Krabi, Ao Nang 2nd Day – 29 Aug 2010.

Posted By : kspay

Early morning around 7:30am, we kicked start our day with the complimentary breakfast in Peace Laguna Resort, an international buffet which is similar to what is offered in most of the hotels or resort. I just like it ^^  Here comes the transport fetching us to port for our SPEEDBOAT island hopping – Phi Phi Islands.

Hsing was excited and initiated to take the front seat. Really front seat… … I was the most front passenger in this boat. We were happily taking some photos at the beginning … … just not too long, when the speed boat reached its top speed…. Jesus!!! The front seat was just terrible T_T We regretted sitting in front. My ass keep deviated from the seat as the boat was very bumpy due to the high speed along with the strong tide. We were so scared, as both of us are not good in swimming and we were not advised to put on life jacket. Besides grabbing the holder firmly, my legs also try to nestle closely to the seat. Hsing and another European girl kept screaming when the boat facing high tide. A total of 6 of us, 3 guys and 3 girls sitting in front seemed very nervous and scared T_T No more front seat on speedboat next time!!! We were thinking to change to back seat after the first stop. But the tour guide said, “please get back to where u sat just now” …. …. Walao!!!

The 1st stop, Bamboo Island. Place to snookering, but the tour guide didnt pass us the snookering tools =.=” What a lousy service. Lucky this is only swallow water and we do bring 1 set goggle.  Ah… Very very co-incidence, we met S.B.Wong & his wife Angie there. We were on the same boat (actually I saw them while boarding, but he didn’t notice me and I was a bit hesitate if I miss recognise him, thus didn’t greet him) and actually, we were coming with the same flight as well, even return.

Some photos for the 2nd stop, Maya Bay.

This place is nice, but only for photo ^^ When you are facing the sea, both on your left and right are surrounded by mountains, and at your back is the protected area that needs entrance fees. (We did not have enough time for that, as we only stopped on this spot for 30 mins)  Phi Phi Island ^^ This is boring… … Nothing to do. All you have here is hotel and shopping. We spent almost 1 hour free time on this island, but… …. boring =.=”  Look at our tour guide… … He was also boring and just laying on guni bag for rest =.=”  The next stop, Monkey Island. Just as the name, there are many monkeys on the island. Another boring stop. We didn’t really get down to the island. The boat just stopped for about 5mins near the island for us to enjoy the scenery and see monkeys -____- Shall I tell the tour guide, my satying place here in Setia Tropika also have lot of monkey on the road =.=”  2nd snokering

time. The 1st snokering was before Maya Bay. Both of us didn’t join the 1st snokering as the 1st stop was at the middle of the ocean!!! Shit!!! I am a “land duck”. You want me drown? Snokering in the middle of the ocean!!!  Anyway, the snokering here is only so so. For me, Redang Island has more beautiful snokering places ^^   Back to resort ^^ We had our complimentary dinner in the restaurant from our resort. It was a Thai set dinner, it was quite a good one. After dinner, we went a walk on the street outside our resort again, and made booking for our next day trip ^^

Ok, here the end of our 2nd day. Tomorrow trip would be elephant trekking and visting to local famous spts. We managed to negotiate for a really good price. 1 of the sales girl did not even want to serve us when she heard we were offered at 850baht per person by her colleague (they were 2 sales girls when made our booking). Anyway, she was still very polite and answering our questions even she did not show interest to serve us. As I said, nice attitude and very polite people over there. Actually her colleague only offer us 900baht. Just that Hsing saw a brochure on their table with hand written of 850baht ^^ Smart wife ^-^

With kind permission, from : http://kspay.blogspot.com/2010/09/krabi-ao-nang-2nd-day-29-aug-2010.html

Krabi/Phuket 2010 – Phi Phi Islands Day Tour

Posted By : J2Kfm.

1. Gorgeous sight of anchored boats on Ao Nang beach, but this beach is definitely NOT for swimming

If you’re in Krabi or Phuket, and you shy away from the sun, the sea or even refrain from staying outdoors during daytime, you’re better off holidaying in Timbuktu. Really. Mentally and physically prepared for the imminent tanning, the gals slapped on sunscreen with the highest SPF (sun protection factor) there is in the market. Kind of amazing how their routine of applying and re-applying the lotion took place almost automatically, at fixed intervals. But of course, you’d better be well-prepared, for getting sunburn is NOT the most ideal souvenir you’d want to bring home after a long day out on the seas.

2. On our speedboat to Phi Phi Islands, a 45 minutes ride in good sea conditions.

We booked a package from the Let’s Go Krabi travel agent, a few shops away from our stay at Ao Nang Grand Inn on Moo 2, Ao Nang. The package includes :  Pick up services from Klong Muang, Krabi town, or Ao Nang, speed boat to Phi Phi Islands, visits to Bamboo Island, open sea snorkelling at Hin Klarng,  brief stop on Monkey Beach, buffet lunch at Phi Phi Don, visits to Pi Leh Bay, Viking Cave, Lohsamah Bay and Maya Bay (where “The Beach” was filmed). The day tour took about 8 hours, from 8.30am until about 4.30pm. Usually priced at 1800 baht per person, the price was reduced to 900 baht/RM90/USD25 per person after serious haggling, pleas and dramas. After all, we ARE Malaysians.

3. Scenes around Maya Bay – Even bride & groom-to-be were there for the shoot !

4. Hin Klarng – Open sea snorkelling (gears provided for free) – Just be aware of your
surroundings. After all, you would not want to be drifting towards the engine of another speedboat !

5. Viking Cave – a famous cave, but we did not stop over. Just a glance would do.

6. Monkey Beach – Feeding the monkeys ? Or being fed by the monkeys ?

7. Beautiful emerald waters leading to Phi Phi Don, where we were supposed to have our lunch.

8. Buffet-style lunch, but none too memorable. Of course,
you can’t be expecting steaks, fresh oysters, and such right ?

9. MORE snorkelling AFTER your meal. Erm, with no rest in between, everyone was thankful
for the life jackets. Else 50 years down the line, scavengers would be wondering what’s
the fuss with the many skeletons underwater wearing life jackets !

10. Stunning Bamboo Island – Hands down THE most beautiful beach amongst the others.

11. If only our job requires us to lie on the beach all day, doing nothing ….. Blissful ?

12. Fresh fruits to quench the thirst, and somehow satisfied the hunger pangs.
Included in the package, so don’t go denying your pieces of sweet pineapples/watermelons.

The day tour was pleasant, from the helpful guides with comprehensible English, to the brilliant (albeit slightly scorching) weather. Never push your luck and pick a day with gloomy weather, for it may seriously ruin your outing. We reached Ao Nang Grand Inn at about 5-6pm.

13. Sunset watching on the beaches of Ao Nang ……
bring your own towel though, for the sands was not exactly fine or smooth.

14. Clockwise from top left : Tom Yam Seafood, Massaman Chicken, Pad Thai, and Green Curry Chicken

For dinner, we strolled around Ao Nang, and ended up at this shack right before you reach the beach. Nameless, I might add, for the only signboard showed “THAI FOOD”. And this stall sells HALAL Thai-Malay cuisine, with emphasis on their curry dishes. In Ao Nang, as mentioned in this post, resides an admirable number of Thai Malays, hence the heavy influence of Malay style cuisine in the cooking. The meal came to a mere 450 baht/RM45/USD13 for the 5 of us, as the dishes are priced at merely 40-70 baht each. Dirt-cheap, when compared to the other eateries along the beach. The Massaman curry is one of the signature dish of Krabi’s, resembling a yellow curry with extra coconut milk.

15. Erm, Clash of the Titans previewing early ?

16. And we ended the day on a high note, literally “screaming” our wishes (for we did not carry a
marker pen, and the guy did not provide one!) by setting a lantern (Kong Ming lantern)
@ 100baht/RM10/USD3 each, afloat to the dark, starry skies … World Peace? Nah …..

Ao Nang is a very peaceful town come nightfall. You don’t hear throbbing sounds from the clubs (unlike Phuket’s Bangla Road), you don’t go shopping or sipping Starbucks in shopping centres (unlike Jungceylon in Phuket) and you don’t even get to sample a myriad of street foods at the night market (unlike Krabi town), although there were stretches of hawker stalls here and there. What you can do is get yourself a good yet cheap rubdown (read : Thai body massage) while listening to the waves crashing on the shores of Ao Nang beach. Or you can sip on some beer at the random cafes/bistros/restaurants around the area.

Rejuvenating indeed.

Related Article : Phi Phi Island Exploration

With kind permission, article from : http://www.j2kfm.com/krabi-phuket-2010-phi-phi-island-tour/

Krabi is an outstanding destination, situated about 800 kilometers south of Bangkok, in Thailand. This enchanting resort is regarded as one of the most relaxing destinations on the earth. With more than 200 large as well as small islands dotted in the Andaman Sea, Krabi is much famed for its dramatic scenery and stunning landscape consisting of rich natural resources, beautiful forested areas, scintillating waterfalls, white sandy beaches, mysterious caves, swaying coconut palms, superb coral reefs, soaring limestone cliffs, magnificent coves and bays, and aqua blue color waters.

One of the country’s oldest settlements, Krabi has now become one of the top sea resorts in Thailand. No matter you are an adventurer, fun-lover, honeymooners, history buffs, beach bums, water sport lovers, devotees, or eco-tourists, Krabi presents superb options to cater to every type of tourists. Points of interest, among many others, in Krabi, are Wat Khlong Thom Museum, showcasing excavated items such as ancient bronze and stone tools; Than Bokkharani National Park, which is a great spot for picnics and swimming; Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, boasting of several beautiful spots including picturesque waterfalls and caves; Mu Koh Lanta Marine National Park, whose area is inclusive of Lanta Island, apart from several small isles; Khao Phra – Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary, which is home to some rare species of flora and fauna; Tham Sua Kao Kaeo Ao Luk Tanu Monastery, located on the foothills of the Ao Luk Tanu Mountains; and Ao Nang, which is noted for its stupendous limestone hills. Krabi is also especially noted for its stupendous white sandy beaches, such as, Tham Pranang Beach, which is one of the world’s best scuba diving sites; Pranang Beach, which is set against the backdrop of towering limestone cliffs; Railay Beach, a beautiful area which is divided into two sections including East Hat Railay and West Hat Railay; Klong Kaon, an extremely tranquil spot; Yao Beach, also known as Long Beach; Hin Khao Beach, one of the most isolated beaches in the area; and Laem Tong, bestowed with breathtaking surroundings. With these wealths of incredible beaches, Krabi is truly an adventure playground, and provides visitors opportunities to indulge in an array of water sporting as well as adventure activities. For instance, excellent options are available for rock climbers in Railey, which is often acknowledged as the country’s rock climbing capital. Sea kayaking is another popular activity that can be enjoyed in Krabi, with a number of hongs or caverns that are carved out of limestone cliffs. With such superb dive sites as Koh Rok Nok, the Phi Phi Islands, Bamboo Island, and Koh Dam, Krabi is really a haven for scuba diving. Further, the excellent options to take scuba diving lessons, with a continuum of dive shops offering economic scuba accreditation, mostly with PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors.) Apart from these, Krabi also provides excellent facilities for activities such as snorkeling, game fishing, swimming, sailing, parasailing, canoeing, and sea kayaking. However, the activities that can be enjoyed in Krabi are not just confined to water sport activities. For instance, golfers can take advantage of the Pakasai Country Club, which is just about 20 miles south of Krabi. Likewise, excellent facilities are also available in Krabi to enjoy activities such as mountain biking. In addition, the destination features a plethora of spa establishments, where you can go for a rejuvenating spa massage or a soothing herbal treatment. These establishments generally render spa treatments in elegantly appointed pavilions that overlook fantastic scenery of the place. Also, superb dining options are available in the place. In short, Krabi has everything for a fun-filled as well as unforgettable vacation. Hence, it is not a wonder why Krabi is frequented by people from every nook and corner of the place. A range of accommodation options are made available in Krabi to suit the taste and budget of travelers. For those seeking ultimate privacy, no other accommodation options in Krabi could outshine villas, replete with top end facilities and amenities. A villa is usually a single detached or free standing structure, and would be mostly located in beach areas. Based on the tastes and budget of tourists, a variety of villas are available such as western style villas, family villas, honeymoon villas, and beachside villas. Nowadays, many of the villa providers in the scenario provide services in the form of packages, covering airport transfers, facilities for sightseeing, rental cars, rental equipments for enjoying different water sport activities, and services of daily maid and gardener. There are also some service providers that render special discounts when you make bookings of a particular villa or during a stipulated time period.

SOURCE :
About The Author, Wolfgang Jaegel

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Phi Phi Island : The Chao Ley sea gypsies named the islands Pulaopi are pi. Pulao means island and pi is a kind of tree or samae. The island group lies 42 km from the mainland of Krabi and is composed of 6 islands : Phi Phi Don Island, Phi Phi Ley Island, Bida Nork Island, Bida Nai Island, Mosquito Island and Bamboo Island.

MOSQUITO ISLAND
Lies to the North of Phi Phi Don Island. It is the least visited of all the local islands, with very little beach land, but is not lacking in underwater attractions, as testified by the visits of dive operators.

BAMBOO ISLAND
Can be found not far from Mosquito Island, East of Phi Phi Don Island. It is best known for its beautiful, spacious beaches in the North and East. The area encompasses abundant coral growth, parallel to the beach in a North – South direction. Accessible only by boat, the dive site of Hin Klang lies in the open sea between Bamboo Island and Phi Phi Don Island. With a wealth of diverse coral and absolutely teeming with reef fish in the 3 -5 metres depth range, it is considered by many to be Phi Phi’s number one snorkeling reef.

PHI PHI DON ISLAND
Covering an area of 28 square km, Phi Phi Don Island is 8 km in length. In the North there is Laem Tong, presumed to be the original site of settlement, and still home to the descendants of the first settlers, the Chao Ley sea gypsies. Their ancestors are believed to have arrived here in their wooden fishing boats, having travelled from Lipe Island in the southern province of Satun. Laem Tong is also a good spot to stop for snorkelling;the other main snorkelling spots on Phi Phi Don itself being Hua Ragate, Lantee Bay, Monkey Beach and Hin Pae, just off Long Beach. The huge, twin bays visible from the often photographed beautiful Viewpoint Hill are Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay. Tonsai Bay is the deeper of the two bays. It is where Tonsai Pier is located, the point of entry and departure for most boats. Loh Dalum Bay is shallower, just as beautiful, but quieter, being used by only speed boats and longtail boats. The not-to-be-missed lookout point on top of Viewpoint Hill, 314 m above sea level, is a 1.5 km steep climb. A bird’s eye view from the top reveals the two amazing, crescent-shaped bays in all their glory. Here is one of the best places to appreciate what scope Phi Phi has for exploring by canoeing or kayaking, snorkelling or diving, and touring by speed boat or longtail boat. The vast, grand backdrop of limestone cliffs is awe-inspiring. Tonsai Tower, at one end of the main beach in Tonsai Bay, is a challenging but highly rewarding cliff face for climbers. It has both single pitch and multi-pitch routes to suit first-timers and professionals alike. Pa Hin Taek, which can only be reached by boat, is another climbing location, with 20 multi-level routes, the most popular of which is the Happy Banana route. Phi Phi Don Island has many tourist facilities, all within easy walking distance. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the land. Here there is access to every grade of hotel, bungalow or guesthouse, but reservations through travel agents prior to arrival are necessary during busy periods.

FACILITIES ON PHI PHI DON ISLAND
There are essential banking facilities, including ATMs and money exchanges, convenience stores open 24 hours, souvenir shops, market stalls serving local food, as well as bars and restaurants with competitive, high standards of international and Thai cuisine. The travel agents on Phi Phi offer boat rentals, snorkeling and kayaking trips, diving, climbing and yachting. As can be seen, with all its natural resources and supporting facilities, there is no shortage of things to do in Phi Phi, and many visitors consider it the highlight of their stay in the South of Thailand.

PHI PHI LEY ISLAND
Approximately a third of the size of Phi Phi Don Island, the sister island of Phi Phi Ley covers a total area of only 6.6 square km, and is composed mostly of sheer, steep limestone cliffs, rising from the sea, where the bottom depths are typically 18-20 metres. There is only one deep point of 34 metres, off the island’s northern point, referred to as the head of Phi Phi Ley. There are 3 bays : Maya Bay, Pi Leh Bay and Lohsamah Bay meet in a thin neck of land at the South of the island.

VIKING CAVE
In the North-East of the island is typically the first stop of an island tour. The cave is a few metres above sea level, and accessed by a small jetty for boats. The two things that Viking Cave is famous for are the birds’ nests collected for birds’ nest coup and some fascinating ancient cave paintings. Apart from a few interesting rock formations, including stalagmites and stalactites, visitors will discover inside the cave some crude bamboo canes tied together with ropes and vines, extending up into the lofty, pitch black height of the cave. On the eastern and southern wall of the cave, they are several ancient paintings of European and Arab sailing boats, a junk and steamer. They are presumed to be the work of sailors or pirates who stopped along the route to take shelter from the wind and waves of the monsoon, hide some treasure or carry out boat repairs.

PI LEH BAY
Pileh Bay is a hong (room) or sea lagoon, an area of water almost almost entirely enclosed by high cliffs. It lies a little further South of Viking Cave. The entrance to the bay is a channel of clear water with shallow corals and reef fish, an excellent place to explore by snorkelling or kayaking. On the right hand side as you enter, is a small beach and a sheer cliff face with at least 7 routes for rock climbers, the most interesting of which is called “Four Beers of Singha”.

LOHSAMAH BAY
Lohsamah Bay is to be found at the furthest end of Phi Phi Ley in the South. It too has excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, suitable for all levels of experience. There are the added bonuses of a quiet, sandy beach and a very attractive walking trail to Maya Bay. The starting point for this trail from Lohsamah Bay is a stony gateway – a short tunnel-accessible only by boat, and flooded at high tide.

MAYA BAY
is the largest and finest bay of the island; many would agree it is the crowning glory of Phi Phi Ley.  It lies on the West coast. The main beach is pure white and crescent-shaped. Towering limestone walls all round block the waves perfectly, and the atmosphere in this wonderful beauty spot is unique. Throughout the high season from November to April, Maya Bay attracts day trippers from all over, who come to enjoy sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, photography and relaxing in the most exotic of natural surroundings. It is much quiter during the low season months of May until October, when sea conditions frequently make access to the bay inconvenient or unpractical for boats. Filmed as part of Hollywood’s controversial movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonado di Caprio, Maya Bay’s fame has by now spread to all four corners of the world.

THE BIDA ISLANDS
Further South of Phi Phi Ley, facing Lohsamah Bay, lie the two islands of Bida Nork and Bida Nai. As you approach them from the direction of Phuket, their shapes resemble a pair of army boots. These two small, rocky islands have no beach, but they do have fabulous coral gardens and reefs, which are best explored by scuba diving.

HOW TO GET TO THE PHI PHI ISLANDS
These days Phi Phi can easily be reached by boats from Krabi town, Ao Nang, Phuket or Koh Lanta, with many regular services. The fastest transfer is by speed boat from Krabi town or Ao Nang; journey time being typically 45 minutes. Otherwise the larger, more common boats need at least one and a half hours to complete the same trip in good sea conditions, and two to two and a half hours when the sea is rough. Leading tour operators runs regular trips to Phi Phi from Krabi and Ao Nang, with a choice of various packages to suit every one’s needs

Source : Krabi Tourism Association

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