Get off the Beaten Track

Mainland to the North, Lanta Noi in the middle and Lanta Yai at the bottom

The dogs and I had the day off today, so we decided to do something I have not done for many years, I drove around Lanta Noi.

Siri Bridge

Lanta Noi is the island between Lanta Yai (the island where tourists stay) and the mainland and accessible via the new bridge (Siri Bridge) that connects the 2 islands. Lanta Noi is a beautiful island, more Thai than Lanta Yai but has only 1 beach (where the land is just above sea level) and no sunsets, so has a largely Muslim Thai population. 

Little Homestead on Lanta Noi

As I drove round I could see that the houses, schools and roads are much imporoved than I remembered and that is probably because the local population has done well from the tourism on Lanta.

Our first stop was a pier, which i swam around over 10 years ago, the pier has been much improved and you can see Old Town in the distance. There is a lovely Thai restaurant, run by a sweet Muslim lady where you can buy drinks and traditional Thai food.

Restaurant by the pier

My second stop was the new promenade, which I hope is what Casuarina Park will look like when it is finished.

New Promenade

Finally, the dogs and I went to the beach at the top of the island, where the dogs could let off a little steam, as there are no other dogs and no one else there.

Barry, the puppy and Sam at the pier

Just 1 Bag

A little bigger bag than I had envisaged

Barry, our new puppy, and I were so upset when we went to the beach this morning, because the high tide last night had brought in a huge amount of rubbish from the sea.

Lots of people on the beach at midday today

Barry and I did our usual bag, but it really didn't make any difference.

I asked for help

So I designed a poster and asked the people on Lanta to help with the clean up and was shocked when I returned to the beach at midday and saw many people on the beach, helping to clean it up. Resort staff, local Thai people and tourists were all helping.

Whilst I would love to claim that I motivated these people into action I cannot:

Lanta Castaway Resort Staff

Lanta Castaway Resort, always clean the beach, but today they seem to have doubled the crew size.

Motivated by what he saw

Local Thai people told me they were motivated by what they saw.

Sarah Duff on her last day of her holiday

Sarah Duff, who was spending her last day on Lanta, said she was devastated when she woke up this morning after enjoying a lovely clean beach for the previous days, she was compelled to contribute.

Two of our guests, Luna and Michael,  asked for 3 bin bags and helped, 3 free beers for them!.

Michael & Luna

And of course Barry and I helped each of these wonderful groups and filled up another bin bag before we left the beach.

What we did today

But there is still plenty to pick up, so please if you go to the beach today, please pick up just 1 bag of rubbish. Imagine if everyone did this today. #just1bag

Other People's Trash

I love low season, because it is a bit more relaxed than high season, so we have much more time to spend with our guests. In the main the weather is really good, but we do get rain much more regularly and we get the occasional storm.

Last week we got our first big storm (which is normal in June), unfortunately this, coupled with the change in the sea patterns, forces rubbish from the sea onto our beaches. None of this rubbish comes from Koh Lanta and if we left it to nature, as the sea changes, the sea will take back the rubbish it has given us.

Mook Lanta Eco Resort sponsors Trash Hero Beach Clean ups

Obviously we don't want our beaches, nor our seas polluted with rubbish and so we have a wonderful organisation on the island, Trash Hero Lanta, who not only organise beach clean ups once per week but also teach the local children about waste and provide reusable water bottles to cut down on waste.

Puppy walking is combined with a daily beach clean up

However the efforts of Trash Hero Lanta relies on volunteers and this is where you can help. Join them on one of their Beach Clean ups or pick up some rubbish whilst you are on the beach. When Mellisa walks our new puppy, Barry on the beach, she is filling 1 big bag of rubbish each day, but her efforts, and the efforts of a few hotels and expats, is not enough.

The Newest Member of the Family

We would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Mook Lanta Eco Resort Team...... Barry.

Our New Pup, Barry!

Barry is about 6 months old and 1.5 months ago he was found by a concerned lady under the Siri Bridge to Lanta. She quickly realised that the dog did not belong on the streets and asked for help finding him a temporary home.

Mellisa, without Nick's knowledge, said she could take him on temporarily and he arrived that night, a scared bundle of fluff.

The next morning it was clear he was used to being in a house and with humans and he quickly adapted to living at the resort. 

After a few 'conversations' it was agreed that Barry could stay, but only if he learns how to behave on the resort. So if you come to Mook Lanta, please remember:

- He loves affection, but must not jump up, but must sit to receive it.

- He is a puppy, so understand he is still learning.

- Never feed him at a table, but if you want to reward him, make sure he sits and gives you his paw.

And why is he called Barry? Well the staff wanted to call him 'Siri' because it is the name of the bridge, but Mellisa felt it was a bit girly. A friend, suggested the dog was named after him, Barry, and it just suited him and it stuck!

We are in the Hall of Fame!

Many thanks to our wonderful guests for voting for us. We have been awarded a 'Certificate of Excellence' by TripAdvisor because of you and because of the hard work of our staff.

We have also been entered into the Hall of Fame of TripAdvisor, because we have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence for 5 consecutive years!

We love all feedback and we want to continue to provide a great service and ensure your stay is perfect, so please keep feeding back!

Rainy Season! Nah Green Season More Like

Not 2 minutes ago, I got asked, 'It doesn't rain much in Rainy Season?'

My response:

"I call this time of year Green Season, not Rainy/Monsoon/Low Season, Why? Because all of the other titles mislead people."

"It does not rain everyday, but it does rain, and my gardens are lovely and green because of it. There is sunshine aplenty at this time of year and only yesterday a friend was telling me he had fallen foul to the 'Low Season Sunburn,' because he forgot how hot and sunny it can be at this time of year."

"On a holiday at this time of year, you will have some rain, that could be a storm lasting a few days, a few small showers in the evening or something in between. But this time of year is unpredictable, especially the sea, so you cannot go snorkelling and Scuba Diving everyday."

"But staying at this time of year, is so cheap that it makes up for a bit of rain (which most welcome!)."

Children Of The Forest

One of the reasons I am so proud to call Koh Lanta home is because of how generous the local residents can be.

First Day on the Beach

This year for the 12th year running, Children of the Forest have given 50 stateless children a holiday to remember on Koh Lanta. Children of the Forest is a fabulous charity, which gives these kids from Burma, who are stateless and as such have no access to healthcare, schooling and legal rights in Thailand.

Sanuk paid for their long trip to the island.

Their journey from Sangklaburi (about 3 hours north from Kanchanaburi) takes 2 days and the Swedish school on Lanta raises the funds to ensure they are delivered safely, fed and have somewhere to stay for this long trip.

Whilst they are here, many businesses and residents give time, money, accommodation and tours to the children.

Scubafish provided a Snorkelling Trip

Andaman Sunflower Resort (next to us on Koh Lanta) have provided free accommodation for 12 years and provide any meals not offered by other restaurants.

First Time Snorkelling

Scubafish took them all on a wonderful snorkelling tour on their boat,

Greek Taverna

The children got their first taste of Greek food at the Greek Taverna and they danced the night away with dinner at Global Local Lanta.

Enjoying the pool at Laguna Beach Club

 Rattana Resort and Laguna Beach Club gave them access to their pools. Time for Lime, gave them beach toys and cooking classes.

Time for Lime

Cooking Class at Time For Lime

I was asked to help Kandi Lounge provide a chilled afternoon with snacks, pool and cartoons.

Pool at Kandi Lounge

It is a privilege to help with this special holiday and it is humbling to see how lovely and polite these kids are despite the harshness of their short lives. 

Fun on the Beach

Tomorrow these kids take the long journey home, we wish them a safe journey home and look forward to seeing them again next year.