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SEA GEM LOG
December 8, 1999
PHI PHI DON ISLAND
 We
are here on Phi
Phi Don Islandand
plan to spend today and tomorrow here in this anchorage. We
cruised by some absolutely spectacular scenery yesterday and took
a few pictures so that you can share the lovely scenes. We
had a swim in the anchorage in nice clear water and plan to go in
and explore the town, get hot mail and send off our logs.
Tomorrow we will take one of the native long tailed boats
for a day of snorkeling and exploring around the islands. Charlie has given you a good description of the boats, I wish I could send you a sound
recording. Just imagine the loudest lawnmower you have ever heard and multiply that by ten. They do slow down at night, either that or I slept through it.
The weather is much cooler now, it is quite pleasant without air conditioning. The water is much clearer now and it is wonderful to be able to swim close to the boat. We have done
some snorkeling and seen the lovely fish and coral formations. There are also some small stinging jelly fish here which make it unpleasant when they are around. You cannot see
them, just feel the stings. We have not had problems but several people have been stung where there were marks left on the skin for awhile, not serious, just aggravating.
We will head into town now for lunch with our friends and a visit to HOT MAIL---Sure hope there is some news from home. Until later ...
We are anchored in Ton Sai Bay on the beautiful Island of Phi Phi Don (we guess "Phi" is pronounced "Pi", otherwise the pronunciation of "Phuket" would be obscene) having
arrived yesterday afternoon. We plan to go ashore the morning and find a hotmail café to e-mail Saundra's log to our website guy, Obed. The sail here was very scenic with high
meadow topped cliffs rising hundreds of feet straight out of the sea. Thi island is purported to be the most beautiful in the world (several have claimed that and this would certainly be
one of a small group in that category). We are meeting the crews of Que Sera Sera, Pimelo, Foxie Lady, Cush(a catamaran)and Jancris, all Millennium Odyssey boats, for lunch in town
today. While in town we will organize a longtail boat diving expedition for 10 of us for tomorrow morning. This is the monsoon season and it usually rains each afternoon. A
longtail is very descriptive of these native boats with what looks like a large Briggs & Stratton engine (without any muffler) mounted on end on the stern with a direct drive
long(12 ft long) drive shaft sticking almost horizontally out behind the boat and a whirling propeller that is only half in the water. They go like hell and sound about the same as they
scream around the bay. Night before last Saundra cooked up a big spaghetti dinner for everyone on Pimelo and Que Sera and we all had a good time. Tonight there are
RESTAURANTS so no home cooking till we leave the land of restaurants (Saundra's Rule). We miss everyone at home and get a little homesick knowing we will not be there for
Christmas – we will be in Phuket(pronounced "puket). We would welcome any pictures from home (Dianne can get them to us). Hope everyone has a MERRY CHRISTMAS Saundra & Charlie aboard S/V Sea Gem. |
