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The highlight of the trip, today we'll make the trip into the Andaman Sea and the Similan islands. There is always something exciting about remote islands, and even though the popular nature reserve will hardly be deserted it promises to be something else. We get up early and pack up our things and check out of the hotel and sit down in the lobby like two zombies waiting for our transfer to pick us up. A white minibus arrives a little bit after 7.30 but it turns out it is not ours, and some other guests jump in. This scenario repeats a few times and since I imagine everybody is going to the Khao Lak docks it seems mighty inefficient. A glance at the watch and our transport is now more than half an hour delayed so we give the travel agent back in Phuket a ring. No worries they say, the bus is on the way, so we sit back and wait a bit more. The boat we're supposed to be on will leave the docks sometime around 9 am, and the next one isn't until tomorrow and this is starting to look a bit tricky. Twenty more minutes or so pass, still no sign of the driver and the hotel staff are beginning to feel a bit awkward, offering us some drinks while we wait. I call the agency again and by now the story is different. Apparently there is no car coming out to meet us, exactly why they are not sure. Dandy.

Since it now looks like we won't make the boat on time they suggest they could maybe rig us up with a fishing boat that could take us out there, but not really wanting to find out wat sort of rickety craft they would pull out we pass on the offer. However, wanting to make up for us they offer us to go on tomorrow's boat and a free night at another hotel in town, which we accept. The move to the Andaburi resort is ok, although it is not situated at the beach the room is much better. After settling in we head out to find the beach, which can be found by following a small path through forest and coconut dropping palm trees. One has to keep an eye to the sky to make sure there are no dangling coconuts above. And perhaps that is why the danger comes from below instead, as Kay steps on something sharp that cuts into her foot, so now we both have to be extra wary of the sea water. Down by the beach are little wooden cottages which are apparently an option for budget conscious travellers. The beach itself is picturesque and very peaceful, decidedly better than in the last place. Every wave keeps sending in groovy little crustaceans running across the sand like crazy.

Khao Lak seems to be even quieter this evening. We have dinner in the same thai restaurant as the day before and go watching the people out for an evening walk along the straight road that cuts through the town. Small fireworks can be observed here and there as the year of 2003 is thrown out the window and we have a new and hopefully better year to look forward to. And considering it will start with a trip to Ko Similan it ought to be great!

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