Snorkeling the Similans

We all survived our first live-aboard experience. Although it was touch and go for one of us for a while. It was a great trip. The islands were beautiful, the snorkeling was amazing, and the people with us were mostly companionable. The boat was reasonably comfortable, but would have been ideal with a few less people - they cram on as many as they can for obvious reasons. The trip out to the islands takes about four hours (60 km or so? can't remember), and we had beautiful weather and reasonably calm seas. Each day works out about the same. Get to an island, jump in and snorkel, get out, eat, move to next island, jump in and snorkel, etc. So nothing else to say, right?

We did get breaks and got to walk along some beautiful beaches. This is a picture of the last island we stopped at - Island Number 1. Similan means the number 9 in Malay, and this group of islands everyone refers to as the Similans is a group of nine islands all very close together. They are known for pristine beaches, coral, and the large granite boulders that dominate their topography.


Unfortunately after lunch on the very first day, I got hit with a nasty bug, and for those of you who know me well, will be shocked to hear that it actually made me throw up (I haven't thrown up since the 8th grade during the Dale Ellis basketball camp....do you remember that Sarah?). At first I thought I was just seasick (surprised, but couldn't figure anything else out), but after sitting on a beach for two hours and not resolving itself, then being followed by a myriad of other symptoms I don't need to go into detail about, I surmised it had to be food poisoning. It resolved itself for the most part within 24 hours, but nobody else got sick, and I didn't eat anything different. A question for my nursing friends....can you have that kind of a reaction to a sea sickness pill (all the classic symptoms of food poisoning)? Or is it possible for one of a group of 18 to get sick from some random bad piece of squid or something?

Oh well, I digress. I survived, and still got plenty of snorkeling in. We saw great things under that water. Eels, parrotfish, Keith and I swam with a school of barracuda, turtles, amazing coral, sea snake, and so many fish that I have no idea what they all are.

Another look at the beaches and some of that granite rock:


The chef on this boat was amazing. She produced three square meals a day, and such a variety and quality. Too bad I didn't get to eat very much of it. Something about fragrant Thai food while your stomach's not right...
Here is the amazing lady that made it happen and the very small space she had to work with. We still can't believe the food that was produced in this kitchen...and it would get so hot in that tiny little room.


A viewpoint at one of the islands. Beautiful.


This was taken at the Poseidon bungalows. The place where we stayed before and after the snorkel trip. They are also the ones that organize and run the trip. This is the beach that was a very short walking distance from our bungalow. Finally, we got to see our sunset.