Many girls dream of being mermaids during their childhood, inspired by animated films like "The Little Mermaid." While this dream may not be attainable in reality, a brother decided to make his sister's long-held desire a reality. He planned a short, two-day, one-night trip to fulfill her wish. With the generous support of Nautical Home Khaolak and Fantastic Similan Travel, their "Fairy Tail" adventure began.

Upon arriving in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, in the late evening, we immediately checked into Nautical Home Khaolak. Why did we choose this place? Because the hotel's design and room decor resemble a naval ship. (Setting the scene from the accommodation itself.)

Register to check in with the kind owner.

The key and keycard have been received.

In this area, all guests are required to remove their shoes. The floor is exceptionally clean. The walkway consists of stairs equipped with an automatic lighting system. The lights activate upon ascending the stairs. Additionally, round ship-like lamps are installed along the sides.

There is a nautical map for sailing .... We have set our destination as "Mermaid Island".

The first room is called Phang-Nga, which is the name of the province where the hotel is located.

Let's take a look inside the room.

The other room is called the DECK (rooftop room, just the name, it's not actually on the rooftop, haha).

This room is smaller than the first one, but it doesn't feel cramped at all. What I really like is how clean it is, and since the room isn't big, the air conditioning cools down quickly.

We have a little time left before going to bed, so we came down to sit and relax in the lower part of the Nautical Home, where they have arranged a space for customers to chill or have a meal.

And before bed tonight, a cup of hot cocoa, the hotel has set up a self-service station for you.

The sailor asked to go to sleep early, as he needed to leave for Mermaid Island at dawn. He promised to continue the conversation the following day.

On the morning that we, the sailors, will travel to Mermaid Island. Haha, let's imagine.

If you drive to the pier yourself, it will take approximately 15-20 minutes. However, if you choose to be picked up by Fantastic Similan Travel, the pick-up time will be between 7:30 and 7:40 AM.

We woke up at 6:30 am, showered, got dressed, and had plenty of time to enjoy breakfast at the Nautical Home Khaolak hotel.

The breakfast here is neither too much nor too little, just right. Let's see what the sailors eat.

Fresh milk and orange juice in bottles, chilled in a bucket of ice, look refreshing.

The eggs here are boiled. They say that foreigners eat boiled eggs more than fried eggs (it's healthier too, sailors need to take care of their health, haha!).

The bread here is delicious. You can toast it or not, it's up to you.

There is tuna spread and jam to spread.

Enjoy a light and delicious snack.

This is a fried egg dish for non-hotel guests who can order the hotel's breakfast set for 150 baht per set. (I saw someone order it and took a picture, but I didn't eat it myself. Haha!)

The sailor has eaten his fill and is ready to set sail.

*** Review by Little Mermaid

We arrived at Fantastic Similan Travel Pier in just 15 minutes.

Grandma invited me to eat stir-fried noodles. (Grandma is so lovely.)

I initially had some food from the hotel, and I wasn't planning on eating more, but I took a small bite and it was incredibly delicious. I didn't need to add any seasoning, and I ended up finishing everything.

Orange juice, guava juice, and pineapple juice are available. Tea and coffee are also available.

After a short break, it's time to choose your diving equipment. No need to pay extra here, just pick the size and color you like. The staff in this room will also help you choose.

The equipment is ready, and I borrowed the little mermaid from my Fantastic brothers. It's so cute!

Our guide for today's trip to Mermaid Island is Guide Kaka.

Guide P'Gaga explained the Similan Islands program with great enthusiasm. She is also fluent in both English and French. Very impressive!

I'll take my leave now.

Our guide, Kaka, welcomed everyone and explained the day's itinerary. Today's group includes Thai, English, and Chinese speakers. A Chinese guide will also be providing the program in Mandarin.

Contrary to popular belief, Chinese tourists are not as intimidating as they may seem. When we smiled at them, they reciprocated with smiles. They appeared to be attentively listening to the tour guide's explanations.

I've been dozing on and off throughout the journey, but I've finally arrived at Miang Island, also known as Island Four, one of the Similan Islands. I'm so lucky that the water is so beautiful today, even though it's winter. My brother told me that the south doesn't have a winter, only rain and heat, but today the weather isn't hot at all, there's even a cool breeze.

At Koh Miang, our guide, Kaka, gave us 30-45 minutes to explore at our leisure before preparing lunch for us.

Following the advice of our guide, Gaga, we embarked on a five-minute trek through the forest to reach "Princess Beach" on the opposite side of the island.

The tents on Koh Mieng are neatly arranged in a row.

We have arrived at "Princess Beach". Is it beautiful?

The little sister wants to sunbathe with the pink mermaid for a while.

Before we release our little mermaid to bask in the sun, let's have our sailor brother take some pictures of the surrounding area for our friends to see.

This morning, there were a moderate number of tourists at Princess Beach, with a mix of Thai, Chinese, and Western visitors.

The children are having fun playing together.

Or perhaps it's the Western women who are enjoying a leisurely soak in the seawater.

Thai girls were swooning over a young man with blue eyes who was chatting with them on the beach.

Everyone is enjoying the beautiful sea, the comfortable weather, and the clear water, so the mermaids have stopped sunbathing to take pictures and walk around.

Jumping expresses joy at arrival. Standard posture.

Is it true that clear seas are good for the heart?

The mermaid's 40-minute sunbathing session, photoshoot, and enjoyment of the pleasant weather and atmosphere at "Princess Beach" flew by. It was time for lunch, and the little mermaid didn't want to risk the wrath of her guide, Kaka.

*** Review by Little Mermaid (continued)

Despite having eaten a substantial breakfast at the hotel and the pier, I was tempted by the visually appealing and plentiful spread prepared by our guide, Kaka. Fearing I might resemble a manatee, I initially intended to refrain from eating. However, the allure of the delicious-looking food proved irresistible, and I succumbed to the temptation of sampling it, lest I disappoint Kaka.

(Hey, hey, hey, didn't you say you wanted to try it, little mermaid?)

"Guide Phi Kaka has prepared the mat for us. It's lovely."

"We are almost full, with only a few minutes left before we dock. This is your last chance to use the restroom (the women's line is very long, so it's best to use the restroom at the pier or as soon as you arrive on the island)."

The boat is waiting. I will wait for Guide Kaka here.

"Goodbye, Koh Miang. Thank you for the beautiful weather and clear water of nature."

(Little Mermaid)

Our guide, Kaka, informed us that today's diving location would be changed from Koh Kao to the back of Koh Si due to strong waves at Koh Kao. The sea was beautiful, and the sun was starting to shine brightly.

I would prefer to spend more time sunbathing and believe that diving at the second spot on Koh Jeen is sufficient. We can rely on Western customers to dive, sunbathe, and take photos of the bow.

"I'd like to sunbathe on the deck, please. Could you ask the sailor to take some photos of the tourists diving off the back of the boat for us to enjoy?"

Translation:

Black people want to be white, white people want to be black. Oh, by the way, little mermaid, take a bath.

Notes:

• The first sentence is a common Thai saying that reflects the human desire for what we don't have.
• The second sentence is a playful remark directed at someone nicknamed "little mermaid," possibly suggesting they need to clean up.
• The translation aims for a simple and direct tone, while preserving the original meaning and cultural context.

Leaving the sunbathers and selfie-takers behind, we returned to the stern of the boat, where our guide, Kaka, was diligently overseeing the safety of the divers.

Despite the beautiful sunshine and clear water, the waves were too strong for my friends to enjoy a long swim.

The crew members went down to the sea to stand by with lifebuoys, while the guide, Kaka, and his assistant watched from the stern of the boat, preventing customers from swimming near the boat's propeller.

Approximately 40-45 minutes later, our guide, Kaka, brought us to "Payu Island." In Malay, "Payu" means "turtle," Kaka explained. However, today, the turtles did not come out to greet us.

Translation:

At this point, the little mermaid wants to play in the water. Please feel free to do so. Hahahaha.

Come on, come on, the camera is ready. *** Anyone who has taken a picture must understand my feelings, right?

After finishing our dive at Koh Payu, also known as Koh Chet, our guide, Kaka, whispered to us that we would soon be transformed into mermaids. We were eager to complete this mission.

Similan Islands, or the eight islands, are the last stop on today's trip.

Translation:

The sky is truly breathtaking, creating a stunning seascape with its bright sunshine and shimmering water reflections.

Upon arrival, our mermaid guide, Kaka, swiftly whisked us away from the throngs of tourists on Similan Island for a quick transformation.

The little one transformed into a mermaid in just 3 seconds. Hilarious!

At first, the mermaid was not used to the tail and didn't know how to pose. But the young assistant guide helped her out, turning her left and right until the mermaid started to get used to it.

Once they got used to it, the photographer's hands were never free!

Three minutes later, the mermaid was surrounded by tourists. A crowd of Thai, Chinese, and Western tourists gathered around, taking photos with their mobile phones.

In addition to the beach area, the assistant guide also "lifted" the little mermaid to take pictures in the middle of the sea.

The mermaid performer had a blast, the photographer was thrilled, and the onlookers were all smiles and laughter. In short, the atmosphere was pure joy.

They were speechless with their mouths wide open, haha.

The seas around the Similan Islands are already beautiful, and finding a good angle for a stunning photograph is not difficult. (If you face the sea, the right side of the island offers an unexpected perspective.)

Dreams come true for those who want to be mermaids. Capture thousands of photos with the real Mermaid Island at Similan Islands.

Thank you to all the kind people who made this experience so much fun.

Thank you for reading to the end.

Thank you to the (fake) sailor brother.

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Thank you to the Nautical Home Bed & Breakfast Khaolak.

www.facebook.com/NauticalHomeKhaolak

Thank you to Fantastic Similan Trip by Fantastic Similan Travel (and the mermaid tail).

www.facebook.com/Fantasticsimilan

From the little mermaid.