Cha Am March 2022

Cha Am and Khao Yoi Cave

Raya Resort Cha Am

Inexplicable Cha Am Beach Curb and Footpath Project

The new curb has made it impossible to vehicles to park on the beach which they have done for decades. Concessionaires, who run the beach parking and profit from it, have had to resort to making temporary ramps from sand, soil or sandbags.

This life jacket has been hanging on this street light pole for at least three years.

New construction in and around Thew Talay World.

Cha Am Beach

New restaurant (?) on the south Cha Am Beach access road.

Southern California Car Dealer license plate holder advertising circa 1960s at Aroy Restaurant.

Fried snapper at Aroy.

Dinner at Hua Hin One Night Market and Beer Garden

Raya Cafe Panorama

Beach at Cha Am Little Shop and Resort

Lagoon at Little Shop

Sunrise at Thew Talay World

Cha Am Beach Breakfast

Sky Lounge at Aquamarine

Sunrise

Khao Yoi Cave

We have passed this limestone outcrop dozens of times in the last decade. We finally stopped to have a look. The vertical slits are cave openings.

Mam Mocks a Monkey

The lower, easy to access cave has many Buddha images including this reclining Buddha.

Buddha Footprint

Stairs to the upper part of the cave

Mam points to a stuffed crocodile. Why is it here?

I suppose for a little fun.

Monkeys everywhere.

The furthest and highest accessible cave is massive, but mostly empty.

The Buddha image is very unusual. The pose (Defeating Mara) is very common in Thailand, but the headdress, cape-like robes, belt and shield over the base are not. I've searched and searched online and find nothing very similar.

The upper trail at Khao Yoi Cave

Heaven Cave

Steep ladder down

Massive chamber but not much inside.

North Andaman Diving February 2022

 Scuba Diving the North Andaman

With Sainamtalay Aboard the MV Moana

Diving on this trip was supposed to be in the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and the Surin Islands. Unfortunately, the weather was foul. Except for one ill-fated half day at Koh Bon and Koh Tai, we spent the entire trip diving protected sites in the Similans. Half way through the trip (at Elephant Head Rock), I lost my GoPro. I had saved a few videos, but not much.

On the way from the Phuket Airport to the boat at Thap Lamu Pier we stopped at a drive-through Covid antigen test center

Thap Lamu Harbor

Thap Lamu is an excellent natural harbor which is used by the Thai Navy as a base, fisherman and, more recently, dive boats and tour boats. It is located about an hour's drive north of Phuket Island.

Sunrise at Ao Nam Chai, Similan Islands

Morning Coffee at Ao Nam Chai

Mr Mee - Owner of the MV Mariner Bunnak

Ao Nam Chai

Donald Duck Bay

Donald Duck is the rock on the left

Donald Duck Bay

Sunset over granite at Ao Nam Chai

Sunset at Ao Nam Chai

Happy Hour at Ao Nam Chai

Sunrise at Koh Bon

Moon above Donald Duck Bay

Mam at Donald Duck Bay

Donald Duck Bay

Morning at Elephant Head Rock

Mr Mee gives a dive briefing

Blue water at Similan #5 - Zodiac

Similan #5

Zodiac

Zodiac

Many boats at Thap Lamu Harbor

MV Mariner at Thap Lamu Pier

Flying back to Bangkok over Phang Nga Bay

Under Water

Cheap Trick

Small Spotted Eagle Ray at Koh Bon

Yellow Ghost Pipefish at Koh Bon Ridge

Khul's Ray (Blue Spotted Ray) at Ao Nam Chai

Hawksbill Turtle at Three Trees

Video - Mostly Underwater