2000 Chapbook

Amadeus/Faraway Sail & Dive Expeditions, April 1999, Marilyn Koukol (koukol@icscjp.co.jp), FPO, AP. Vis: 30-100 ft. Twin-hulled catamaran that was nice on our one sunny day! Then, the rains came and the wind. We were unable to make it to Black Rock. Spent several days in coves with the Sea Gypsies. Beaches had the whitest, powdery sand. Only wild boar and monkey tracks were on the beach. The storm limited good sites. We dived coves and wherever we could but it wasn't as good. At two sites, there had been recent dynamite fishing. Some fish were still stunned and half alive. Variety of jellyfish, barracuda, marbled rays, cuttlefish, a nurse shark. SueAnn was a wonderful cook. I think she's one of the "Spice Girls" as her Thai food was delicious. Wolfgang did everything to salvage this trip! Only 3 guests so we had lots of space. Full capacity of 6 would be crowded. I got tired of using the water foot pump when trying to take a shower. Boarded the Amadeusin Burma (Myanmar). We drove to Ranong from Phuket (there is a flight from Bangkok to Ranong once a day.) We exited Thailand in Ranong and journeyed by water taxi to the Burma entry station (Victoria Point). The port was hectic; we had to crawl over and across several other water taxis until we got to ours! Entry station was a 12X12 hut on stilts with 3 guys checking paper work at card tables. After they checked, we climbed back into the water taxi and chugged on to the Amadeus.Once on the boat, Isabella completed all the forms and the Captain took the papers to get our visas. They have a website (Faraway Sail and Dive); I made my reservations by e-mail. (Tel/Fax 66-7628-3129)