Day 3: Koh Yao Noi the island that got split by the Naga dragon lover

I did kriya at the beach next morning. We had breakfast - egg but it didn't seem like a hen's. We resented a scooter and set out to explore the island. We pretty much covered all roads on the island by 2pm. Some twice.

I think the first place we went to was paradise point. It was a beachy place with a resort. It didn't catch my fancy and we drove back. All the while worrying about when we would run out of gas. We finally filled gas back on e main road at a fascinating, Thai speaking, automated gas station. I filled gas for 40 baht.

For an island of its size, I found it to be extremely well equipped. It has a well functioning municipality. Good roads, gas station, ATM, bank, hospital, school and even a college. It's 90% Muslim population. Women mostly had covered heads. Extremely friendly. Tropical and grows all kinds of tasty fruits. Internet costs 2 baht per min which I thought was very expensive. It's surrounded by beautiful little islands - hong island, James bond island (yes), paradise island...several. The sunrise and sunset is spectacular. It's Andaman sea all around. Amusingly we wee on the other end of the Andaman sea two years ago in Havelock.

Later in the day, we trekked had snails in the jungle. There were hardly any signs but there was somewhat of a path. Muddy. I thought I saw a iguana cross the road. We reached what seemed to be the end of the jungle trek. We got lost. We saw scores of shells that kept moving. I realized that there were snails and stuff in it. It was weird walking on it and having that sinking mars-land like feeling. We got lost there and took some time to find the way back. I also fell and hurt my knees.

We finally drove around to find a lunch place. It was really hot. I can't remember now where we ate but we had yellow curry and fried rice and fried noodles and it was yum. We met a Swiss family there. I asked them how old their three year old son was and that's how we got talking. The husband worked at the UN. Son was Fran and wife Marion was a naturopath. I think Marion suggested that we take a boat and see the islands. That's how we met zak the druggy looking rock climber plus boat guy. He introduced us to the 40 year old boatman called luk.

The boat trip did it for me. I guess that's what I traveled for. The islands were surreal. I think I'd seen them in the avatar - the floating islands in the movie but on the sea here! Wow wonderful. He took us to a lagoon first. I thought of blue lagoon movie that all of us fantasized in our childhoods. The lagoon was a consistent green, beautiful surrounded by the island mountains all over.

Later we went to paradise island where I went snorkeling on my own. That did it for me too. It was wonderful to swim with the fishes. I worried if it would go inside my shorts and also bite on my bleeding knees. It brought my mind to a standstill. Wonderful.

Another first was I drove that long tail fisherman boat. He said, ok you be captain and disappeared leaving it in my control. I was supposed to take it between two islands. Gulp.

We returned while it drizzled slightly and the sun set fully. Beautiful day.

But wait. We had to return to India the next day from Bangkok and we didn't have our tickets yet. After I came to realize (after checking on net and phone) that there may not be tickets available, I knew that would become the crux of our day 4.