During my third week on the island

During my third week on the island Koh Yao Noi, I came to stay with the family of Bang Sar, a carpenter, and his wife, Jah Bat. Their friendly smiles made me feel welcome immediately. They enthusiastically showed me their house and the room I could stay in. It was all very plain, but clean and comfortable. During the next days I felt like I was being spoilt a lot. The family prepared delicious meals, invited me on boat trips to other islands, took me out to local Roti stands and moreover they tried to teach me a lot about their culture. At the same time I was able to teach them some English. On the first night at their house we were watching TV. After their favorite show ended Bang Sar took some papers and books out of the closet. With a lot of pride he started showing me a collection of postcards from tourists who had once stayed at his families’ house. Also he showed a travel magazine from a Thai airline. On the cover was a beautiful picture of a turquoise sea with limestone rocks. In the middle was a typical small Thai long tail boat, with Bang Sar standing on it. The article in the magazine describes Koh Yao Noi as a tranquil and tropical destination with friendly Muslim fishermen. The article pays special attention to the community-based eco-tourism