00wet

It promptly started raining again as soon as we got to the hotel Saturday night. I hoped maybe the storm would blow through over night, but no such luck. We had had nice weather for three days, so we were due a big rain. But it wasn't raining as I set for my Bond tour, so I was hoping it wouldn't be that bad. It rained some on our way there, and at a gas station where we made a pit stop (the pier was 1.5 hr away), our guide if asked if everyone had their rain coats. A Spanish couple sitting in front of me asked, "Will it rain?" I looked out the window. "Yeah, probably, but not very much maybe." They looked at me wide-eyed, and then didn't buy raincoats. Maybe they thought that since we had the tour, it wasn't allowed to rain. I wish that had been the case. As soon as we got to the pier, the clouds unleashed. We waited for it to lighten up at least, but it was still raining when we clambered in the long tail boat. This was the most nervous I ever been on a boat, it really felt like it might be too rough for him to make it. And our guide had said it would take 20 min.
We were soaked, rain driving in to our faces and occasional waves spilling in over the sides (though as the water is so warm here, that actually felt welcome). But the view, what we could see of it through the rain in our eyes, was magnificent. Huge cliffs rose right out if the sea, some if them with intricate rock formations and caves. James Bond Island was one of these. There wasn't much to it, just a breathtaking view and an interesting cave, but it was still surreal to be where my picture was.
Next, we went ocean-canoeing. We didn't get to manage the inflatable kayaks (no idea why they called them canoes) ourselves because there were an army of "canoe drivers" there at the floating station to take us around a bay surrounded by caves, mangroves, and sea-mountains. My guide's name was Book, and he showed me a "walking fish" (a fish-looking thing with legs to climb in the mangroves) and took me through a cave and showed me different rock formations.
Next, we went to lunch at a Muslim village built right on the water next to a sea cliff. We had a lovely view as we ate a delicious Thai meal (chicken stir fry, I think they always eat some form of this). It had stopped raining, but we still had time to explore the village before we went back out. They obviously make their living off the tourists there, because it was difficult to see what else they could do. It wasn't very pleasant. All the buildings were so close you felt like you were in a dirty back alley packed with all the typical souvenirs.
As soon as we got back in the boat, it started pouring again, but at least we were going back. We next went to the Monkey Cave to see an enormous statue of a reclining Buddha inside a massive natural cave. It was mesmerizing, and also sad because there were several Buddhists there praying to or at the statue, hard to know which.
Our last stop was meant to be swimming at a waterfall, but the park was closed because of all the rain.
Besides, we all agreed we'd swam enough for one day.