After a calm, peaceful night in our anchorage, we woke to blue, sunny skies, so after breakfast, we hopped in the dinghy and headed to the beach with the intention of flying the drone. Unfortunately, being at the bottom of the low tide, it was just too shallow to get onto the beach with the fringing mudflats. Disappointed, we decided instead to head to the little village. Being a Friday and a predominately muslim village, it was the safest day to visit, especially for Elaine, as there was hardly anyone about.

After our meander through the unusual little homes, and some not so little, we returned to Daeng Paradise Food for a late morning refreshment and a freshly baked delight, Thai-style; a banana roti for Roy, accompanied by a soda and a pineapple roti for Elaine, accompanied by a fresh coconut water. We’d heard all about this Thai dessert and we’d had something similar at the Hardstand Café when we first arrived in the Boat Lagoon marina, but the ones we ordered today were the real deal and simply mouthwatering. It is quite possible we are both going to roll out of Thailand!

What we weren’t expecting, though, was the owner offering us a ride back to the dinghy on / in his “saleng”; the Thai word to describe a “three-wheeled, foot- or motor-powered vehicle”, which in this case was a motorbike with a “side car” of sorts. These often have a roof and enough space to accommodate 2-4 passengers. They are very popular amongst families in the Thai countryside, allowing an entire family to enjoy an outing together, as well as to transport just about any goods that one can fit into the “side car”. We’ve seen these modified motorbikes everywhere, but riding in one today was a great deal of fun!

By the time we returned to Paw Paw, there was enough water under the keel for us to weigh anchor and set sail for the east coast of Koh Yao Noi.

There is definitely one thing we can say about this part of Thailand; Phang Nga Bay is not short on natural beauty and has the most spectacular seascapes. As we meandered northwards along the coast there were numerous little nooks and crannies, fronted with white sandy beaches and most hiding beautiful resorts, including the Six Sense Yao Noi, where we’d hoped to enjoy a meal and indulge ourselves at their Spa. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the resort was closed to everyone other than their registered guests.

Regardless, we found a lovely anchorage, where we enjoyed a swim off Paw Paw’s stern and where Elaine put all the hot water to good use by doing the laundry. A barbecue, a movie and some late night stargazing wrapped up a rather adventurous day!