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Published: February 24th 2012
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Happy Valentines Day!
Some young Thais had carved a heart in the beach and put candles in. Sweet! Next stop: The island of Ko Lipe; it’s more or less the most southerly island before the Malaysian border.
We left the island of Ko Ngai on Friday and headed to Satun, we’d been told that it was possible to go to the Tamalang Pier there and get our Thai visa renewed so we figured once that was done we could go off to Ko Lipe but I was sceptical. The boat to Ko Lipe left at 12.30 so in case of any hitches we arrived at the pier soon after 8am on Saturday morning.
I was right things weren’t that simple, the only way to renew the visas was to get stamped out of Thailand, go to a destination in Malaysia, then come back and get stamped into Thailand again. The problem here was that the cheapest route was to the small Malaysian island of Puala Perla, 30 minutes boat ride away but there was a snag. The boat would only go if there were 10 people or more and no one else seemed to want to go, then of course we’d need to get back and there was no guarantee the boat would
return. It was looking like we’d have to go to Langkawai which would cost a fortune or go somewhere overland which looked quite complicated and long winded given that buses never go exactly where you want them to go and connections are iratic.
Fortunately, after asking around, we were advised to talk to an agent who arranges taxi transfers and she got us a car and driver to take us to Quan Don an inland border about 45 minutes drive away, it turned out to be cheaper than trying to do it on the bus and we got a nice ride out in an air conditioned car in spectacular scenery. Result! The driver had us back in time for the boat to Ko Lipe and the agent gave us a discount on the boat ticket into the bargain! Restores my faith in human nature.
By 3pm we were on the island and checked into a cute little bungalow at Varin Resort.
Within a short space of time we soon realised that ‘progress’ has taken over here big time, many more bars and bungalow operations line the main beach, lots have gone
upmarket asking extortionate prices. Fortunately, after a fifteen minute walk, past ‘Jungle Jack’s Bar’ and a few others that have sprung up recently, over to the other side of the island we came across the beach at Porn Resort. It is still unspoilt so that’s where we spent most of our time. There were only a few long-tail boats and the coral was in reasonable condition, surprisingly.
As well as all the usual stuff we saw a huge puffer fish, a blue spotted sting ray and what, at first sight, looked like a sea snake, a large fish disturbed it and it gently curled itself right out of a crevice in a clump of coral, the water was shallow and I could clearly sea the colourful zigzag markings. I later identified it on a chart on the wall of a dive shop; it was a clouded moray eel.
We spent 6 nights on this island before the call of a more laid-back island crept up on us.
Check back when you get the next blog as have been trying to add photos but it's taking forever. May the next place will have a
faster connection!
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