First Look at Kamala Beach Day 15

We checked in at the Print Kamala Resort and had been allocated a garden hut. The room was big with a decking out front to sit and relax. All this was raised above the ground and set in a tropical forest complete with pond.  It was quite an exotic and relaxing setting.

The resort is not directly on the beach but it’s just a short walk to the sand. For us we decided to have a look around town and get some food. We should have done a bit more home work here as we set off the wrong direction away from town. Food was, um, pizza and chicken sate with a cool beer.

Having our hunger satisfied we jumped down on to the beach and took in the views. Kamala Beach sits in a little bay and  it would be an easy late afternoon walk up the sand.



The southern end just near out resort seemed to be the busiest part of  the beach, not that there were many people around. The sand was nice and soft as we headed north.



Tuned out it was a bit too soft to walk on properly. Luckily a track parallels the beach and we walked a bit more firmly. Quite a few massage tents and beach restaurants. Some were tempting but having just eaten it was not for us. That was until a pancake seller on his motorcycle came alone the path – not something we could resist. A few minutes later and a freshly cooked banana pancake was in our hands.

The north end of the bay was quiet, nothing near as touristy looking as the southern end. The waves looked challenging as they broke on the slope of the shore.

Sadly, time was not on our side and darkness was beginning to fall. We sometimes forget how early and quickly it arrives. Saying that we headed back to the resort and took to the hotel pool. I know there were other people staying here but we had the pool alone.



For the evening we just took a restaurant just outside of the hotel. I have to admit we were a little bit lost here and not much time to explore but it was a nice place one flight up that allowed us to dine while looking down at the road.

Ton Yum soup and a Green Curry. Both were very tasty and enjoyable but not ranking up with the best. Could we be getting a little bit too fussy with our Thai Cuisine.

The night was pleasingly warm and we sat for a while watching and finishing out beer. We could hear the occasional sound of thunder in the distance.

End of the evening was set sitting at the edge of the beach watching an amazing lightning show far out in the ocean. Too far to hear any nose but the constant bolts of electricity were illuminating up the sky. There were a few locals sitting near but it looked like there were more interesting in their mobile phones.





The lightning is not something the camera could pick up easily and doesn’t really show how fantastic it looked.

End of a nice day, a little bit long in the travelling and not much time to explore. Kamala Beach was not a disappointment  but with just two nights here it`s not enough time.

Lazing on Klong Dao Beach Day 14

This would be our last full day on Koh Lanta. The time passed too quick and we would be leaving tomorrow heading back to Krabi. We still had today to enjoy and the long golden sandy beach was all ours.



At the North end of Klong Dao Beach, near Kaw Kwang, we remembered there was a semi-secret beach from last year. Going there would give us a long walk along the sand along with the occasional splash in the water.



The secret beach was no so secret any more. Last year there was a new resort on top of the hill but they might have missed the beach. Now they seem to have found it and built a set of stone steps leading down to the sand. It was never our beach but we couldn't help feel a bit of sadness finding other people swimming in its waters.



Sanuk Bar offered an opportunity for a cool drink on the way back along Klong Dao before heading down to the south end. Here it was a bit more rocky and there were a few fish trapped in pools but all quite small.  The beach and road nearly join at the south end of the beach so it was an easy cross over.



The Thai Orchid Restaurant provided another nice place to stop off from the heat of the day and a bit of something to eat. Our host was praising his brother the chef and how great he was but were were just looking for a little snack and a cool drink, maybe next time we are in town we could pop in for a meal.

An so it as back to Royal Lanta and the beach for the rest of the afternoon. We did not have the whole resort to ourselves now, another couple had arrived so that made two rooms for the housemaids to tidy in the morning. I wonder how they felt about getting a double workload.

Our time was running out and it seemed the the weather was getting better and hotter. The few showers mostly came at night and did not last long before they were gone and dried up by the next morning. Taking in the last of the beach and watching the last of sun go down we reluctantly left.



Our last meal had to be at Arnee`s. We had become quite comfortable eating here and her Spicy Tom Yum soup was quite excellent.

Back at the resort we packed what we could and got ready for an early morning pick-up to go back to Krabi before heading off to the last resort on our holiday. This would be Kamala Beach on the west coast of Phuket Island. It was another new beach for us and we hoped it would just be as fantastic as the rest.

Recovering in Ao Nang Day 10

Woke up feeling a little bit better after my little bout of food poisoning. Managed a little bit of breakfast but still nowhere back to normal. Today would be nearly as uneventful as yesterday.

A quiet day spend around Ao Nang with a little bit of lunch. I was not ready for anything spicy so it was pizza. All the way to beautiful Thailand and I eat a pizza, I should be ashamed. Although we did have a beer. The chang helps, I`m sure somebody told me that.

The holiday was going down hill, the heat of the day sent me back to the hotel and a bit nauseous. I had thought I was recovering, I was, just not enough to enjoy myself.

It was our last day in Ao Nang and I was determined not to spend in a hotel room feeling sick. We managed to grab a little bit of the sunset from the hotel and then it was out for dinner.
We always share our meals between us but this time the meals on our plates would be different. The other half went for a Green Thai Curry, lucky girl. Myself I was more sedated and had a little bit of vegetable soup and some spaghetti. It was more Italian food.

Food is one of the reasons we come to Thailand, to taste something more genuine and original. Eating something from Italy felt like I was coping out. To top it off, it never tasted very good either, it was not finished. But I watched the pleasured face of my other half as she enjoyed her curry. Grrrrr
The Monsoon Rains started to fall and we sat for a while drinking a beer while we watched the people go by. It never lasted long and we paid and left.

Along Nopparat Thara Beach Day 8

Breakfast included - I doubt I can ever grow to like hotel breakfasts. Here there were a few more residents which ment the selection was greater. Still it was food in our bellies and set us up for today's adventures.

Ao Nang Beach seemed too touristy and busy with long tail boats spend too much time. Thinking that, we decided to spend the day on Nopparat Thara Beach. A short walk around a corner of the road and the beach came in to view.

Somethings you expect and some you don't. We watched this boat approach the shore and not really thinking much off it until it just kept comming. Up onto the sand and it revealed itself, a DUKW or some variant.

The beach looked long and with what appeared to be a few rocky islands at the end. That would be our destination. The sand was not the  best with quite a few broken shells making a little bit rough. At least it was much quieter than Ao Nang. The further we walked the better it felt on the foot. The sun was the opposite the further we went the hotter it got and we could sense our skin cooking a little.

Those rocky outcrops hid a little sandbank a bit like a secret beach but not very secret. A few other people had found their way here but not enough to make it feel like a crowd. The water was cooling and was a relief from the sun. Swimming close to the rocks we had a few tropical fish to keep us company. Not too close, those rocks are sharp and I had a few bits of sliced skin on my toes.
There was one little annoyance here. Long tail and speed boats were constantly passing and there was a slight hint of oil in the water. Not enough to put anybody off but it was there.
Food and refreshment was found just off the beach here, actually quite a selection. We had our regular bottle of Chang and two glassed here are just over 50THB. I think that much have been the cheapest bottle of beer we have ever had.
After the nice cooling refreshing drink it was a few steps next door for some food. Chicken, Some Squid and a rice dish all very tasty.

Wandering back along the beach, half the time wading in the water the rest of the time under the trees next to the road the time seemed to fly past. Evening was already showing signs of approaching and we arrived back as darkness fell.
I did stop for a banana shake to quench my thirst, it might have been a mistake.
After a bit of a rest and shower in our hotel room it was out in the town again. I knew there were lively pubs and bars around here but I was not allowed to go near them for some reason. We ended up on the other side of town for food and a fairly genuine taste of Thai food. A good bit of spice was included with no extra charge which made the mouth and lips feel extremely pleasurable.
The night was quiet, it seemed the bustle of tourist on our first day had left Ao Nang and the weather was warming.
I did feel good.

Travelling Khao Lak to Ao Nang Day 7

An early start today for the trip to Ao Nang. Just enough time for the hotel breakfast before our transport arrived to pick us up at the resort. It was on schedule and we were whisked away and leaving Khao Lak.
The minivan was noticeably empty apart from the two of us and heading in the wrong direction. The driver said we were going to pick up more passengers he just never said where. Khao Lak disappeared in to the distance behind us we began to wonder exactly where the other passengers were. About an hour later after a beautiful trip through the mountains with the morning mist rolling down their edges we arrived, I have no idea where.

We were joined by another couple heading to Koh Lanta and it was just to four of us for the rest of the trip. The scenery was going past too quick to grab decent pictures. I even missed a couple of elephants on the road that the other half seen and of course I believe her. Most of the latter part of the journey was on the highway and around 10.30 we arrived at the minivan terminal just outside Krabi Town.

There were minivans arriving and minivans departing constantly and a mass of tourist waiting for their onward journeys. It was busy enough for us not to wait long for the short trip to Ao Nang. Maybe if we were going someplace further the wait might have been longer considering it was really still the green season.
The weather was being kind to us to day, lots of blue skies and not even a hint of rain up there with the few clouds looking fluffy and white.
This time a full van and just after midday were were checked in at our hotel and ready for some fun. Food was a priority and getting the photographs on my camera backed up on DVD was not far behind. We killed two birds with one stone with a couple of bowls of noodle soup while were were getting the photographs copied across the road.
Ao Nang was busy, much busier than Khao Lak and Nai Yang with tourists filling the town. This was accompanied by the constant calls for "taxi sir" and "suit sir" from the residents. Most the the restaurants seemed much orientate to the tourists with outlets selling Pizza around every corner. 

The views from the beach front were quite spectacular with islands on the horizon. This with the constant ferrying of passenger by the long boats out on trips and to the other beaches. We spent most of the day acting like tourists with walking around the town, window shopping and snacking.

We took a break and sat down near the beach to watch the sunset like many other people here. With the sun dropping down fast we looked a place to eat that was not selling pizza. Just past our hotel  on the road out of town we found an ideal eatery.

This would be a first for us, having our evening meal cooked on the side of a motorcycle. It is something really to be seen. I have no idea how she managed it but we were served with Pad Thai, Papaya Salad and a bowl of Tom Yum soup. No need to say we both enjoyed it as we sat on the plastic chairs at the side of the road.
Evening was just as busy around the town, I still don't want a suit or taxi. We did want to stock up on snacks and drinks and 7-11 was just too convenient to miss.

Great Weather in Khao Lak Day 5

The morning broke with beautiful blue skies and already we could feel the heat of the sun. The sounds of the waves were audible from out balcony and there was really only one thing to do – head to the beach.

Hotel breakfast again which was just as appetizing as yesterdays. I have to be fair here, it was green season and the hotel was practically empty of guests and staff. They did their best and the only other option would have been a walk in to town.
There are a few resorts here that have beach fronts and it seems the nearly cloud free skies brought the guests out on to the beach. We were the only couple from our resort that I noticed on the sand so it was quiet, very relaxing and by now extremely hot.

It was a relief to jump in the sea to cool down, which seemed to be a constant routine every half hour while we were there. I have no idea how hot it was today, but the sun shining probably added quite a few degree to how it felt.
The hours passed and we reluctantly left the golden beach for the other pleasure we come to Thailand for – Food.
Our first bite arrived as we stepped out of the hotel. A motorcycle complete with barbeque was parked outside and the smell was too tempting. We had a couple of stick of chicken which if I remember right only cost 10 or 20 THB.  That kept us happy for the walk in to town.

We stopped at SomSri Restaurant which was situated nice and conveniently just as we hit the main road in Khao Lak. As it turned out we did not feel hungry now.  The heat of the day and more likely that big helping of barbeque chicken did not help. So we each had a bowl of noodle soup with a good portion of seafood. That along with a bottle of Chang to cool down.
It was getting very late in the afternoon and not many hours of  daylight left. That along with the temperature feeling slightly cooler we walked around the town window shopping.

Twilight is short here and darkness quickly falls. The walking around town seemed to revive our appetite and food was back on our minds. It was back to “Ga” for some more good spicy food and good hospitality.

The meal turned in to a couple of hours of relaxing and eating while watching life slowly go past.  Around 9pm the town seemed to decide to close up. Shutters were being drawn on the shops across the road, it felt a little bit like Cha Am as the town descended into sleep.
For us we stayed a bit longer before we succumb to the effect of heat of the day. We would either have a great sleep or maybe that sun was just a little bit on the burning side.

Goodbye Nai Yang, Hello Khao Lak Day 3

The last day started with the warm sunshine and a nice morning swim in the resort pool. It was pleasing but still never made up for missing out on getting in the clear blue sea.

Sea View From Nai Yang

Checkout was quick and a short walk for breakfast at a place called. The was nobody there except a young boy sweeping the decking. He quickly said “I get Mamma”, I guess they were not expecting anybody. We had a western style breakfast freshly cooked that would make any hotel envious. This with a great view of the beach too.

Thai Taxi

Heading over to the tourist booth for our transport  the call of “Taxi Sir” was head and instinct was to shake my head indication “No”. Somehow I turned around and asked how much, he nicely came back with 200THB which was 50 less than our quote last night and 100 less than the hotel. Naturally we took his offer. The road back to the highway revealed that we missed lost of  places to explore and eat if we had more time here. Arriving at night kept us in the dark about this. Next time maybe.
The short ride too us to the bust station or more likely it was merely  a bus stop.  Good fortune set in again with a coach about to pull out and our taxi driver getting us on board. No idea how long we would have waited for the next one.

Bridge To Phuket

 The bridge connection to the mainland reminded us that Phuket is and Island. The coach nearly empty it seemed not many people were going on this trip. It was comfortable and took  around an hour with a break for the drivers, there were three of them. Price was 150THB for each of us.

Khao Lak McDonalds

Khao Lak appeared and we were deposited on the side of the road with the bus driving off we were left to gather our directions. Somebody spotted a familiar logo and grabbing a map from a tourist box we headed to McDonalds. Sadly I admit we had fries.

Suwan Palm Resort Khao LAk

We soon figured out where we were and where we wanted to go. The Suwan Palm Resort was on the beach but the town was inland so we had a short walk this time in daylight and remember placed we might go back too.
The resort was one of a few down at the beach but here again everything was quiet. Not an island but it seemed quite deserted with not many tourists or locals around.

Suwan Palm Beach View

The hotel is not quite on the beach, a few meters back with the trees keeping the building hidden. Although we did have a sea view and a balcony to sit out on.

Suwan Palm Beach Side

Unpacked what little we brought and  it was outside and just a few steps to have a look at the beach. Unfortunately the monsoons were bringing clouds and the skies were beginning to look grey. The beach was empty, looking up and down we never seen anybody.
The grey skies never kept out of the water. It felt like a warm bath which was still refreshing from the heat in the air. The added addition of great waves made us act 20 years younger.
It was still early and up the beach we went for a walk. It felt like the beach would go on forever. Deceiving  with lots of curved bays and just as you reach a headland another bay appears.
We must have walked a good few kilometers with mostly nobody to be seen and nearly nothing human made jutting on to the beach.  Just as we were about to turn back we came upon a few bamboo huts. Need a massage or some food then this was the right spot.  We shared a bottle of Chang and sat on the beach while watching the waves.
Suddenly the trees started to scream! The wind had picked up and there was a chance of a downpour. If it was dark and alone then even I would have been scared of that noise. It passed quickly and better safe than sorry we headed back down the beach to the resort.

Sunset Khao Lak

The sun was setting and although a bit of sunset was showing the skies were clouded. I guess life can’t be perfect all of the time, we can settle for it being brilliant.
A walk around town in the evening. Khao Lak settles itself on a wide road with everything on either side. The obligatory Tailor shops were here. What I seemed to need most was “getting a new pair of glasses”. It felt like opticians had overtaken the Tailors in looking for trade.

Ga Restaruant Khao Lak

We passed a few restaurants some empty some a bit more full. Our general guideline here is we see a lot of western people eating then we move on to the next place. We are looking for Genuine Thai Food to eat and while it’s not perfect it has worked well for us.
We came up on a place called “Ga” and we did strike it lucky here. The host was extremely friendly and the food was second to none. There seemed to be a bit extra service that made it and extremely pleasurable place to eat.
The first day in Khao Lak was over and while some people may like a bit more excitement and tourist trips, the atmosphere of a place is the pleasure for us. Exploring along with long walks on a deserted beach with the waves lapping at your feet is hard to better.
Khao Lak does have 7-11 so naturally we stocked up the way back to the resort.

Keeping Healthy on the Island.

There is nothing more upsetting about going on your ideal holiday and falling ill. Days wasted perhaps stuck in bed or unable to enjoy the pleasures that you originally came to see.

If you are going to fall ill it is best that it happens at home and not on those precious days that you looked forward too. The biggest cause of sadness here is the one of the main reasons you came to the island. Like all areas in the tropics the Sun can be quite a demon and we tend to learn those lessons the hard way.

The basics apply here, a good strong sun-block no matter how much you think you don’t need it. You will not look silly and it is much better than looking like a cooked lobster along with the aching pain that goes along with sunburn. Hats are more than essential, preferably something with a brim to keep the sun off your face and neck. Water, Water and more Water. Your body will be loosing lots of water and and with the heat instantly evaporating the sweat you may not notice. Keep a bottle or two near by and keep taking the occasional sip even if you thing you might not need it. Do not just rely on the complementary water in your hotel or resort, you will need more than just a bottle each day.

If your planning to get off the beach then do cover up a little bit. This applies both to keeping healthy and as a bit of respect to the local culture here, this applies especially for women.

Insect bites can occur, especially from those little mosquitoes. But on our trips which have mainly been close the coastal areas we rarely have the pleasure of being bitten. It does happen and prevention is better then cure here for anybody who may be a bit more allergic than others.

The other major cause of health problems in food. We enjoy the Thai food and have eaten in western style restaurants and also taken food from the back of motorcycles. I have to say we have never had any tummy problems whatsoever in Thailand. If the local style of food is not to your appetite then there are many outlets along the beach that can serve food western style.

Hopefully your trip to Koh Lanta or other beautiful areas of Thailand will be a happy and health one. Should the worst happen and you may need medical care then the staff at your resort will be able to help. The island hosts a hospital and one thing we should have, but never use, is medical insurance.

Taking those little precautions will will help you enjoy one of the best holiday locations you will experience.

Afternoon at the River in Krabi Town- Day 10

Weather – Wet, Wet, Wet

Having arrived in Krabi Town and settled in to the hotel a look around town was needed. The first time we were in Krabi it was already dark and not really ideal for taking in any sights. It was also raining all those days ago, so far the town for us is wet.

We had brought just one umbrella for emergencies and the hotel gladly offered us an extra one. It wasn’t really needed for long, the monsoons eased and eventually stopped. Some food needed again and keeping in with the Thailand style we had pizza and chips.

The town is not really big and most things seems localized on the one or two streets running along side the river. That included the banks and currency exchanges. These were getting badly needed as our Thai money was running out and unknowingly we were also running out of time. The bank we approached had already closed and the money exchanger had already done her calculations for the day so we realized we were left to scrimp and save until the morning.

Having a walk along the river to pass the time and take in a bit of the Mangrove views we were approached by a rather large gentleman. He was a fisherman touting for some business, offered to take us on a trip up the river. We had a little and large conversation about our cash flow and our need to wait till tomorrow for the banks to open. It was then he dropped a bombshell about tomorrow being Saturday and the banks being closed.

Tonight's dinner was looking like seafood, fish and crab, with a little cigarette to finish the meal off. In our 24 hours a day life we have been to complacent.

The views up the river were quite pleasant although the tide seemed to be out and the river banks were exposed with mud. At least it wasn't cluttered with thrown away shopping trolleys.

Away from the river there was a night market happening. This was taking place in the square behind the hotel that we spent our first night in. It appeared more of a fun-fair atmosphere with a few rides for the kids along with lots of home made wares and food. Extremely busy with lots of people in very small space. But we managed to get hold of some deep fried ice cream.

Sometimes events take place that come completely unexpected and have quite dramatic consequences. Needless to say one of those events happened to us and completely filled the rest of our evening. To skim over it quickly we were treated completed free of charge to the spiciest meal we have ever had in Thailand. Spread over 6 dished of delicious food specially prepared for us both. The earlier wondering of how to catch dinner in the river seemed much like a silly idea now.

Sun Down and Arnee Food Gets Spicy - Day 9

With our time on Koh Lanta nearly over it was back to our hotel to arrange for transport. We were heading back to Krabi Town by minivan again and asked at reception to make arrangements for pickup the next day. The price was around 200THB each which was a little bit more than the cost of the outbound leg.

Still very quiet but the view here was good, looking past the table and chairs towards the pool and the beach in the background.

We were hoping to see lots of brightly coloured fish, sadly nothing came our way. The long sandy beaches were probably not ideal for tropical fish with no place to hide from preying sharks or the heat of the sun (no sharks either). Probably if we tried harder we would have found them, but as a consolation the Kaw Kwang hotel had a few carp swimming around at the doorway.

Tickets booked, morning pickup arranged and as the sun going down time for a last dip in the pool. The last Lanta sunset was showing for us and that secret beach was still being elusive. Maybe it was just a myth made up by somebody looking for more than paradise. I`m sure somebody could make that idea into a great movie!

The evening started with the usual long walk along Klong Dao beach. We were beginning to know all the bumps and curves having walked across here many times. To be honest, we were really a bit far from things, especially with the whole off season quietness. Probably next time we venture here a resort a bit closer to food would be better, for peace and relaxation it’s prefect. During the peak season with more restaurants open it should be even more desirable being slightly away from the crowds.

Food is always a good place to end the day and a bit of Tom Yom would go down nicely, Our host was Arnee`s again, it seemed like we lived there. As with Sanuk Bar it was really at the right location for us, not too far but close enough.

Along the beach, along the strip and all in-between were hotels, resorts and restaurants but it was hit or miss to find some open and serving food. Night was probably not the best time to go wandering around the jungle, I’m sure there are a few creatures that you wouldn’t want to startle lurking in the bush.

So soup and extra spicy was requested, I`d guess this about the level a Thai baby reaches when they go on to solid food. For us it was hot. Apart from the great combination of flavours the feeling of getting a roasting red hot poker stuck in your mouth is somehow very pleasantly addictive.

With the day closing we try not to think of leaving Koh Lanta, the combination of spice and a few more beers than usual helped to sedate those thoughts. The knowledge of all those bumps and curves of the beach became very handy on the wandering winding way back to the resort. From this point on the rest of the night seems like a blur and I think we behaved …. hopefully.