it is a bit choppy out at sea, so life preservers on,
the storm clouds are closing in, whilst it is quiet in the bay it will not be for the next stage of our journey,
all the boats many of them with triple engines, all lined up and ready to go, you are given a wrist band to wear, we were blue team,
all is OK so far,
well for me it is OK all the way,
and the good news also for Diana,
not so for many of the other tourists, after 30 minutes or so at least one in three were having a technicolor yawn,
the boat behind like us was bouncing like a cork in a bottle, mercifully at last we found the lee side of an island, to be fair the guide did say it was going to be rough and a full money back offer was made as it was known that some of the islands were unapproachable due to a three to five meter swell,
but we made it to the bird caves where the nests are collected for making bird nest soup, even so we could not go inside,
even from the outside they looked impressive,
imagine what they must have been like 200 years ago without the advent of Health and Safety!
the sea was as clear as crystal, just a pity it was so rough,
then we made our way in to the lagoon which can only be done at near high water,
the strange thing is that at low water even shallow boats can not past the sand bar at the entrance even thought the lagoon is over 20 meters deep, stranger still is that no fish, crabs or shrimps live in the lagoon, not even one,
difficult to see but the rain is pouring down,
Lee our guide for the day and good he was too,
we are now into the lagoon proper,
a look along our boat from the front to the back,
not our boat but we have the same, three 225 horses power engines, when all three get on song it is a noise to behold,
the boat is not so bouncy now,
many took the time to have a swim after the sickness of the journey over,
it was so calm in here,
in fact despite the rain it got quiet crowded at times,
nice boat,
after a swim we made our way out of the lagoon,
as a few other boats made their way in,
as we made our way out you could easily see the way the ocean had under cut the limestone cliffs,
and as the rain water had dissolved the lime stone secreted it back as these stalactites,
also through the rain we could see these what looked like outcrops made of barnacles,
strange to look at especially as they were left high and dry when the tide went out,
almost like the bow of a modern ship,
then it was our turn to return to the high seas,
calm in there but getting choppy now,
as we pasted Big Boot Island, the cry for plastic bags was heard again,
but as luck would have it, the short trip was made with only 50% of the tourists feeling the effects of the inclement weather,
I now knew where we were, monkey bay, how did I know?
look at the sign, as it was the monkeys had more sense than us and stayed in the dry out of the rain,
as I was looking at our fellow travellers throwing up, I could not help thinking this is the boat that I want as it past us, what was wroung if I owned it with yelling out, 'full ahead both and bring me a pink gin!', that great old Royal Navy drink,
next bay a cooling off for Diana,
it is low season so hardly anyone here,
on this island every tree had a legend on it, the blue sign on the trunk,
I guess an agricultural project regarding coconut production,
one of the many long tail boats we have seen on our travels,
but this one is a bit different,
direct drive in 1:1 is usaual, but I have never seen a triplex chain to achive it, but it is not 1:1, the drive on the ring gear is smaller than the drive to the propelor, strange,
at the front the three essentials, crank shaft driving a water pump and an alternator, no surprises there then,
storm clouds on the horizon,
a quick pose by Diana then we were off, 
the crew were very good offering around pineapple and watermelon,
we made our way past a few more bays,
the yacht I longed for had over taken us and parked up, lets be truthful here, I could not afford to fill it up with fuel, could you? if the answer is yes you are my new friend!
a small part of the Thai fishing fleet waiting for night, it looks like they all have squid booms,
another group of fishermen going out to work,
and some coming home,
whilst we were anchored here we threw out some bread,
the water almost boils with fish coming up to eat it,
there were so many, literaly hundreds of them, such a lovely sight to see,
speaking of lovely sights, what a great way to remember Dad, when this child grows up she will cherish this picture he is taking of her feeding the fish for ever,
another room with a view,
luckily the seas started to calm as we made our way to the next stop,
we went past a few local homes, then made land fall,
now which chair to choose? oh the agony of choice, it's just like being on holiday,
shame about the weather, so over cast,
a good selection of food for lunch,
water wings a plenty,
'oh look a new dress!'
coconut with chicken, rice and vegtables,
if I thouught our boat was fast with three engines what about this one with five!
all lined up and ready for the race home,
and this is where we ended up, at the Nonthasak Marine,
if you want more details look here, then it was home and shower and get ready for the night out.
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