Kayaking tour

Time for a change of pace, kayaking. We were rounded up with eighteen other tourists and herded into the back of two pick-up trucks known as "songthaews". Our guide, Loi, introduced himself and forty five minutes later we were at our destination, Ao Thalane. Instructions and formalities out of the way, everyone clambered into their kayaks and "a paddling we went".
Bobbing about on the sea was more than exhilarating, with amazing backgrounds of the gigantic limestone formations. We paddle around the rocks to a cave that Loi claimed was a site where the gypsies would leave their dead. Loi scaled the rock to the cave, disappeared, returning with some bones. Apparently, a time ago, the cave held a lot of bones, but now most are in a museum of history of the region.
Next stop was at a tiny beach surrounded by the rock. We had to wait to access the beach as there was a bit of a traffic jam with the group in font of us. While waiting, a young Asian couple managed to capsize. Both ended up in water, fortunately it was only shoulder deep.
The rocks around the beach and trees above were home to a tribe of Macaques. One guy came down to greet us. LOL. Actually, I think he knew he was about to get a handout. This is where our guides served up fresh fruit snacks. We were then given the peel of the pineapple to feed the Macaques. It was fun. I held a piece out for one and he was quick to grab it and run. Others, more used to tourists, would take it gently.
We paddled our way around the rock and down a channel with more rock on either side ariving in an area of mangroves. The forest above and around was alive with the sound of a mass of insects. We surmised the insects flourish because of the lack of any signs of birds. There all seems to be a lack of visible signs of fish. Monkeys and bugs were the most visible. We paddled into a cave known as crocodile cave. According to Loi, many fisherman had been lost to the crocodiles over the years so eventually the crocs were exterminated from Thailand altogether to eliminate any threat to the fisherman and the cave is now called mosquito cave! It was a worthwhile trip though!