Koh Lipe Getaway

This is the last minute plan to this "Maldives of Thailand" Koh Lipe island by bunch of my wife best friends.  I have heard about this island for quite sometime and finally I'm here. Sorry son, daddy will take you here in the near future. 

Day 1

Leaving Alor Star town early in the morning at 6 o'clock and the journey took us about 3 and half hours to reach the Pakbara pier. And from the pier to the island took about 1hour and 15 minutes to reach the island by using 4 x 200 engine speed boat. Long tail or fishing boat definitely can't make it in this short time.

We were staying at this Mountain Resort, generally I'll rate this a quite decent resort to stay but sadly there was no door front beach side, you gotta walk for 5- 10 minutes to the beach.  Resort services was good, they got this buggy car on standby to take you out of the resort to the nearby restaurant or any water sports activities centre.

I was so excited as this is my first time diving overseas but plan to dive in this very first day in the island but somehow due to the weathers........ first day dive had to be called off.  I pray to the God will be a sunny day the next day.  An advice here never come to the island during low season except you are going to stay for a week or  two and bet for the good weather.

Day 2

Thank you God for answering my prayer, it was a sunny day today. Took our breakfast at Satun Diving Centre, a little pricey breakfast with 2 slices of bread and 2 fried eggs cost 140 bahts by Mr Bank, the chef.  Following with the day trip boat diving to 3 dive sites named Stonehenge, Koh Hinru and Jabang.  I was hoping to see some big stuff like manta ray and whale shark for this trip.  But seems like I have to keep on diving and looking for them. Still no chances spotting them open water.

Polyceridae (pikachu)

Flabellinidae

I had never spotted these 2 nudibranches before in east coast Malaysia, these are new in my personal portfolio. Besides this lion fish are everywhere, like a permanent residents in this lovely island.  My first time spotted a seahorse also at this island. There are so many macro life here but with limited bottom time looking for them. Won't missed out the turtle too.

Lion fish

Seahorse 

Soft corals

Stone fish

Finished our second dive at Koh Hinru, Joan and me was brought to a seems like a private beach to have our lunch and surface interval. Lunch on this private beach without anyone around was like living famous, like you owned the beach, that was cool. 

Private beach front

Taking lunch

Surface view of Koh Hinru dive site

After lunch

Our last dive was at Jabang. This site was full of soft corals, those corals are so color rich and healthy.  Not forget an very obedient cuttlefish was there posing for me to shoot. I was so excited as this is also my first time seeing cuttlefish underwater. 

Soft corals

Day 3

I'm gonna say this indeed an awesome trip but too bad we were only staying 3 days 2 nights.  We're leaving early at 9.30 morning back to Pakbara pier. I promise myself will definitely come back again. Just wait for the Koh Lipe part 2.