day 287, Koh tonsai, (rabbit island)

Me and Michael piled into a tuk-tuk laid on by our hotel to drive down to the pier, where we got a boat over to Koh Tonsai, otherwise known as Rabbit Island (apparently the island looks like a rabbit). It’s a quiet island about 5km away from Kep, it was a glorious day and we arrived 20mins later to a stretch of sandy beach littered with small bungalows and cafés. We found a bungalow easily and sat down for breakfast with two Quebecois girls, Mary and Alex. From there we walked around the island looking for a quiet secluded beach, though weren’t in luck. Apart from the main beach there wasn’t any sand to find, and we walked all the way round in vain. We did find a slightly sandy spit so we dumped our bags and went for a swim, though after 100m of walking we still weren’t up to our knees so gave up. Once back at the main beach we went for a swim though the water was super warm, chilled out, read some more book and listened to some music while lying in the shade having a kip and a bit more swimming. We walked down the beach to make sure there wasn’t a bar/restaurant full of people, there weren’t, though we ran into Mary and Alex again so had dinner together. We all had seafood which was divine, a couple of beers and good company, was really nice. Me and Michael had heard that you can go swimming at night andyour movements disrupt a plankton/algae that glows as a result, we left the restaurant to the beach (all seven metres of it) though it didn’t look like there was anything happening. Unperturbed I stripped off and waddled in, and to my delight, once you got out of the beach lights) there was! You move you hand/foot and it was almost like a phosphorous trail coming out of your hand/foot, like fireflies. Was really, really cool. I shouted to Michael who came out, then he shouted and went back in and grabbed Mary and Alex who came out. There is electricity on this island between six and ten, it’s nine now, just waiting for ten to strike and darkness envelopes us and we go back out for more swimming as it’s so cool, even though I’m knackered and want to go to bed now!

Michael doing his Jesus thing...