Similan and Surin Islands

14.01.12 Similan Islands

Happy New Year. Well, the fireworks did not disappoint. They went on for 6 hours reaching an explosive crescendo at midnight. Hundreds of Chinese lanterns or fire balloons were released filling the sky with even more light. The next day, not surprisingly, was overcast. We weighed anchor and headed north for a quieter destination. After one night anchored off the north of Phuket Island, we motorsailed in rain and mist for about 45 miles to the Similan Islands. There are between nine and thirteen islands (depending on which book or leaflet you read) but yachts can only stay overnight at two of them. We picked up a mooring on the east side of Ko Miang, where there was the best snorkelling we’ve had since Komodo in Indonesia. After we’d gone to bed a strong easterly wind began to blow and we found ourselves being pitched around with a lee shore behind us of coral reefs, rocks and cliffs. The new dinghy was pounding itself against our stern. Jeremy rescued the dinghy and struggled to tie it alongside as Sal Darago rose and fell
a couple of metres. At first light we motored seven miles north to Ko Similan. Here was a lovely bay, safe and sheltered from the winds. At this idyllic location, Jeremy had diarrhoea and watched as Kathy and hundreds of day trippers and divers snorkelled in the anchorage.

On 7 January, we motored 50 miles north to the more remote Surin Islands. On the way Jeremy caught a beautiful Albacore tuna. Once again we paid our park entry and mooring fees (£26 for five days). We walked on the islands, snorkelled and met some Moken Indians who are water gypsies. They gave us spectacles case woven with raffia and we gave them money, clothes and water. Theirs looked a hard life. We had a couple of simple meals ashore and this time it was Kathy’s turn to get the runs!

By 12 January we had reached the furthest north we are likely to go before crossing the Indian and South Atlantic oceans, so at 09degrees, 28 minutes and 10 seconds we turned Southtowards Mainland Thailand. After forty miles we anchored behind Ko Thra Thong in an inland passage which was totally calm. The mangroves were very close and as the tide ebbed, a lone monkey came onto the mud and searched the exposed beach for food.