So after leaving the boat for a while in Langkawi, in the very capable hands of Paul and Sheila at Nautical Bits, I took off for Phuket on my own. I was going to go directly to Koh Lipe which is about 4 hours form Langkawi, but I changed my mind since the sea was calm and headed to Koh Rok Nai and got there at midnight and just dropped anchor. I've done this a couple of times before, as I normally do't like to arrive somewhere in the middle of the night if I don't know it. I'm used to the hundreds of fishing boats out there on the trip up, but still have to be constantly aware of the large fishing buoys that I get to see at the last second and avoid. Sometimes they show up on radar so that helps a bit..:)
On to Ao Chalong, and found on checkin the day was a public holiday although not sure what holiday (10 Dec), so had to pay over time of about 1,000 baht (about $35), for immigration and customs.
Ao Chalong hasn't change much..although I've noticed a trend for bars to have a massage shop at the back for those little backrubs. Villa Market is probably the only reason I stick around there to get my European food shopping done. Expensive but good cheeses, fish and meat and a large selection of wine from all over the place.
I'm with Ae, a friend from Bangkok for the next few days and then Thomas and family arrive for Christmas from Australia...so there will 8 on the boat. Should be fun.
Right now tho, I am stuck in the marina for a couple of days, due to a fried starter motor. Always something to fix..:-) - Getting into the Boat Lagoon marina is difficult...very shallow, and only at high tide...and even so I still got stuck and had to be pulled off using the pilot boat...he was my second engine since that engine was out.
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