Dragon Walking On Koh Kret

It all started last June when Mark at the Yaana Ventures HQ (*) came up with the idea to do a Thai version of the Blue Dragon Charity Marathon (**) on September the 8th.

Immediately Willem jumped in, suggested to use Koh Kret (***) as a possible location for a 10 km walk there and asked if I could help out since I visit this island regularly.

Koh Kret is also famous for its pottery

My response was positive, but with a big BUT, as the main walking trail is less than 6 km…

However the island is without big roads, only small paths, some elevated, ideal for walking and cycling, no cars at all!

As usual the solution wasn’t difficult, a little bit of mucking about with Google Maps and making more use of the side paths resulted in a possible 10 km routing.

Willem liked it a lot and suggested we should try it out asap, his enthusiasm being partly based on another opportunity to try out his new bike and sampling the island’s well-known craft beers…

A little later I cycled to Bangsrimuang Pier, met Willem there and together we set off for Koh Kret.

Somewhere past the striking Tha It Mosque we caught a tiny boat and got ferried across.

On the island at last, we followed the route as shown on my mobile and took photos at junctions and more.

Unfortunately more than half way Willem’s bike got a flat and that was the end of it.

We walked straight to Chit Beer (*****) and considered the routing pretty good, especially after a few beers…

Still I was bit peeved that we hadn’t covered the whole route and returned to the island a week later.

This time I was accompanied by Sofia from Khiri (****) and we just walked the full 10 km in a little over 2 hours, perfect!

My job was basically done, only fine-tuned the map a bit, even mentioned a 5 km option for those who aren’t into walking…

Other preparations were made by various staff, contacting the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (Aor. Bor. Tor.), arranging water stations, guides, as well as preparing T-shirts, caps, etc.

On various social media outlets photos and info were posted regularly in order to gather more interest and hopefully receive donations, after all this was for a good cause: Fight Human Trafficking

Last week we were requested to go once more to the island and check the routing with the authorities which we did accordingly on the back of motorcycles!

Due to repairs of a side trail we had to adjust the routing slightly, but that was no big deal.

One day before I went with the Yaana Accounting Team to Koh Kret to place arrow signs at junctions and intersections, this time by bike.

Yesterday was D-Day, I arrived at Wat Sanam Nuea around 06.30 and met the guides a little later.

We took the ferry across to the island where some Yaana members were busy setting up a backdrop.

Guides Oh, Neng, Oom, BeeBee, man with hat, Ninee (photos above & below: Mark)

On rented crappy bikes we set off, showing the route and dropping the guides off at their designated water stations, in between checking the arrow signs.

Once that was done I returned to the starting point at Wat Poramai Yikawat.

By 08.30 quite a lot of people were there, over 50 registered, many more had shown up (friends & family, ex staff, and the company’s housekeeper with her daughter!), all (estimated 80+) wearing the event’s T-shirts and caps.

After a short speech by Willem and a ‘pep’ talk by Bruce the walk officially began, everybody was in a good mood and the weather behaved nicely too for a change!

I jumped on my bike again in order to stop at various points and snap some pictures.

After 1 1/2 hour it was clear that we wouldn’t get any more participants and I contacted Guide Oom to clean up her water station and a little later the other 3 as well.

I did a final round to remove some of the remaining arrow signs, by now I had cycled probably 3 times round the island...

Most of the participants had done the walk, either 5 or 10 km, all agreed that it was a well organized and fun event.