On Thursday, January 25th, after a bit more than a week on Lanta Yai, we travelled to our next destination. In the morning we were picked up at the hotel and were brought to the pier where we boarded the ferry or rather a big speed boat to Koh Lipe. The departure was scheduled at 10.30, but at 11.30 we were still standing on the pier. It was really hot and very windy and waiting wasn't pleasant. And we knew the ride wasn't going to be pleasant either. We boarded the boat at nearly noon and next three hours were quite rough. Strong wind whipped up the sea and boat was pounding and jumping from one big wave to the next. All the side windows had to be closed because the waves were getting into the boat (the crew only closed the windows after a dozen of people got thoroughly wet) and so it was very hot inside. Luckily no one was really sea sick, but we were all very relieved when it was over.
Shortly after disembarking we were picked up by a small truck and were brought to our hotel. The view from our room immediately made it up for the rough ride.
That afternoon we were too tired to do much, we went for a short swim in the sea and then had the best ever green curry in a hotel on the next beach.
Next morning the weather was great and sunny and the views from our balcony were even more beautiful. Our room was facing to East towards Langkawi, that we could see in the distance.
Again there were many birds in the trees chirping and singing and entertaining us. We would probably be sitting on the balcony much more if it wasn't so hot during the day, it was about 35 Deg C, and in the evening there were a few mosquitoes around.
There is quite a difference between low and high tide there and in low tide it was not possible to go snorkelling as the corals were almost sticking out of the sea. Our days followed the similar pattern - after great breakfast at our hotel (yum, we had curry already for breakfast!) we figured out when to go snorkelling - when the water was high enough and it wasn't too hot. The hottest time of the day we spent in our room (really no problem with such a view) and in the evening we walked to the village, some 10 minutes away, and found another restaurant with delicious food.
I was very surprised how much fish and sea life was even in the shallow water where all the tourists were. Only problem was that there was lots of sand suspended in water and the visibility wasn't the best. But couple of hundreds of meters away was a small island where the visibility was better and the sea life even richer.
I was very surprised how much fish and sea life was even in the shallow water where all the tourists were. Only problem was that there was lots of sand suspended in water and the visibility wasn't the best. But couple of hundreds of meters away was a small island where the visibility was better and the sea life even richer.
There were plenty of colourful Parrot fish here as well, even near the shore in murky water. I checked several resources but didn't find the name for this one.
This small fish was defending its territory and constantly swimming towards me. I think it is a White Damsel (Dischistodus perspicillatus).
And this is very probably Honeycomb coral (Gardineroseris planulata).
Occasionally we would spend time on the hotel beach in beach chairs, watching the sea, people, birds... This is the view from our beach towards the island where we were snorkelling many times.
And this is the view to the North along the island, with many colourful long tail boats. In the back there is a neighbour island, Koh Adang.
We usually went snorkelling once a day and Tomaz usually accompanied me. Each time we discovered pretty things. This is a Gold-saddle rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus).
We know Moorish idols (Zanclus cornutus) already from our previous snorkelling and diving trips to Maledives.
There were big schools of Tropical Silversides (Doboatherina duodecimalis) here as well.
There were many healthy corals there, although we've seen many people walking or standing on them. These are the Blue corals (Heliopora coerulea).
And here are the Leather corals ((Sarcophyton family).
This bright green algae is the Turtle weed (Chlorodesmis family), I also found another name - Maidens hair algae.
The Parrot fish eat algae off of coral reefs (here the Hump coral or Porites lobata) and there are the marks of their teeth on lots of corals. When snorkelling, one can hear the grinding of their teeth.
These colourful beauties are the Christmas tree worms (Spirobranchus giganteus).
Another Leather coral ((Sarcophyton family).
There were plenty of Boring giant clams (Tridacna crocea) around, in all possible colours - brown, blue...
This pretty thing is the Iridescent scallop (Pedum spondyloideum).
We saw plenty of wrasses as well, of different colours and patterns - this one is a Zigzag wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis).
After so much colours one is surprised to see the fish that is just plain black and white - this one is a Freckled goatfish (Upeneus tragula).
I didn't see many blennies and gobies in Thailand, maybe with all the colours and shapes around me I just didn't notice them. This one was smiling at me from the Sea grape algae (Caulerpa lentillifera), it could be a Brest-spot Blenny (Salarias guttatus).
Near the island I found these three young Circular batfish (Platax orbicularis).
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