Hong By Starlight Tour

crab on island wall eating his lunch

we are coming out of the cave

yes we are going into this cave

walking fish in the lagoon

this island is called Little James Bond

kathongs we made-ours is on the right

coming out of the cave

lunch--I ate some noodles before I remembered to take a picture

We were picked up at 10:00 and taken to a big boat with an upper and lower deck.  When we arrived at Hong Island we were paddled around by Noi (pulled his name from a dish and got the best guide I think).  Noi was perfect and made it fun.  We paddled around some islands then went into 3 caves.  Some of the cave openings were quite small. Then we went back to the boat and had lunch which was cooked on the boat.  More paddling and caves and a lagoon then back to make a kathong.  It is made out of a slice of banana tree trunk.  Then we attached folded banana leaves, flowers, candles.  Noi made a few tiny cuts on a orchid to make it into a bird.  Amazing what you can do with an orchid.  Then we had supper (pictures of all the dishes).  After supper we took our kathongs to our rubber canoes and back into the caves in the dark as it was late.  We lit the candles then sent them off.  Kathongs are made on the full moon in November.  You make a wish then send them off.  The flame represents burning your worries away.  We had to retrieve all ours as we used nails plus it wasn't November.  What a shame to throw all of the kathongs into a garbage bag. Wonder how I can make one and send it off at home with the water frozen.  Then we were returned home.