Day 43 / Tag 43, Mon. April 24 Koh Lanta to Ao Nang

Must get closer to Krabi Airport, my flight to Borneo goes at 8am, allow 2 hours for check in on international flight, that's 6am, travel time from Koh Lanta 3 hours, that would make it 3am. And there is a ferry connection from Koh Lanta Noi to the mainland, which doesn't operate during the night hours. So I'll have to go to the mainland before anyway. I decide to go to Krabi for two days, Ao Nang, to be precise. Have never been there, so why not take a look

Short chat with the swedish lady, warm goodbye from and to the thai family at Bee Garden. Of course we will all see each other again next season...

and I want to recommend it:

contact@lantabeegarden.com (for any questions)

Day 42 /Tag 42, April 23 Diving Koh Haa again

Last diving with Kon Tiki from Koh Lanta, this time on a different boat, of Go Diving Lanta.
This cannot compete in any way with the "Kon Tiki Queen"
Two tanks only, not enough divers wanting a third dive.
My guide is Mateo, Master of buoyancy, dives without any weights at all, equipment reduced to the max. He loves overhangs and overhead situations obviously.

We have a professional photographer on board with a huge monstrous SLR Camera, wide angle, dome and spider like lighting arms.
He sells photos after the dives, one for 500 Baht, all the next for 300 each, it a full set of 50 for 2000 Baht.
I cannot decide to put out 2000 for six Fotos of me in the water...

My Camera freaked out again. Maybe it doesn't like Koh Haa? ;-)
But anyway, here are some shots that I could rescue,  to give you an idea what Koh Haa diving can be about: topography, swimthrus, caves, overhangs, tunnels...
Lots of "overhead situations"
I believe Ella and Andrea from Koh Tao would like that a lot

Day 41 / Tag 41 Sat., April 22 Wish you were here.To the Lighthouse

To the lighthouse
Does that title sound a bell with anyone?
Book by Virginia Woolfe, 1928, about loss, subjectivity, the nature of art and the problem of perception
I don't regret my losses, I am fine with my subjective view on the world, try to add some art to the universe and perceive things happening around me in my own, sometimes detailed, way.

Khlong Kong, Koh Lanta, Krabi, Thailand, Southeast Asia, Earth,

Day 40 /Tag 40, April 21 Diving the Koh Bidas

Finished the Amoxycillin therapy with the last of ten tablets this morning.
I declare myself fully recovered now.

Second trip on the Kon Tiki Queen, starting with some choppy sea, but getting better. Service on the boat outstanding like the last time, especially Mama Jap in the kitchenette and also on the dive deck, and Mr. Bird, deck hand and responsible for filling the tanks between dives.

Just some pics from the dives, not as spectacular as the Koh Haa material

cool Kuhl's Stingray

Day 37-39 / Tag 37-39, April 18-20 Koh Lanta Diving and Driving

Day 37, April 18, Lanta Bee Garden, Khlong Dao, Koh Lanta
Lanta Bee Garden is the last small and family resort left on Klong Dao Beach.
This is the second time I am here,

and this place is so beautiful. Clean and well maintained, they really take care of their site.

I start to check around for dive centers.

Day 36 / Tag 36, April 17. Traveling to Koh Lanta

Gave back the scooter at Poi's, wait for the pickup at 12, ferry boat to Lanta.
Change boats at the pier on Koh Phi Phi, as always there is someone who doesn't get it and comes late for the second boat, so we go back to pick them up,

Day 34-35 / Tag 34-35, April 15-16 Quiet days in Kata. Lost and Found

Hello and Sawasdee to everybody!
If you risk something, be prepared to take some losses...

And here is to you directly from the "Lost and Found"-Department, balance sheet after 33 days of travel:

1. Forgot a fine, handmade straw hat from Spain on a minibus
2. Can't find my black Jeans and olive color shorts with the many handy pockets. Must be at TT Nai Yang. I'll write Meow later. (Update: she never answered the email)
3. My simple phone for calls in Thailand stopped working. No way to re-animate it.To the bin.
4. Worst of all, I obviously forgot my Visa card in the ATM of Bangkok Bank on Koh Tao, close to Ban's Diving... Those were the fever days, looks like I was not quite myself...
   This was a good one, because that bank refunds you the fees for using the card abroad. Noticed only yesterday, after 7 days, because I didn't need the card until then.
5. Update April 18: Just broke the left glass on my glasses on Koh Lanta,...

OK, so the travel becomes lighter (less luggage) and more expensive (backup visa card charging fees for use abroad).

I want to buy a reef hook for Raja Ampat at Dive Supply in Chalong, but everything is closed, we had Thai New Year, Songkran, the day before yesterday, and most shops take that opportunity to make a short vacation. By the way, Thailand is now in year 2560!

Went to see my friends at the "On the Rocks" beach restaurant at the southern end of Kata Noi, they are closed today, have a wedding with 80 guests for the entire afternoon.

My favorite Beach Bar in Kata Noi, "On the Rocks"

I could be of some help for them