James Bond Island Tour

Up shortly after 7:00, tired to wake Erin up 4 times. She finally got up at 7:30.

I'm feeling crappy today, I think I have a head cold. Bugger. Scratchy throat and a general suckiness feeling.

I had breakfast, then we waited for our bus to pick us up for the tour to James Bond Island, named so because the 1970 James Bond movie, "Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed there (at least partially). I'm going to have to rent the movie now.

First we passed mangrove forests, then Tham Lod, a cave that the boat passes through. Then past a Muslim floating fishing village, then made our way to James Bond Island. Spent some time there with lots of other tourists, then we boated back to the floating village and had lunch. The floating village has a mosque and has been there for 200 years.

We then got back on the bus and went to Wat Suwankhuha, a very cool cave that's a Buddhist temple and has a HUGE lying Buddha that is made of 30% gold. Lots and lots of monkeys here as well, stealing people's food.

Next stop was a national park, where we took a short hike in the jungle and were able to swim in a nice, clean stream and saw many small waterfalls.

When we got back to the guest house, Burger Chef was parked just outside. He had read my mind, I was saying to Erin I could totally use a burger. Bought a burger, showered, then walked around and found Erin having a drink and eating at a restaurant near the waterfront.

Erin and I are not going north. Erin figures everything she wants to see she can see down south, and with only a week left, doesn't want to spend time travelling, and also LOVES the ocean. And, she has a bazillion other excuses.

Me, I want to do a Similan Island liveaboard diving trip, which consists of 4 days and 4 nights on a boat, diving around the very remote Similan Islands, some of the best world class diving in the world. So, I need to hit up a bunch of dive shops down south to see about making arrangements.

We decided to do an elephant trek tomorrow (something else on her list to scratch off) and go to Koh Lanta the next day.

After Erin ate, we walked to a night shopping market located in a park along the waterfront. Locals selling all kinds of clothes, handbags and stuff like that. After that, went for dessert at the night food market (handmade coconut and chocolate ice cream...yumyum).

On our walk back to the guest house, we stopped at another pub and had a beer while we sat on beach chairs on the street. We watched two Brits almost get into a fight. One was drunk, and was threating the other one, when all of a sudden he would break into a weird dancing routine or threaten to take off all his clothes. It was funny and bizarre.

We then hit the sack.