Checking in to Nam Cat Island resort.

Malene was up early. At 6:30 AM the Thai Chi session started on the sun deck. Once done stretching the body in all directions we both joined for a short kayak trip around the bay. The sun was just breaking through the clouds making it a really nice morning. After 30 minutes we headed back to the boat, had breakfast, sailed for about an hour and were transferred to a smaller boat that took us through Ha Long Bay past more green islands to our place for tonight - Nam Cat Island resort. We arrived just in time for lunch and then we had the rest of the afternoon to do as little as possible which included reading books and doing a 30 minute kayak trip.

The clouds had closed in and it was a bit cool in the afternoon. Not something we are used to and definitely not as planned, but it was still nice being on the island. Once back from our kayak trip in the bay we had hot ginger tea - and a few beers before dinner. The group of people staying at our place was around 30 persons and we all had a nice Vietnamese BBQ but we didn't stay up late. Going to be hoping for a bit of good weather in the morning before we head back home.

6 AM view from our room

Sunrise in Halong bay

Morning Tai Chi

Cruising Halong bay

Look who's happy now

Heading to Cat Ba island

So much trash in Halong bay

View from our bungalow

Hot ginger tea for cold weather

Mr Fluffy

Koh Phayam Scooter sightseeing - and we have been on the road for 11 months

Today we've been on the road for 11 months straight. It doesn't feel like that and yet again it does. Seen lots of places, done lots of things, met many people, still looking to do some more travelling.

Today it was supposed to be local travelling though. We had enquired about scooters in town yesterday but they had none available. We tried once more today with luck. So at 10 AM we set off to go island sightseeing looking to go to some of the other beaches on the island and relax there a bit.

We stopped a few times on the way, read our books and enjoyed the island before making it to one of the beaches on the north part of the island. There was a nice restaurant so we had lunch there, found a hammock and just relaxed.

Then we headed to the beach on the other side of the bay, had a drink there, checked out a couple of other beaches on the way home before we made it back to the scooter rental place and dropped off our trusty horse and headed to our own beach just making it for the last sunset swim in a while.

We are off to Bangkok and Myanmar tomorrow so this will be our last evening on the island, so we had sunset beer and shared a Nicaraguan cigar on the beach.

Our "resort"

Giving the scooter a bit of fuel

That's us

On the road

First frappé on Koh Phayam - it took some time to explain to the woman with the blender

Another nice place on the beach

Off road scooter

Malene hitting the road

Farewell cigar

Back on the beach at Koh Phayam

Slow morning today. Breakfast while looking at the sea. What's not to like. Then a visit to the dive centre to do the paperwork for the PADI certificate including a photo and some more stories from our dives.

The rest of the day was spent relaxing and going to the pizza place for lunch. Nice with some food that is not Thai. Even though we also love Thai food.

A long walk on the beach to finish the day off and we also had to take care of some practicalities for getting us off the island since we have decided to leave Thailand when our current visa expires. We had the option of doing a visa-run from Koh Phayam across the border to Myanmar and back which basically is taking the boat back and forth and then paying for a stamp in the passport but we have decided to head for Myanmar instead. And we have already spent almost a full month in Thailand. Amazing how time flies.

One last day on the island tomorrow before we leave for the mainland.

It's another good morning

Happy Muesli and fruit shake

Best dive instructor in the world - Matt at Phayam divers

Walking around the island - cashew nuts all over the place

Those fabulous sunsets