Angthong Marine Park Snorkeling, Kayaking, and ELEPHANT Riding!!!

Us after snorkelling!!!

Our trip to Angthong Marine Park began with a bit of stress. Our hotel was divided into these newer villas and Hotel buildings and then our little area with older bungalows, decorated like your favorite Grandma’s house. However, both of these areas have receptions and no one could really tell us which one the tour operator would use. We decided to divide and conquer with Cami going to the one and I to the other. Luckily we were in position in time and Cami was able to tell the driver that he had to go to the other reception to pick me up, rather than going on the excursion without me. That’s right six years later she still likes to have me along.

So we took the bus with a french couple to the pier and got served croissants and coffee for BREAKFAST. We abstained on the coffee, but enjoyed a couple of croissants. We were then divided up into two speed boats. Our speed boat was the smaller one with less people and we were team James Bond!  Our guide Taan, explained our day to us and told us it would be about an hour and a bit to get to snorkeling. On the way there I chatted him up a bit, he came from Bangkok and has just picked up English since he has lived in Samui, a little over a year or something. Pretty impressive. 

We took in the scenary as we passed small islands that look like the tips of mountain tops, till we arrived at the snorkelling location. Our snorkeling location was nice enough, but we’ve snorkeled at some cool places and there really wasn’t too much that we hadn’t seen before. However, it was nice to get in the water and snorkel in another location. We also didn’t have fins this time and while I like to swim underwater with my arms, Cami still likes to use her feet and it didn’t quite work as well as it does with fins. - PS don’t ever have a no arms swimming race against Cami she’ll win, I lose by two body lengths usually- 

Anyway, so after snorkeling we went into the Marine National Park. It is kind of like an archipelago with little islands everywhere. And one that looks a lot like a Sawadee Kraap Monkey!!! 

Sawadeekap Monkey

 Our first stop was at a lagoon, where we climbed up these skinny stairs all the way to a look out point where we took some pictures. After coming down I found some rocks to play on and cool cave that turned out to be a tunnel.

On the top of the viewpoint by the lagoon 

Down the skinny steps 

After the lagoon, we made a trip to another beach to have lunch, which was a mellowed out version of a curry chicken dish for those with weaker stomachs, to our taste it was a little bland. We also had some vegetables and some spring rolls. We chatted with a Thai family who had their son there that was going to school in Perdue, and some English school teachers. We also chatted with an austrailian couple that were very nice as well.

In my cave 

Playing on the rocks above the sand

<5 is so much cooler than <3

Then we were off kayaking. We circled a small island, went through a couple of cave like overhangs to stop at another beach where the military comes to do survival training. We played on some more rocks and took some pictures, then it was time to head back. 

On the way home I slept and Cami chatted with the Aussies. Apparently I was drifting dangerously close to my neighbour, but managed to not actually fall over on her. 

Cami playing on rocks

Cami as a heart rock troll

Kayaking under the arch 

Once back to Samui we got in the bus to go Elephant trekking. The elephants were pretty sweet. Ours was named Dao and she is 29 just like me and the driver thought that was pretty funny and thought that me and his “sexy lady” should hook up. We rode on a platform looking thing attached Dao’s back with a seat belt and he sat just behind Dao’s head. We bought some bananas for Dao also and she was very hungry. She would reach her trunk back every couple of minutes and we would provide her with some small green bananas which she ate whole. We took some pictures, none of which really turned out that well, and when we got off we took some more. On the final picture I was feeding her and got in the way and she almost knocked me off of the platform with her trunk. Definitely a good time and it is the only time I have ever been able to ride an elephant.

Cami, Lockey, and Dao!

Feeding Dao

After riding the elephant we watched a little bit of the elephant show, where they had two elephants doing crazy things like standing on their heads, spinning hoola hoops, playing harmonicas, walking on their back feet and then even doing a hand stand and walking only on their front feet. It was all very impressive.

The guy is apologizing for the elephant not having underpants on

So then we were done our excursion and we went back to the hotel to hang out for a bit and plan our next exciting day learning how to cook Thai Food!!!!! Yum!!!!!!