Monolithic granite boulders plummet precipitously into the limpid depths, turning this underwater world into a sublime mystical place of exploration. It was a spectacular snorkel as we meandered around boulders and through caves sharing our journey with hundred of fish.
Finally we were in Thailand in the right season. In fact since leaving Australian waters over a year ago, this was the first time we had been sailing in an area at the “right” time. What does the “right” time mean? Well it means it is dry season, therefore not so much rain and not as humid… and more tourists. But for sailors the “right” time, in Thailand, means you are able to explore the west coast of Thailand and visit islands such as Koh Phayam, Koh Surin and Koh Similan, because the prevailing wind is from the north east and you therefore have some protected anchorages to use on the west coast.
The tree lined main road is picturesque and has an unquestionable village feel about it. Beautifully restored buildings now house restaurants, cafes and boutique stores. Walk the main street and indulge in the delights of the area’s varied arts and crafts. Visit the traditional lolly shop, the candlemakers or the puppet shop. Tantalise the taste buds with the wine at the Adelaide Hills Wine Centre, the local craft beer at the Gulf Brewery and the artisan cheese at Udder Delights.
One of the many remarkable things about Adelaide is its accessibility. To exquisite wine regions such as the Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale and the Clare Valley, remarkable wildlife areas, e.g Kangaroo Island and to glorious golden beaches. You are never too far from where you want to go… One minute you are in a vibrant, exciting city; 20 minutes later, you are relaxing on a gorgeous beach with a distinctive holiday atmosphere.
Hauling out was easy with the experienced staff at Phitak Shipyard Services, and soon Thorfinn was safely on a cradle and we were set up in a small apartment along with a snake, a few rats and a couple of large spiders! It was a very busy time for us but in true Trippin’ Turpin fashion we still were able to have a lot of fun… We had regular BBQs with our neighbours in the little row of units (we dubbed Ramsey St), and at the shipyard itself we had BBQ night on Fridays as well as some during the week for birthdays… including Dwayne’s 50th.
Our first year cruising outside of Australian waters has included Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Some countries we sailed to and others we flew to; we even rode into one and caught a bus into another. This blog is a recap of our journey in 2015….. Thank you to all our followers. I hope you will continue to cruise with us in 2016, and that I will be able to carry on entertaining and informing you about the wonderful, exciting and sometimes bewildering places we visit.
We spent a fabulous week snorkelling and diving in the Tarutao National Marine Park. Our favourite spots included Koh Chuku (aka Koh Khai), Koh Lipe and Koh Yang. The snorkelling was great! The corals and marine life were impressive and we spent hours exploring a number of the many snorkelling sites the Tarutao National Marine Park has to offer.
Vietnam was on my bucket list of places to visit and it didn’t disappoint. My favourite part of Vietnam?… Easy, the people. I found the Vietnamese people to be very welcoming and friendly. Second favourite thing… the food! Delicious noodle soups, meat filled baguettes and fresh wrap-it-yourself spring rolls. During our travels, we spent a lot of time eating where the locals eat, thus we engineered plenty of opportunities in which meeting, and interacting with, the local Vietnamese people was a forgone conclusion. What was not a forgone conclusion however, was how much we enjoyed their company and them ours.
As we crossed the Cambodian – Vietnamese border we were tired from our long ride, however the anticipation of new adventures kept our spirits up. Exploring Vietnam on a Motorbike was, undoubtedly, going to be as exciting, and as colourful, as our exploration of Cambodia. We were looking forward to every new experience…. and then we reached the outskirts of Ho Chi Ming City! Our excitement flagged a little as we hit the horrendous traffic. In Vietnam there are 37 million motorbikes…. Ho Chi Ming City must have 36 million of them! Seriously! The traffic in HCMC was horrendous. We were exhausted and we hadn’t booked accommodation ahead of time. We needed a bar with free wifi!
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