At Ramard pier where I am waiting for another speedboat passenger to arrive. The tide is coming in, I can smell the salt. It’s a mangrove swamp so I watch the crabs and mudskippers come out to feed.

There is a full-arc rainbow overhead as the speedboat zips across the water to Koh Lanta. We come ashore at Saladan pier and a scant 10 minutes later, I am unloading my bags and looking for my bungalow.

The Thai auntie gives me a tabby cat to keep me company that night. The cat is very clingy.