Sailing on the Jabuticaba in the spectacular cruising grounds of Phang Nga Bay, considered one of the most beautiful island archipelagos in Asia

My friend Varun owns the beautiful 100 foot sailboat, Jabuticaba, based in Phuket. It is a gorgeous boat with expansive polished teak wood decks and a mahogany hull. Upon arrival, we were welcomed with fresh fruit drinks and then the cocktails started... my best friend, warm and sunny weather, friendly new people, local and authentic Thai food, and the most gorgeous archipelagos closing with the most spectacular sunset made this one of the best days of my life.



Varun invited Steph and I to his boutique hotel called Siolim House in Goa, India, and also to a sailing trip to the beautiful Similan Islands, reputed to be one of the best dive spots in the world. Not sure this is possible but it sounds fun!

Phuket cuisine is a combination of local seafood, southern Thai, Malay and Hokkien Chinese dishes. Luckily, I've eaten very well here. We started the morning eating at a very good basic place in Karon Beach with Sam, who was following us in our tuk-tuk on his motorcycle. Lunch on the boat was outstanding. Varun took us to a local restaurant near Karon for one of my best meals yet. We closed the night dancing at a local Thai spot called Timba club in Phuket City with hardly any tourists. Stephanie and I screamed when we heard our favorite song, Nobody. It was the perfect end to an incredibly fun day.

WONDER GIRLS - NOBODY
credits to yesayoke

You Know I still Love You Baby. And it will never change.

I want nobody nobody but you
I want nobody nobody but you.
nan dareun sarameun shirheo niga animyeon shirheo
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

nan shirheunde wae nal mireonaeryeogo hani jaggu naemareul deutji anhgo
wae ireohke dareun namja-ege nal bonaeryeo hani eoddeohke ireoni

nal wihae geureohdan geu mal neon bujokhadaneun geu mal
ijen geumanhae neon nareul aljanha wae weonhajido anhneungeol gangyohae

I want nobody nobody but you
I want nobody nobody but you.
nan dareun sarameun shirheo niga animyeon shirheo
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

I want nobody nobody but you
I want nobody nobody but you.
nan dareun sarameun shirheo niga animyeon shirheo
I want nobody nobody nobody nobody

nan joheunde nan haengbokhande neoman isseumyeon dwae deo baralge eobtneunde
nugul mannaseo haengbokharan geoya nan neol ddeonaseo haengbokhal su eobseo

nal wihae geureohdan geu mal neon bujokhadaneun geu mal
mari an dwoeneun marigan geol wae molla niga eobshi eoddeohge haengbokhae

Surin Beach, a calm two day oasis before my adventure trip begins

Serenity, sophistication and relaxation found at Surin Beach

I’m sitting at the Twin Palms at Surin Beach at their beachside Catch restaurant sipping a refreshing Pimms cocktail. The sun is starting to set and for atmosphere, the restaurant just lit the floorside fireplace – not for heat but for drama. It works; it is very sophisticated. The hotel is modern, hip and calming. Steph left to Bangkok an hour ago and I decided to spend two more days in Phuket. I can already sense that this is perfect place for some R&R in between the first tranche with Steph and the later segment. Officially, my adventure tour starts tomorrow but I’m going to skip the first two days as I’ve already seen parts of Bangkok and plan to spend time there again as it is my departure point before I leave for Bordeaux in March.

I’m sad to part ways with Steph as we had a great trip but I'm psyched for the road ahead. This has been one of my best trips ever.

Alas, I spent the last two days participating in the outdoor activities that I’ve been looking forward to: Scuba diving and Sailing. We spent Wednesday Scuba Diving the Andaman Sea surrounding the gorgeous Phi Phi Islands. Maryam(my friend from Paris who had recommended the Scuba company), Sam and I were in the same scuba diving group with our divemaster Tony while Stephanie snorkeled. I hadn't dived for nine months -- the last time I did a 5 day liveaboard in the Great Barrier Reef and upped my dive number from 18 to 33. I felt a bit anxious on the boat as I always do before diving, but we had a two and a half our trip before our first dive so I spent an hour refamiliarizing myself with the equipment, techniques and hand signals. I was rather impressed with the dives, one of the best thus far.

Dive log:
Koh Bida Nok
11:40
max: 20 m
41 minutes
29C
bandit cleaner shrimp, harlequin sweetlips. Chicken fish, trigger fish, nemo, clarks anemone

Maya Beach
13:38
max: 16m
52 minutes
29C
sea turtle, stone fish, frog fish, limfish, moon wrasse, trigger fish, needle fish, lizard fish, octopus

Koh Doc Mai
16:25
max: 16m
52 minutes
30C
nudabranches, snake, puffer fish, wide-eyed juvenile eel, sea urchins, bandit cleaner fish

Vendor—highly recommended
Sunrise Diving
Patong Beach, Phuket

More on the sailing trip shortly....