Island kayaking

Yesterday I hired an ocean kayak for the exorbitant price of 500b. I think that's nearly $20. I took myself out to the nearest Island, which is about a km and a half away. It was a really hard slog. I'd later realise the kayak had a substantial amount of water in it, combined with me sitting in the rear seat, meant that I was paddling up hill.

About half way across to the island there were these fish traps. A permanent net stretched from close to the shore across the bay a few hundred metres and at the end it has a round enclosure made of branches driven into the bottom. I assume the fish hit the net and follow it along to the traps. I used one if these for a rest.

When I reached the island there was a man working some sort of aquaculture, or maybe growing oysters. The entire operation, including his hut, was floating at the base of the cliffs on this island. There is nowhere to land on the island so I paddled around the sides and found some little openings in the cliffs that opened into big caves. It was really cool. I took a few photos but it was tricky.

From that Island I paddled another km or so to the next Island, which is called monkey Island. There was another large cave in this island and a nice small beach around the side. I had a look in the cave, which was really peaceful except for the occasional squeaking of bats, then went to the little beach to eat my lunch. It was surrounded by cliffs with trees growing out of it on all sides. After about half an hour there, 2 other people from the place I'm staying arrived and a monkey came down and stole their food.

They left and I stayed for a bit longer and watched this monkey climb the cliffs. I was starting to get hungry again and the paddle back was long. I emptied the water out and sat in the middle of the kayak, which made paddling much easier, but I was still knackered. When I got back it was low tide. Those fish traps with the permanent nets became a maze as the nets were now 4 feet out of the water (I know what you're thinking dad, but they didn't have a lead line to lift, they were attacked to these branches). I made my way through and got to the mud flat... Which was about half a km from my destination!

So I pushed, pulled and kicked the kayak back. It took me at least an hour. I seriously considered sitting there for 2 hours to wait for the tide. There was supposed to be a channel, but it started 200 metres from the water and was about 5cm deep. It also zigged and zagged, making it longer and only slightly easier to drag.

Today I've hired a scooter. My intention was to ride to the Tiger Cave Temple. It sits atop a hill and has a massive staircase to get there. I'm not sure if I'm going to go. My knees are rat shit. If I do I'll go tonight or early tomorrow morning for sunset/sunrise. I just went to this little beach thing. It is at the bottom of a steep hill/cliff. I didn't bring swimmers or shoes so I didn't bother climbing down.

Photos are:

The first Island.

Crack in the rock.

Looking up inside the crack.

Monkey Island, taken from the 1st Island.

Looking up from the base of the 1st Island.

Cave on monkey Island x2.

The beach on Monkey Island x2.

Trying to get a sunset photo.

The ledge I was too afraid of standing on this morning.