What, we're going in there????

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It's Tuesday evening, January 24th. This update will emphasize pictures. I took a lot of them today (filled up my first memory card in fact).

Today I went on a canoe excursion to Phang Nga Bay, the site of the James Bond movie, "The Man with the Golden Gun". Phang Nga Bay has some striking limestone island formations. Add to that the experience of going through caves and entering hidden lagoons by way of a canoe, and it was an amazing experience. I had a blast.

There are quite a few canoe tour operators in the area (10 according to our tour guide). I went with Phang-Nga Canoe which actually is one of the cheaper ones. The cost was 1,400 baht (about $35) and included all expenses from the moment I stepped out of my hotel lobby at 8:00 until I returned to my hotel at 5:30.

I met a German on the mini-bus to the harbor and an Israeli on the boat, and spent most of my time today hanging out with them. Our boat was incredibly diverse with people from at least the following countries: Russia, Germany, Sweden (of course), Japan, Australia, Greece, Israel, and America. 21 customers in all with canoe paddlers/guides for every one or two people (the customers didn't actually paddle). We visited 4 islands (Hong, Panak, James Bond, & Naka), 2 of which included canoeing.

The islands where we canoed were my favorite parts. We entered caves and enclosed lagoons that could only be accessed during certain times of day based on tides. I happened to be with Jochen (German) and the head tour guide of the trip and we went places the rest didn't, sometimes having to lie completely horizontal in order to get under stalactites (pointing down) due to the rising tide. We were literally an inch or two away from the ceiling of some of these caves. Other caves were pitch black and with flashlights we were able to see bats hanging from the ceiling. Really, really cool.

Hope you enjoy the pictures...

Look! There goes Dave!

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Photos

James Bond Island
in Phang-Nga Bay, Thailand

Hong Island
entering an interior hong (hidden room) by way of canoe

Why am I wearing this life preserver?
on a strip of sand at Hong Island

More of Hong Island
inside Hong Island

Tamir, me and Jochen
on James Bond Island

What, we're going in there???
Jochen and I eyeing the entry point and wondering how in the world we're going to squeeze in there. Panak Island

Canoes heading into Panak Island
We ran into some other tour groups at Panak Island.

Panak Island
Mangrove tree inside Panak Island

Monkeys
Monkeys on Panak Island

Comments

[Jerry]

Very Cool
Maybe you could convice the guys at Volleyball Vacations to go there! Sounds like you're having a great time. Thanks for writing this all down!

[Heather Marie]

The Best Yet!
This is the best yet! I would have LOVED to have been there! How awesome that you were able to do this! Ok, we need to have some more adventures out in California when you get back! Maybe white water rafting in the summer?

[Barrett]

Nice Pics
Dave, the pictures you have been taking are awesome. I hope to see even more of them when you get back. Hope your ear is better :) I'm still prayin' for ya. -Barrett