February 18,

At 0800, we were up and about to breakfast – same-same. Due to my knee being a bit sore, we chilled out at the restaurant after we finished, listened to the water lap on the beach, and enjoyed the breeze in the shade. When we went back up to our room, we saw a couple of Hornbill birds flying about. I looked it up and they are Hornbills, not Toucans. Toucans are in Central and South America, whereas the Hornbill is in Africa and Asia.

Anyway at 1245, we went out snorkeling. We saw a small school of bitty neon-type fish; a few other fish, including a couple of smaller sized parrot fish. I saw a smallish box puffer fish. The visibility was not the best, and there is not really much pretty coral.. We were only out about 30 minutes or so. When we came back from snorkeling, we went to the outdoor shower to rinse off. There was a HUGE spider there building a web! Jeff flipped it over the wall with his fin… my hero!😘🤩

We made it back to our room without a spider bite.😂🤣  We changed and went back down to lunch at our resort restaurant. We had fish and chips and Tom Kha Gai soup. Jeff had lemon shake, I had mango shake. The bill came to 675 Baht, which is $20.05.

Finished we went back to our room, and spent the bulk of the afternoon there, out of the sun. Around 1630, we ventured out and took the trail to walk along the long beach area – the beach at our resort is nice but not very long. We walked all the way up to the end of this beach this time. There is a last resort up here, and that’s it for this side of the island. On around its northern tip Koh Ngai is empty, no beaches or resorts. In fact, much of the west coast is undeveloped, until you go down on the south west coast. This is where Paradise Beach and a resort is located. Also the National Park Headquarters is here. Where we are staying is on the south east corner. Anyway, we turn around and walk the this beach back. We did stop at the biggest mart we have seen on the island… but, it is still very small! We found some actual saltine-type crackers. Here of all places! Where you can find things, or can’t find things in Thailand, still amazes me.

Once we arrived back at our resort, Jeff got another small bucket of ice. We had light supper of crackers with PB & Nutella; some peanuts; dried mango; and cookies with iced Chang beer for Jeff and an iced Blue Lime Spy wine cocktail for me. We watched some YouTube, and then bed by 2200.

     February 19,

When we got up & about, and down to breakfast, we noticed the water was a bit choppy from a morning wind. HUMM… we had reserved a kayak for 0930. We set about to our buffet. It was same-same, but wait… different. There was French Toast! Yay!! We had brought our Nutella and honey. It was kismet! When we finished the wind had not died down so Jeff canceled our kayak reservation.

Back in our room, we regrouped and decided to go on a hike instead. So we readied and took the trail up to the resort where are speedboat dropped us off that first day. This is where the main trail is to get to Paradise Beach and the National Park Headquarters. Once we arrived at this resort, we asked a resort staff where the trail was and they kindly pointed the way. We hiked following signs to Paradise Beach. It was a fairly easy trail up to a pass of sorts, then down. We saw a few gecko/lizard type reptiles that skittered across our path; some butterflies fluttering about; and we heard all sorts of birds trilling and tweeting. It was pleasant, especially in the shade of the tall forested canopy. Thankfully, we never saw any snakes! We did have to put on mosquito spray, as they found us tasty!

The trail lead to Koh Ngai Paradise Beach Resort, which is the only resort down here on the southern part just before the National Park. We did stop here for some overpriced, but welcomed shakes. We were both hot! I had a pineapple one and Jeff had a coconut one. It cost us 280 Baht, which was $8.32. We used our water in the glasses when we emptied them – to get every drop. Then we took the rest of the trail to the Mu Ko Lanta National Park… What?? Wait a minute, we are on Koh Ngai!?! I have questions!!!❓ No one was around in the hut homes of the “headquarters”… HUMM!

We continued on the trail and read the placards, as all National Parks have on their trails. At least the trail is named after the island – Koh Ngai Nature Trail. The trail came to Ko Ngai Nui Beach. We stopped here and got in the water. We were both already wearing our bathing suits. It was a very small beach but it was lovely, and we had it to ourselves. We were just cooling off, soaking in relaxation, when I realized I had my phone in my pocket! I pulled it out and hurried out of the water. Thankfully, it was okay and we only had to rinse it and blow in the USB port. WOWZA! So we sat a bit in the shade and dried off, giving my phone extra time to dry out. After ten minutes or so we finished the hike to its end at a great viewpoint. We could see Koh Lanta and the lighthouse, that we had visited while there. That was neat to see!

We returned back on the trail, came out back on the other side of the island at the beach. We were hungry, so we went north along the beach to the Koh Ngai Camping Restaurant. We arrived around 1400. We started with a much needed large water and I had a Jamaica Fever Cocktail, while Jeff had a large Chang. We ordered Grilled Seabass Steak with a Lime-caper sauce this time, baked potato and veggies; and Grilled Barracuda Steak with Coconut Curry, baked potato, and veggies. It was super excellent. We even ordered a second drink each – Jeff had another Chang, I had a Frozen Mango Daiquiri. It was 1200 baht($35.64).

As we were finishing we watched a rain storm moving in. We decided to inquire about usage of a long-tail boat the Camping place had tied up here. Yes, they can take us to our place at the pier for 100 Baht each – the same amount as our first long-tail boat, but three times the distance! No brain-er! We hopped on. The last little bit we did get the rain, but we were under an awning. We arrived and unloaded at the pier, paid the driver and went under the covered pier. We walked back to our room. Jeff stopped to reserve the kayak tomorrow. It only rained a .bit more

Evening was just relaxing and light snack supper of crackers and PB/Nutella; peanuts; and chocolate. So glad we went on that hike today. It was great!