Krabi, Thailand
We saw the movie “The Impossible,” which documented one family’s ordeal as they survived the 2006 Tsunami that devastated the beach communities in southern Thailand. We chose Krabi, northeast of Phuket, and fortunately, it was not damaged as severely as Phuket. We expect to spend a few relaxing days snorkeling and kayaking to recoup the 30-plus hours of travel from the snowy Columbia, MO, to the hot (90s) and steamy Bangkok. The Golden Beach Hotel sits on a tree-lined beach, and the whole area is packed with European tourists. After a meal of mango salad, mixed seafood and rice in a coconut shell, a traditional full-body Thai massage, and a good night’s sleep, we were ready to enjoy our activities in the Andaman Sea. We booked tours to Koh Phi Phi and Koh Hong, two islands that are 30-45 minutes by speedboat from Krabi. These areas, with their sculpted rock formations, white-sand beaches, and blue and green waters, have been featured in many movies, including James Bond films and Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Beach”. The rocks came straight out of the ocean, reminding us of Ha Long Bay in Vietnam and even the karst mountains in Guilin, China. We snorkeled in several areas. The water is fairly warm, and although we still see some brilliantly colored fish, most of the coral reef is a grayish color, showing the bleaching effect of the Tsunami. Local guides said the coral is on the mend, and we wish it a full recovery. In addition to the rocks, we also saw some unique stalactites hanging from the rock wall. The limestone rocks dissolved much faster than the stalactites formed in the cave, leaving the stalactites exposed on the rock. One swimming lagoon is a favorite among many people. The water is about 10 meters deep, and it is cool and pleasant. From the pictures, you can see how much I enjoyed the water. The Koh Hong tour was in a different direction. The snorkeling wasn’t much, but kayaking around the island was quite a workout. Along the way, we stopped at a cave where two security guards guarded a precious swallow nest from a 10-by-10-foot bamboo platform hanging high above the cave wall. They stayed up there for 3 months at a time while food and necessities were brought to them by boat. Given the fact that one lb of swallow nest costs more than one pound of gold, it’s no wonder the security is so tight. Our tour group is quite diverse, with several couples from Malaysia, India, and Thailand, and quite a few Europeans, but we are the only people from the US. I guess the distance is a big deterrent. We met up with Dejan, our new friend from Vienna, for dinner. The Dean’s restaurant has a distinctly Western name, but the food is all Thai, with fresh seafood. We will be back in Bangkok and plan to fill up on street food at the famous Siam Center before leaving tropical Thailand for the high mountains of Bhutan.