Travelling solo does not always mean you’re alone. You meet marvelous people along the way and make connections that last a lifetime
DAY 2: I started off the day, meditating by the beach and people-watching. I thought to myself that I was finally on another country all by myself. A little nerve wrecking but I felt a sense of confidence as I navigated the main street to my breakfast place for the day.
Lion & Shark – tasty sandwiches, smoothie bowls and premium fruit juices. They have vegan options on their menu. Rustic ambiance with simple tasty food and a beautiful view of the mountains. It’s been ages since I ate a peaceful breakfast without my son constantly wanting my attention ( Oops sorry baby, Mummy loves you).
My guide fetched me at 2pm for my 7-island sunset tour. Remember to have a good lunch, bring along your selfie stick for photo-taking and a waterproof pouch to keep your handphone and other belongings safe. I would suggest buying one of those aqua shoes which are readily available in their shops for these island tours. My slippers gave way towards the end of my tour and I returned to my hotel room barefoot!
I booked the tour from Krabi Amazing Andaman Tours, specifically for night snorkeling with the bio luminescent plankton, which I wanted to experience.
I must say, the tour agencies are well-organised and systematic. At the jetty, the guides quickly directed tourists heading for different tours to their respective boats (big boats, long tail boats etc). They speak basic English and are able to cater to your requests, if you have small children with you. I requested for vegetarian food for my dinner, which was also part of the island tour.
First stop was Poda Island – a small island with a white, sandy beach and clear waters which you can take a quick dip in and take lots of pictures. There’s a snack shop where you can buy snacks and drinks. I bought an ice-cream, which was what I needed for the hot weather.
Next stop was Tup Island. At low tide, a sandbar appears from the waters and connects the larger Chicken island to the two smaller islands of Koh Mor and Tup. It was amazing to walk across the sandbar and take pictures. However, our guide ushered us back to the boat within 15 minutes as the tide was getting higher and also, you wouldn’t want to be stranded on the island when the sandbar disappears!
Next up, snorkeling near at nearby islands. I last went snorkeling in Boracay with my family and had forgotten how to breathe with the equipment given to me. Nevertheless after a few tries, I finally managed and was able to swim effortlessly. For those who are not confident in swimming, no worries – life jackets are provided and the friendly guide will also swim together with you.
At my second round of snorkeling, I was swimming around this huge rock and I was intending to complete the journey back to the boat. However, I realised that it was a far distance for me to swim around the rock and I was getting tired, so I reversed and started to swim back to the boat. As I was swimming, I was getting more tired and I was alternating between breaststroke and backstroke. Everyone else was already on the boat and I was still swimming!! I waved to my guide and thank God, my guide saw me and threw me a flotation device to hold on to while he pulled me in. My heart was still racing as I sat down in the boat. Lesson learnt: Keep close to the boat as there are chances to get tired while snorkeling.
Dinner was served at a nearby island – simple, homecooked food. I had a vegetarian option consisting of rice, vegetable kebabs and stir fried vegetables. I was dead hungry after snorkelling and this felt like heaven to me at that moment. I felt like an islander sitting on the sand and having my dinner under the night sky.
Next up, night snorkelling with the bio-luminescent plankton. Oh my god! It was a thrilling experience for me! At first I was afraid to enter the water as our guide said he was going to switch off all the lights on the boat after we are all in the water, so we can see the plankton clearly. I was bobbing up and down in the cold water close to the buoyancy balls, feeling nervous. Finally, when the lights are off, I waved my hands frantically under water and I saw the bio-luminescent plankton!! They were like small little blue sparks of current dashing around. So beautiful! At that moment, I felt like screaming my lungs out in happiness. Man! I was swimming in the Andaman Sea with the stars above me! I was feeling estactic and over the moon. I would highly recommend everyone to experience this.
Once back on shore, the guides and crew put up a fire show and displayed their skills. It was amazing to watch their performance as they were very talented. After the show, my tour guide drove me back to the hotel. It was a good, eventful day for me.
Wait up for Part 3 coming soon!
EuReka Moments 