As the anchor slipped in the Andaman Sea, a silence of expectation rose to the boat. Here we were about a dozen tourists from the look of limestone karst that punctuate the landscape of lakes between Phuket and Krabi on the southern coast of Thailand the shadows made us on our adventure.
For my part I do not really know what to expect, as the crew loaded the bright yellow kayaks. I need to paddle? Can I find my way into the dark caves?
MyQuestions were soon answered as the head guide had the briefing. Once we had on our life jackets, he said that we would pair and take on one of the guides are waiting in their kayaks and share that from now around the boat like chicks distributed to her mother.
Stepping gently smiled at my allotted kayak, I nervously in my guide, a typical Thai-beaming smile. If you know Thailand will you know what I mean: the kind of smile that can be seen from space. Our guide was "Nit" beName, we paddled easily removed from the mother ship, and from now on, closer to the imposing cliffs of the island, the first of many, we would get to know with certainty that day.
This trip was a pioneer of Caveman 'American John Gray. It was in 1989 that John the "Hong" Phang Nga Bay in Thailand: discover the Thai word "hong" means space and refers to the open space within this limestone islands. If you can imagine that some of these islandsPhang Nga Bay are shaped like donuts, the guy with a hole in the middle. John discovered that at low tide it is possible to follow a network of caves through the limestone rock into an inner world.
In the same year John set up his company, Sea Canoe, and so successful was his concept that he brought forth many imitators companies, including more than a few sea canoes. To avoid confusion, John has once again called his company John Gray's Sea Canoe.
"Nit," said in his verygood English, that would at certain points in our journey through the caves, we are flat on his back because of the low ceiling are. You can imagine at this point I was beginning to reason about my decision to pull me out of bed in the morning, you simply put yourself in danger of asking. At the same time I was to find out which way the tide was running. If these caves only accessible at low tide, how much time we have had us in and out before the floodturned on?
"And when you inside," Nit voice interrupted my thoughts, "to protect the environment, there are no speeches and no smoking" Excellent. Now I remembered why I put life and limb at risk. It was this idea of visiting a pristine environment, the first had attracted me.
The caves were ever closer now than Nit maneuvered our kayaks through the darkness. "Lie down," as he whispered his flashlight cover a low-hanging rocks. The ceiling of the cavewas always closer to my face and I had to turn my head to scratch my nose on the sharp lime to prevent it. This was really exciting again, although I was not sure how long I could crawl with this claustrophobic feeling that starting to deal with was for me.
But within minutes, began to open the cave again and a hint of light caressed the cave wall.
As I squinted into the bright sunlight, however, we, in a land that time forgot. Trees were hanging on the steepScrub-covered walls of the "Hong" and reached for the bright blue sky. A sea eagle plunged low to see, were these intruders. And all was peace and tranquility.
The family of the kayaks paddled slowly through the hong, the inmates in awe of this magical, secret location in southern Thailand. The only sounds were the lapping of the water, the cry of cicadas, the clicking of cameras and whispers of excitement.
All too soon it was time to head back. JohnGray’s professional guides were well aware of the movement of the tides and making sure we were through those caves in good time.
The excitement only increased with each ‘hong’ we explored and the memories of that day will never leave me.
This Sea Canoe day excursion is available from Phuket, Thailand: it is a relatively expensive one but for me it was worth it.
