Shay & Louis Visit CanKata

January 17-26: the days we got to visit Shay and Louis (they actually arrived very late on January 16 and left in the wee morning hours of January 27).

We had a wonderful time getting to know our niece and her hubby. When we were living in Canada, we were separated by many miles and didn’t see each other much at all. So it was good to have them just to ourselves for ten days.

Here’s what we did together:

-         ate Thai food regularly, and sometimes pizza (and hamburgers once)

-         biked around Nai Yang

-         went to two Quiz Nights at the Dewa and discovered how little we knew

-         snorkelled

-         went to the local market (where the fish smells upset the baby-to-be)

-         sailed on the west coast of Phuket

-         watched the sun set and marvelled at the beauty of the night sky

-         visited our Thai friends and cruisers from around the world

-         had an exquisite brunch at the Indigo Pearl

-         toured Phuket and visited the Big Buddha

-         went to the Aphrodite cabaret

-         chatted and laughed and reminisced

-         planned Marleen & Larry’s Thailand itinerary

Here’s what Shay and Louis wrote in our Guest Log:

“(S:) Thank you both for making our trip to Thailand an experience we won’t forget. You have shown us much more than what we had expected coming here. It was a long trip, but we both agree it was worth it! We can’t thank you guys enough for all the organized events you planned for us to see Thailand.

My favourite part of the trip was snorkelling for my first time. It will be something I will do on more trips to come. And of course spending time with my uncle and auntie. It was nice to get to know you both more than what I remember as a little girl.

(L:) My favourite part of coming to Thailand was learning how to sail and taking CanKata by the helm. Thank you for helping us arrange our tours to see the sites of Thailand.

(S:) We really appreciate you letting us use your new condo to stay in during our holidays!

Love always, Shay and Louis”

And now some photos …

On CanKata in Nai Yang Bay at sunset.

Playing "Farkle" on CanKata.

Walking along Nai Yang Beach.

On the way to do some "plane spotting".

In Nai Yang Park ... uncle in the background.

Louis at the helm ... uncle in the background.

Shay in the cockpit ... uncle in the background.

At our unit at the Dewa in Nai Yang

Tidying lines on CanKata.

Bow-riding on CanKata.

Kayaking in the caves at Phang Nga Bay.

Getting ready for the dinghy ride to CanKata ... uncle in the background.

We had our last supper at this restaurant.
Thanks for the treat, guys.
Wishing you all the best.
L&D
xx

HIgh Season in Thailand

There are a number of names for it:

-         dry season

-         hot season

-         North East monsoons

-         peak season

-         high season.

Whatever we call it, it is certainly our Favourite Season. This is the time of year, generally from early November to late April, when the rain falls less, the sun shines more, the winds change direction from SW to NE (allowing us to cruise the west coast of Phuket), and the tourists arrive (meaning that it will cost more to rent a motorcycle or book a hotel room).

So now here we are with CanKata, on the west coast of Phuket, in our favourite bay of Nai Yang, enjoying fabulous restaurants, clean waters, friendly locals, pristine beaches, and amazing sunsets. In Nai Yang, there is also a market three times a week, a couple of pharmacies “just in case”, a post office, a mini hospital and shops galore. As you may recall, our condo is also here at the Dewa Resort (off limits to us in the peak season while it is in the rental pool). We brought our bicycles with us, and enjoy the lazy, tree-shaded lanes that take us into the back country.

We have some plans to sail a little further north this High Season … nearly to Burma. Before that, we will enjoy a ten-day visit from our niece Shaylynn and her husband Louis. It promises to be a good season. Oh what a life.



CanKata in Nai Yang Bay.



We have a safe place to store our bikes.

This is Mo from one of our favourite restaurants "Octopus".

Street dogs are quiet during the day,
but we hear them partying in the night.

We sometimes stop at this spot in the park for fruit shakes.

The locals love to picnic in Nai Yang park.

Bicycling through the park is cool and safe.

There are some pretty cottages for rent in the area.

The airport hospital.

The airport post office.

Saturday market. Also on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Flowers for sale.

Checking for money ... but we don't need much.

Lots of veggies and meat available.

Then home to rest.
Or maybe party with Bach & Byte.

Best Wishes for 2012

The CanKatans ended the year with parties, and then started the year with parties. It seems to be a theme with us. It was wonderful to be surrounded by friends – old and new – to celebrate the season in the festive fashion that seems so appropriate at this time of year. Of course it would have been sweeter with a few family members around … maybe we can arrange something in the future … but we know our families had special celebrations of their own, and that we’re all entering 2012 with health, optimism, love and happiness. We wish all of that to all of you!

December 20:  we did some "plane spotting" with
Julie and Steve of Aqua Dreams near Phuket airport.
(Concept introduced by Kay of Bach & Byte).

We got a good view of the underside of a few jets.
Photo by Julie of Aqua Dreams.

December 23:
CanKata organized a dinghy drift In Nai Yang Bay with
Aqua Dreams, Ketoro, Jemimah, Que Pasa and Reflections.

We continued with our Thai lessons, right through the holidays.

CanKatans had an exquisite Christmas Eve dinner at "C @ Nai Yang"  with
Odyssey 9, Jenzminc, Aqua Dreams, Daedalus, Jemimah, Tiaki and Reflections.





On Christmas Day, CanKatans partied at the park in Nai Yang
with Odyssey 9, Jenzminc and friends, Aqua Dreams & J,

Daedalus, Jemimah, and Reflections.

 

Santa was good to us. All edible gifts.

 

Christmas Day, around the tree, gifts already opened.



Our yachts in Nai Yang Bay, waiting patiently for our return.



Boxing Day: started the Bar Hop with oysters etc. at Hula
on the beach at Nai Yang. Joined by Aqua Dreams,
Daedalus, Odyssey 9, Jenzminc, and Jemimah.



Paulina of Hula (hugging Loretta) joined us for this photo.




Second (but not last) stop of the Bar Hop.
The bar tender performed magic and card tricksl

It wasn't a hangover ... honest! A flu bug first got Darrel on
December 27, then Loretta 24 hours later.
Literally knocked us off our feet. We slept close to "the head".

We started celebrating New Year's Eve with lunch at Hula
with Bach & Byte, Aqua Dreams and Daedalus,
then partied on CanKata. Finale: fabulous fireworks.

Year-end sunset: CanKata at Nai Yang.
Photo by Kay of Bach & Byte.

  

January 3: Annual Staff Appreciation Night.
Everyone attended. Speeches were delightfully short.

On Piracy

By Darrel

When Loretta and I set off on our circumnavigation in 2004 we knew of certain areas which were prone to piracy. At that time however, piracy was usually considered to be cases of minor theft so in preparation we took a few precautions to avoid a piracy situation. For example when we left the Caribbean islands heading for the Panama Canal we tried to travel with at least one other boat and in questionable areas we would travel without lights and unnecessary communication on the VHF radio. We also stayed a safe distance of at least fifty miles off the Venezuelan and Columbian coasts. We try to keep our deck clear from any inviting items to attract theft, and we lock up our dinghy as well as our doors and hatches.

When we arrived in S.E. Asia three years ago, we had only planned a one month stop in Malaysia with another one month stop in Thailand after which we would continue westward across the Indian Ocean and up the Red Sea into the Mediterranean. Believe it or not, just three years ago, piracy in the Indian Ocean and passing by Somalia was a minor issue.

After sitting in Thailand for a year, the piracy (or sea terrorists as we prefer to call them) began to escalate, especially near the coast of Somalia. This still did not cause us too much anxiety since we would be staying along the Oman coast which was still considered to be relatively safe. Besides we were still not certain at that time when we would be heading west. However, two years later, the sea terrorists were expanding their hunting grounds and had changed from taking over yachts and removing anything of value to capturing the yachts and crew and taking them back to Somalia where they would be held for ransom. We have heard that the Somali pirates now have over 800 hostages from yachts, fishing boats, cargo ships and anything else that floats within 1500 miles of Somalia. They have now taken over the entire waters eastward to Yemen and as far south as the Seychelles.

Now that three years have passed since we arrived in S.E Asia, the open corridor for sailing up the Red Sea has been slammed shut. Loretta and I are astounded that a small community can take over a major transportation route serving vessels of all sizes.

Needless to say, if we were to continue west, we would be altering our route to go south around the Cape of Good Hope thereby missing the Red Sea altogether.  

Some yachties still go through the Red Sea ... by carrier.

I need not say more on this topic since there is already a lot of information out there (and besides it gets my blood boiling to even think of this situation). But if you want to hear more from the perspective of a fellow cruiser, who we met here in Thailand, you should take a look at Fatty Goodlander’s site at http://www.allatsea.net/article/July_2011/Fatty_Goodlander_Releases_Somali_Pirates_and_Cruising_Sailors.

(Photos found with Google).