><\/p>\n The islands seem to grow straight up out of the water.\u00a0 We pull up to a small little inlet and begin unloading in pairs into inflatable canoes, each with a guide.\u00a0 We\u2019ve been told we\u2019ll canoe into a cave, and ultimately into the Mangrove Lagoon.\u00a0 Because the water level is up, we have to lie down as we move through the cave.\u00a0 We get to a point where several canoes are stopped, and people have climbed out into the water, while others just backed out of the cave.\u00a0 It makes for a really interesting time as the boats pass each other in the narrow confines.\u00a0 Our guide asks us if we want to swim?\u00a0 Huh?\u00a0 I thought we were going to canoe to this lagoon.\u00a0 Apparently the water is too high to continue in the canoe.\u00a0 We climb out, a little confused about what is happening, but others have done it, so why not us?\u00a0 We swim the remaining 50 yards or so to the end of the cave and come out into the sun.\u00a0 It\u2019s a gorgeous scene, so quiet and undisturbed.\u00a0 The water is absolutely glass.\u00a0 There are only 8 or 9 other people with us, and everyone is awestruck at the beauty.\u00a0 The walls are sheer, and must be 200 or more feet high.\u00a0 The only entrance is the cave we swam in thru.\u00a0 Amazing!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Headed toward the cave.<\/p><\/div>\n About to swim back to our canoe thru the cave.<\/p><\/div>\n We swim out, find our canoe, climb back in, and head out to another cave\/lagoon.\u00a0 This one requires climbing a ladder and walking through a dark cave, dealing with very uneven surfaces, lit only by our guide\u2019s headlamp.\u00a0 The view at the end is really peaceful and gorgeous, but our access is limited to only a small opening to peer through.\u00a0 We make our way back through the cave, working very hard not to sprain an ankle, or worse.\u00a0 Outside, we get back in the canoe and paddle back to the speedboat.<\/span><\/p>\n Next stop is another big island with canoeing around some small caves, and then a little open water.\u00a0 The views are breath-taking.\u00a0 It\u2019s kinda like Monument Valley, Utah, with water.\u00a0 After another short jaunt we arrive at James Bond Island.\u00a0 It\u2019s the island where some scenes for \u201cMan With the Golden Gun\u201d were filmed.\u00a0 There is a small beach area and several viewing points of the memorable island (see below).\u00a0 After this island, we move to an island with a floating gypsy village, where we are served a really nice buffet lunch.<\/p>\n It’s hard for us to believe we’re in Thailand! These are sights I never expected to see in person!<\/p><\/div>\n This is the familiar island as seen in “Man With The Golden Gun.”<\/p><\/div>\n On our way back to the marina, we notice the tide is out, and the boat is staying very close to the channel markings.\u00a0 The channel is really narrow.\u00a0 As we near the marina, we pass another of the tour speedboats that has run aground.\u00a0 I wonder if that group had to pay extra for the extra special experience they had (or will have).\u00a0 It was going to be interesting getting those 30 or so people off that boat at low tide with all the mud.\u00a0 I\u2019m really glad it wasn\u2019t us.<\/span><\/p>\n Back at the marina we are led to our van for the half-hour trip back to the Renaissance.\u00a0 We\u2019re home about 5:30.\u00a0 It has been a fun but long day, and we\u2019re both beat.\u00a0 15 minutes after we walk in, there is a knock on the door, and the hotel delivers a birthday cake for Judy.\u00a0 I guess they had noted it from her passport.\u00a0 It was a perfect topper to the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Happy Birthday!!!<\/p><\/div>\n Special preparations are going on below in the restaurant for the big Chinese New Year celebration.\u00a0 There are lots of colorful decorations.\u00a0 At 7:30, fireworks kick off the evening.\u00a0 There was supposed to be a big drum performance at some point, but we were both asleep when, and if it occurred.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Happy Birthday Judy!!\u00a0 She is now\u00a0 ???? years old.\u00a0 We\u2019re celebrating with a boat trip into the Phang Nga Bay National Park area.\u00a0 The tour title is \u201cJames Bond Island\u201d and canoe trip.\u00a0 We are picked up early at the … Continue reading ![\"Island2\"](\"http:\/\/gordonandjudy.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Island2.jpg\")
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