My favorite place on Earth
Trip Start
Mar 15, 2008
1
37
86
Trip End
Jul 15, 2009
Krabi,
Thailand
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Ana and I were dying to get to Thailand. I promised her better food, people and value on accommodation. In the low season Krabi more than delivers. I put this place up their with Tahoe as one of the most beautiful places in the world. We got an email from our friends who were there and they said the weather had been great, described a hotel room that had all western amenities for only $15/night. We left the next day. The journey to Krabi took all day, a boat ride, taxi to another bus, a walk across the border, small bus, large bus than a walk to a hotel room. We left at 8 in the morning and got there around 10 that night. We refused to pay the taxi drivers the 5 dollars for the 2 mile ride into town and started to walk it. They followed us for a long time hoping we would falter, but we kept on. Luckily, a couple picked us up on the side of the road and offered us a ride. With my faith restored in humanity, we checked into a local hotel for the night. We still had to take about a 30 minute bus ride from Krabi town to Ao nang in the morning, where the beaches and postcard photos come from. We were excited to meet our friends, eat 50 baht butter fried shrimp, and enjoy the natural wonders of Krabi.
It was my third time to Krabi. I met my mom here in March of 2006 and she is coming back to meet us again in October. I hyped Krabi up so much to Ana. However, it doesn't matter because Krabi exceeds all expectations. It's funny, so many people skip Krabi on the Southern Thailand circuit, or those who do go, skip all the must sees of the area. The geography of it can be confusing. Furthermore, the main beach is so beautiful that many people get stuck there and don't think to explore the surrounding areas that are so much more beautiful. There are 3 other places in the world like Krabi that I know about; all relatively in the same area, Yangshuo in Southern China, Vang Vien in Laos and Halong Bay in Vietnam. These areas all have copious amounts of stunning limestone karst formations. They shoot out of the ground or sea to form the most dramatic backdrop that I have ever seen. In Krabi they often bookend a beach with numerous others in your view forming countless islands to explore. The water is emerald green and calm, perfect for Kayaking or frolicking. The beaches on the islands or bays are squeaky soft like powder, apparently the sand is formed from 2 million year old fish feces.
We spent the next 2 weeks between different beaches, the pool, and scooter rides around the area to enjoy the stunning scenery, I know of no other way to describe it. We were staying in a great hotel, perfect location with all the western amenities, 3rd story panoramic ocean view with an invisible cleaning staff that kept the place spotless. It felt great to be so comfortable after spending time in the islands. We really unpacked and felt at home, a vacation from our vacation.
One day we kayaked to Hong island, just look at the pictures. The place is unbelievable, sand like silk, clear water with a natural lagoon full of fish. Nobody could design something so perfect. I think we kayaked around 12 miles in the ocean that day. We were all dead and sore the next few days. Nobody wanted to even look at a kayak, but it was quite a day to remember. You can really get a good look at things when you kayak around an island.
We decided to splurge on a hotel for a week when our friends left, We found this great place with a rooftop infinity pool, ocean view and everything. Unfortunately for me, I picked up Dengue Fever. I was bed ridden for the next 6 days and it took me about 10 days to get over it. I was still able to enjoy the pool some, but not as much as I would have liked.
Krabi was amazing, but it was time to move on. We will be returning in early October to meet up with Ana's mom and then my mom. I can't wait to share this amazing place with them. We were off to the Gulf of Thailand to visit the 3 tourist islands Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao(Koh means island in Thai).
Comments
interesting
no photos and a blog that states in its entirety 'will write more later'. you are really on a roll here.
no-mad
still not writing? good stuff. keep enjoying your travels!!