faraway

To the east of Phuket Islands in the Andaman Sea are a group of small limestone islands. On our Thailand vacation we went on a unique tour of these islands with John Gray's SeaCanoe Company. John Gray is white bearded guy who has been exploring these islands by kayak and canoe for decades. We actually got this tour as a freebie for going to a marketing promotion provided by J.W. Marriot Hotel.

Our host is jolly thin man named Sunny. He explains the safety precautions and is a humorous and gentle host. He takes a liking to Zach, saying “he is a good boy, his English is good.” Later after the tour is over, we find out that most of the crew are Thai Muslims.

These islands stick up out of the sea like pegs or the crooked teeth of some undersea giant. The tides and currents have eroded the limestone over a millennia and created intricate tunnels and spectacular caverns in the islands. The tour guys shuttled us out to the island in this big boat. Jacob and Zach were in high spirits. It was a big adventure. The first island we visited was Panuk Island which is an undulating series of sharp peaks sticking out of the sea like a crocodile spine. The base of the island has been carved and scooped away by the sea leaving impossible-looking fingers of rock stick downwards. There are holes and shallow caves everywhere.

As we approached the island, we were greeted by a dozen brown eagle-like birds. I don’t know the species but they looked cool. The crew threw chicken skins (leftovers from the galley’s lunch preparation) out to sea behind the boat. The birds careened, swooped and dived fearlessly to the surface of the water to snatch the free meals. This island is their home and I suppose it’s a just toll that we paid to enter their domain.

We arrive at the cave mouth. The crew takes all the passengers in small groups in yellow inflatable sea canoes. Our guide, Han, is a calm, sharp-eyed young man. Our family fit into one canoe. Zach was in the front with a flashlight, Galuh in middle with camera, Jacob and I in the back. Han sat in the very back with a kayak paddle. The cave opening is enormous and we find ourselves in a long water tunnel. Another tour of boisterous tourists streamed by us, their excited voices echoing in the dark chamber, Zach’s flashlight briefly illuminating their faces, occasionally their blue rubber canoes colliding with ours. For a moment I feel like I am on some subterranean water thoroughfare highway. Then suddenly they are gone and the tunnel is quiet.

This tunnel opens into an enormous hole in the middle of the island. Sheer cliffs rise around us and above the sky is dotted with clouds. We floated there for some time, appreciating the mystery of the place. I told Zach that if we were pirates this would make a good secret hideaway.

After lunch, our boat proceeds to Hong Island. This island looks like a castle with massive towers guarding its sides. Another tunnel awaits us, narrower and darker than the previous one. In certain places we all have to lie down in the canoe to pass through. That part was fun. There a big rock on the ceiling of the cave which glitters were we shire light on it. As a result they call the cave diamond cave. I doubt it’s really diamonds. Someone would have hammered it out by now. Beyond that is another cliff enclosure, rocky wall towering above us on all side. This one has a gap by which we departure. The gap is dominated by another tower of rock.

Before dinner, the guides led all the passengers in a Thai arts and craft lesson as we created special offerings to the sea goddess from banana leaves and stem, flowers, incense and candles. After dinner, in the middle of the dark ocean, we return to Hong Island, with offerings. Back in the rock enclosure, the candles were lighted and the offerings set off to float. The many candle lights on the dark water formed an enchanted magical glow.

During this trip we also saw a lot of animals that we have only seen on Animal Planet such as bats, mucky fish, a kingfisher, jelly fish, and crabs.

We had the best day trip ever. Enjoy the other pictures below!