During my recent trip to Thailand my daily activity involved venturing out on a local Longtail boat to the islands just off the coastline. Most of these islands were a short 20 minute boat ride from my hotel and offered some of the most breathtaking snorkeling and sunbathing that I've ever experienced. I visited Four Island (Poda Island, Tub Island, Chicken Head Island, Pranang Cave), Hong Island, and Phi Phi Island - to name a few. Hong island was the first one I visited and it made a very lasting impression.
To enter the lagoon you have to pass through a small corridor between two cliffs that act as a doorway or secret passage. The cliffs surround the lagoon completely except for this relatively narrow opening and protects it from the waves of the sea. As a result the lagoon water is almost completely still and crystal clear. Mangroves line the edges of the lagoon near the cliff walls while trees and bush hang down on and around the walls themselves. The lagoon itself was worth the 20 minute boat ride but the beach that followed absolutely made Hong Island a must visit in my mind.
Pelay beach boasts powder white sand and wonderful coral and fish. I spent much of the time on this beach feeding and swimming with the fishes, who were just as curious about me as I was about them. The beach is almost enclosed by cliffs and rocks and has very calm and clear waters which is perfect for snorkeling. Many of the tourists on the beach spent their time sunbathing or feeding the hundreds of tropical fish that swam close to shore. The fishes were certainly not shy and became pretty aggressive once you started feeding them.After a few hours on the beach we decided to head back to the resort to spend the rest of the afternoon lounging near the pool. The sun had taken its toll and it was time to relax in the shade.
As always, I'll leave you with a few more pictures from my trip to Hong island. Enjoy.
