Koh Yao Noi - A New Beginning

I am kicking this blog off while we sit in Bangkok feeling a little cooped up in our apartment in Huay Kwang district. I have the beginnings of a cold, brought on, no doubt, by my body's response to not smoking for the last few months and the perpetual cold air blowing in from the Daikin A/C. Francesca is working on the Literature Review section of her dissertation, which is really starting to take shape nicely. I think its gonna be a good one, even though she didn't get hardly any time to write the damn thing. We have been back in town only a few days, 'cos, for a break, we hightailed down to a little island on the West Coast of Thailand in Phang Nga Bay called Koh (Island) Yao (Long) Noi (Small) - Long Small Island. We travelled to it from Krabi, a town we have both visited before - me back in 2000 and last year (2011) on my way to Koh Lanta and Kho Phi Phi (where The Beach was filmed, and panned, for causing environmental damage, prompting Leonardo DiCaprio's conversion to fully-fledged eco-warrior). Much more damage was caused there, however, in 2004, with the arrival of the massive Tsunami which caused untold devastation to the communities around The Andaman Sea, and Indian Ocean.

Francesca and sunset, Phang Nga Bay in calmer seas.

Upon arrival at our destination, a fellow Thai traveler, returning home after work to Koh Yao Yai (Long Big Island!), struck up a conversation and informed us that the Tsunami was only slight in this area. The land to the West, Phuket Island, bore most of the brunt.

We had booked into a beachside hotel, called KYN Muay Thai Hotel and Gym. From the name you can probably guess this stay was not to be all R&R. We had booked in to practice Muay Thai, or Thai Boxing. Two lessons a day, up to 2 hours each, morning and evening...

Over the next week of our visit, we were delighted with the people who worked there, and who went out of their way to make us feel welcome and happy; and with the Muslim ladies who worked the kitchen. The chicken and cashew nut dish was amazing, and I really liked the muesli, fruit and yoghurt - a staple and healthy backpacker dish found all over the planet in varying degrees of quality. They even let me use their pushbike to hop into town for provisions and a visit to the ATM for much needed cash replenishment.

So, the training....? I found the first couple of days to be quite difficult, mostly because I was still getting used to the heat, but with the expert instructions of the multiple instructors who were always on hand, learned some good techniques and felt a lot fitter and less fatter by days 3 and 4....

Colin kicking pads in Muay Thai training

The gym is set off of the kitchen with open-sides to the elements and a view across the bay. No respite to enjoy the view though, punches, kicks, jabs, elbows, knees - anything goes! Don't expect to use Muay Thai to ward of street attackers though - this is definitely a sport and NOT a martial art, although all of the Thai guys are build like brick-shithouses. Then it's push-ups and squats and push-ups and squats, and squats and more push-ups! Take on a little water, and then more sparring if you haven't passed out by now. I was a little surprised and astonished at how hard Francesca can kick, so I better WATCH OUT! Haha...

POW!

Mauy Thai Winners, 2012

This part of the world, its also pretty easy to go on boating trips and snorkelling tours, either from speedboats or the prolific long-tail boats they have.

Long-tail boat we travelled on

We opted for a few trips, one to The Big Tree (you can guess what that is) - a 30m tree that has a base that it would take 20 people to encircle it.

KYN Big Tree, 2012

And we snorkelled. No pics of this yet as we didn't pick up a waterproof camera yet...besides, plenty more snorkelling to come on our upcoming South America tour :)

Signing off, for now, hope you enjoy the pics and the info...I'm off to look at my huge never-ending to do list, including arranging a Thanksgiving Dinner for Francesca and I...yummy!

Francesca can certainly take good photos!