Wild Orchid

Bond films - Man with the golden golden gun- was partially made here. Further in the south, another island lies where they did the exteriors shooting for the film ‘The Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio, some indications of the unique landscape, a permanent playground for movie scouts.

We want to explore some of the islands with the kayak and want to track down wild orchids, not to pick them but to have a look. Since the exotic flowers “nest” in the rock crannies usually far above or make it comfortably on the mangrove plants as parasites, also touching is not possible, however the colors and the graceful forms are unique and worth the trip.

After a deafening ride over the flat waves - the unmuffled diesel engine is fixed very loosely at the stern of the boot - , Thai like it the more noise the better,..maybelai, maybelai, we swing in a turn and come to a halt, easily splashing in front of a mini atoll formed by a high rock formation. We glide into the turquoise water and wade through the small opening just over the water surface into the rock formation. It is like an adventure fairy-tale, the upward
 open grotto opens oval of  

approximately 50 x 30 m. Crabs doze in the sand, shrimps run under the water surface, I withdraw the foot quickly as one of them comes to near, rainbow colored fishes move slowly, one could catch them with the hand to have a nice lunch. Tom Hanks was obviously at the wrong island at the wrong time in the stranded movie, or maybe only the script writer was out of date. Above, a wild horde of Fruit Bats screeches, huge, fat creatures, they have no natural enemies. Roy’s son paddles the kayak through the narrow opening above the water surface, a paradise setting. We find some....orchid who virtually glue on the Mangroves. Pretty small flowers, one probably wonders how they came to this place, but we are in Thai land, a standard phrase in Thailand is ..me luuu. meaning I don’t know, me neither.

We had a short swim in the splendid water, its so inviting once you are in you don’t want to get out, better than any wirle pool. In the open grotto the water surface reflects the sky with an emerald shade. Some long tale macaques are having fun jumping up and down on the mangroves they are not shy coming near to say hello, actually probably expecting some food.

We move back to the motor boat and the boatmen bang the 2 seated kayak into the water. I take the front seat, cover the cameras with the shirt from the sun and Roy take the paddle, Siva is following us in the red kayak to function as messenger to the mother boat if necessary, we better be a little organized. Some diamond club (photo right top) hanging down looking like cactus but are from a other family and a good indication if you can expect orchids if they are there the orchids are not far.

Uncountable schools of mini fishes swim along the cliffs, moving quite orchestrated. We pass many green who found their niche of life on the stones, orchid leaves are everywhere but naturally the blossoms are not there all the time since the preferred blooming time is February to May, they only bloom once per year. But there is a elegant way to have them visible all the time, visit the orchid nursery described later.

Consider the day trip as a prelude with a little intermezzo in the restaurant at the evening to get some fresh seafood into the stomach and to have a finale the next day at the nursery, don’t forget the camera, the best time at the “orchid farm” is around 5 pm since at that time the sunrays have the right angle to illuminate the precious flowers to bring the colors out.

Anyway we are in a very positive mood but we have to move on since a hazy day means

a dark blue mélange and fat drops of heavy rain bang down on us. We quickly get back to the boat and get the blinds down to continuing another time, it’s worth it, its a unique experience.