After a short ride from my hotel, we reached the jetty and set off on a boat. The guide did some short introductions and then we were served with some light local Thai food.

During the boat ride to the location, the guide did a very interesting presentation about  safety and told us that if we made too much noise or disturbed the environment he would literally tie our hands and bring us back to the boat. The fact that he had some amusing info-graphics for demonstration topped off with his unique accent and a bubbly manner made it a very enjoyable session.

The Boat Seen Alongside a Kayak and Limestone Cliffs

Each canoe seats two plus a guide and since most folks on the tour came in pairs, each pair was assigned a guide. Since I was by myself, I got a canoe and a guide all to myself. Ah.. the perks of travelling on your own. My guide was a jolly good fellow and we were fast friends in no time.

The first trip was one to explore the cliffs as the tides had not risen to a sufficient level to permit entry into the caves. The cliffs looked magnificent and even more so as the evening was approaching. It was so beautiful that after exploring the cliffs for a while with my guide, we went back to the boat to leave him on the boat and I spent some time kayaking by myself and basking in the evening glow.

As evening approached, we then got back to the boat and went to another island where we entered our first cave. After getting a taste of kayaking the first time around, I got a paddle and joined in with my guide to row the kayak which made for a more engaging experience.

If you had watched the movie The Beach, you might have wondered how on earth such beautiful places can be hidden in plain sight. I got my answer as I entered the first cave; from the outside it was a sheer cliff, but once we passed through the cave, we came upon a clearing much like an atrium.  It almost felt like a volcanic crater lake with high walls on each side. You would never know such a thing existed unless you went inside!

The Atrium Like Clearing Inside the Sea Caves of Phang Nga Bay

We explored two caves, the second of which was completely dark for about 200 meters. We were provided with torches and we could see the bats hanging from the ceiling of the cave. The second cave also opened into a clearing but this one was massive. We paddled and explored the lake and I was left wondering in awe at the beauty that nature holds which we so wantonly take for granted.

Exploring the Sea Caves of Phuket with John Gray Sea Canoe

Navigating the caves require a good understanding of the water, but I was in good hands as my guide had 12 solid years of experience in those waters. In fact he could paddle the whole dark cave without any lights (yes we tried it, yes I was kinda scared). The coolest cave was the last one where we had just enough time to get into the the cave when the water was high enough but then it rose so fast that when we came out of the cave, we literally had to lie down on the kayak to get through.

Guide Squeezing Through a Cave Opening

After the third trip, we went back  on board to enjoy a good Thai dinner followed by the most interesting activity of making traditional floats called Krathong. Then on a very full stomach, we went on the last trip to release the floats into the water and see plankton glowing in the night sea. Once the last deed was done, we set our course back to shore. The trip back was equally beautiful as a beautiful breeze accompanied the moon on our way home.

Kratongs Floating in the Water

What made the night all the more awesome was the fact that John Gray himself was on board. John ‘Caveman’ Gray came to Thailand from Hawaii with some fellow enthusiasts to investigate rumors of lost worlds among the islands of Phang Nga bay in 1989. He then decided there was too much beauty in the seas of Phuket that he stayed and built John Gray Sea Canoe tours. He proved to be the most interesting conversationalist and regaled me with tales from his eventful life.

The Man Himself - John Gray

John is an avid Kayak-er and very committed environmentalist. In fact John led a week long sea clean-up drive to clean the marine rubbish from the seas near Phuket. I felt that John had succeeded in creating an amazing experience for his guests along with his dedicated team of guides and manager Robin while being extremely responsible for the environment. ( Just for the record, we did take the Kratongs back after floating them so as to no pollute the sea. )

If you are in Phuket and you have time for only one thing to do you gotta try this. You will find many operators for sea canoe tours now, they have swankier boats when compared to John Gray among other things. But I feel that no one else can replicate the charm, knowledge and environmental focus that John Gray has. You can find out more at these links.

• John’s Blog: http://johngrays-seacanoe.blogspot.com/
• Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/JohnGraySeaCanoe
• Official Website: http://www.johngray-seacanoe.com/

To top it off, here are some photographs taken by a guest that fully showcases the John Gray experience.  http://s694.photobucket.com/albums/vv303/capepanwa/Your%20photographs/John%20Gray%20Sea%20Canoe/?albumview=slideshow

Such a romantic and idyllic picture of enjoying both life and nature, has always been associated with life on the Caribbean. But this is just a fraction of what the Caribbean Islands can really offer.

The Caribbean islands consist of several regions :

• The Greater Antilles (Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Puerto Rico),
• The Lesser Antilles, which is further divided into three groups;
  1. Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Eustatius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Martin, and U.S. Virgin Islands),
  2. Windward Islands (Barbados, Grenada, Martinque, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago)
  3. ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao).
• Other Islands of the Caribbean (The Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Navassa Island, Turks and Caicos Islands, French Guiana, Guyana and Suriname).

Whether you are here on a romantic honeymoon, a leisure getaway from the hectic bustle of city living, or to explore what hidden treasures lie in each of these unique islands, you won’t be disappointed.

Cuba Taxi by Matthias Schack

In this cluster of islands, you begin your journey of experiencing diverse cultures, enjoying a wide variety of unique cuisines, and indulging in a wide range of activities from the leisurely to the adrenaline-inducing.

Spoilt for choice? Just ask yourself. how you want your Caribbean experience to be.

Here’s the Caribbean treatment exclusive for you. It’s your vacation. Be pampered, be spoilt.

Enticing you with sights and smells of exotic flora and fauna, topped with mild temperatures all year round, you feel drawn away from the mundane lulling of your deskwork. Don’t worry if you don’t want to feel to disconnected with the city-living, for Panama will bridge you from your world into Central America.

Ocelot in Panama by (Bill and Mavis) - B&M Photography

As Guatemala, Belize, El Savador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and parts of southern Mexico continue to beckon you, it becomes harder to resist their mysterious rustic charms that are so well kept from today’s pervasive forces of contemporary living.

This is your chance. Your perfect escape. Even just for a while.

Now embark on a journey, or take up one of the many tours, to the various stops of Central America. You could ascend heights of volcanoes of Costa Rica, dive into the depths of seas in Belize or even comb the dense forests of Nicaragua. Be an explorer for a day, and imagine the endless possibilities of the old world as you walk straight into the ancient Tikal Maya ruins, El Caracol, and the other Maya ruins in Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras.

Trod the grounds of Chalchuapa, an important archeological site where you can see the pyramids Tazumal, which means, “Where the victims were burned”. Walk with heightened senses, in the Caves of Talgua, otherwise known as the “Caves of the Glowing Skulls” in Honduras, a 2km long series of caves where ritual offerings and painted skeletons of almost 200 people from 2500 years ago lie.

Calm your nerves as you admire nature’s beautiful creations, strolling near the crater lake of Atitlán in Guatemala. Or freshen up as you snorkel in the clear waters of Belize and watch manatees in the wild.

Feeling daring? Take things up a notch. Go cave tubing in Belize, challenge El Salvador’s surf at La Libertad, one of the top ten surfing beaches in the world. For the gutsy only – there’s always volcano surfing in Nicaragua. Get closer to nature on Mombacho Canopy Tours in Nicaragua as you swing through the rain forest, tree to tree, with the use of wire cables and guidance from the tour assistants.

Sightseeing? Behold spectacular sights as you stand at the heights of Mt Chirripo, the highest mountain in Costa Rica, or capture inspiring shots of the vast Pacific Oceans as Panama’s Amador Causeway.

As you wrap up your fulfilling trip around Central America, the memories and experiences you have gathered will rejuvenate your mind and body as you leave with its secrets and beauty inside you.

Mexican food is known for its diverse flavors and colorful presentation, whipped from its huge variety of native spices and ingredients. But of course, Mexico is more than Tacos, Tortillas, Guacamole, Quesadillas, or Tequila for that matter.

One of the hottest travel destinations today, Mexico offers more than just its sizzling cuisine and blazing summers.

Escape from the heat into the cool waters of Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Xel-Ha or San Pedro Beach. With varying vacation spots for adventure seekers to sea sports enthusiasts, Mexico is a perfect holiday paradise.

Dive or snorkel in the world’s second largest barrier reef, Playa del Carmen, take a leisurely swim at San Pedro Beach in Ambergris Caye, or be awed by The Great Blue Hole in Belize. You could take a step back and feel speckles of water upon your skin as you witness the majestic waterfall, Misol- Há, a 120-foot of cascading water, or the Cascades de Agua Azul plunging right before your eyes.

Rejuvenated? Grab your gear and explore a few of the mysterious and sacred grounds of Mexico, El Tajin (The Temple of the Storm Gods) or Ancient Tulum.

Pyramid of Kukulcan by Jenny Pansing

Hype up the adventure as you search for Real de Catorce, known as Mexico’s ghost town in the clouds. Looking for desserts to end the day? Take a ride on the Copper Canyon Railway, visit a volcano or watch amazing whales in Baja.

Mexico welcomes the adventurous and outgoing fun-seekers, and all those who are willing to take on new challenges.

Founded as a British trading colony in 1819, since independence it has become one of the world’s most prosperous countries and sports the world’s busiest port. Singapore is a small country on a small island, but with just over five million people it is a fairly crowded city and in fact second only to Monaco as the world’s most densely populated country.

Singapore Skyline by Nlann

Singapore’s diverse cultural heritage has resulted in a way of life that forms the canvas of a rich social fabric. Most of the people of Singapore are descendants of immigrants from the Malay Peninsula, China, the Indian sub-continent and Sri Lanka. While they have gradually acquired a distinct identity as Singaporeans, many still retain their customs, practices and festivals in a curious mix of the modern and the traditional.

You can learn more about Singapore from Wikitravel

In any case, Asia offers the very diverse travel options available to the most avid travelers. On one end, there are the ultramodern largely democratic modern countries/territories like Japan and the East Asian Tigers of Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea which are very prosperous and in which people enjoy very high standards of living. On the other hand, Afghanistan, Laos and East Timor are extremely poor countries where people struggle even to get a few grains of rice each day.

Of course, there are also many countries lying somewhere in the middle, such as the emerging powerhouses of China and India which make wonderful travel destinations in themselves due to their long history, size and diversity. To add to a list of possible travel destinations, Asia is also home to North Korea, which is under one of, if not the most, oppressive regimes in the world. Thailand is a magnet for travelers too, with great food, a tropical climate, fascinating culture and great beaches.

You can learn more about Asia from Wikitravel

With its capital city, Washington D.C, and many renowned major cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and San Francisco, it’s unsurprising why the US is one of the must-go countries on most of our travel lists.

The Statue of Liberty in New York

Distinct and diverse cultures, races to activities and popular tourist destinations, it doesn’t matter whether you are a city slicker or a nature lover; the US has a place for everyone.

Visit nature’s spectaculars in Colorado, where the magnificent Rocky Mountains reside, the Grand Canyon of Arizona, the Mississippi River, or Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. Drop by Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota to witness the marriage of nature and man-made wonder.

The US is also known for its contemporary architectures, so head down to New York’s Empire State Building or drive through San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge to be wowed. To take a laidback leisurely attitude in the fast paced US cities, there’s always the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York or San Diego Aerospace Museum.

Looking for family fun and excitement? Don’t forget Florida’s Disney Land or Orlando’s Universal Studios. Alone time with your partner? Catch a baseball game, a theatre play off the Broadway, have a drink in New York’s finest bars or you could go shopping together down Fifth Avenue. Seeking a memorable time alone? Go wild and get inked in Miami!

Food. You’ll never get enough of the American Hotdog, the mega-sized burgers or pizzas, drool at the sight of Kansas City’s barbecue ribs, or savor Whole Maine lobsters, San Diego fish tacos or Philly cheese steak.

From the laid-back sunny beach life of Hawaii, to Hollywood fame and glamour in Los Angeles, to fashion runways and Broadway of New York, to the pleasurable vices of the daring sin city, Las Vegas, boundless activities await for fun-seekers, foodies, leisure travellers or fanatic shoppers.

Now, who doesn’t want to go to the US? You can read more on USA from Wikitravel.

A Beautiful Lake in Canada by Kamal Hamid

Some of the most popular destinations include the Niagara Falls, Jasper National Park and Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, The Interlake Area, Terra Nova National Park, Cape Breton Island, Saint John River Valley, Jasper National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Algonquin Park, Cariboo-Chilcotin, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site & Hudson Bay.

White Water Rafting, Kayaking and Boating are activities you can do with abandon in Canada. If water sports isn’t for you, you could always visit some of the beautiful wilder regions where hiking, fishing and hunting will take you to another world. Oh Yeah, you could also go and see a ice hockey game at Canadian Hockey Stadiums.

As a vacation destination Canada can really deliver and Canadians can be a very welcoming community. Consider taking a closer look at the Canadian culture. Meet the people, participate in their cultural activities & take a look into their history; It is the best way to really get to know Canada.

The major cities in Canada are Ottawa (Capital of Canada), Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Hamilton, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, Whitehorse & Winnipeg. You can get comprehensive information on Canada from Wikitravel.

See ya later, now back to work.