words from the world

To content | To menu | To search

Keyword - kayak -

Entries feed

Friday 26 October 2007

On the Phang Nga bay by long-tail boat

Krabi is a small laid-back pier by the andaman sea which turns into a frenetic night market at dusk. We can spend a couple of days here to relax and move about to the different islands and beaches in the vicinity. We book an all-included trip to the Phang Nga bay within one of the travel agencies that stretch out along the main street. The Phang Nga bay is the Thai answer in miniature to the superb Vietnamese Ha long bay.
The next morning, the minivan drives from guesthouses to guesthouses to pick up a motley blend of tourists. We briefly stop at a temple carved in a grottoe. Hordes of monkeys leap from a branch to another one and come to swiftly snatch bananas and peanuts tourists offer. With a full stomach, the four-handed animals grab the veines and dash uphill.

IMG_7944.JPG
IMG_7956.JPG
IMG_7972.JPG
A few kilometers further, we swap the minivan fo a long-tail boat. The low tide unveils the knotty roots of the mangroves. Intertwined roots that change the banks into an impenetrable mangrove. We stop at the floating village of Pianyee where we have lunch.

IMG_7974.JPG
IMG_7981.JPG
IMG_7999.JPG
In the beginning of the afternoon, the digestion starts on a small inflatable kayak. We go through caves the low tide made accessible to come out into a kind of well. Open-air cavities at the center of a stone peak. In the middle of these long rocky chimneys carved by the time, we don't hear the loud engines and the shouts any more. We live some unique moments of serenity in a secret place with the weird sensation these secluded spots give. The feeling to be a pioneer, the first one who discovered this mysterious and restful place. Forgotten the throng of tourists that come here to visit around ; the openings are so many everyone can enjoy his "own" lake with a private access.

IMG_8017.JPG
IMG_8027.JPG
IMG_8040.JPG
IMG_8048.JPG
IMG_8055.JPG
IMG_8065.JPG
IMG_8067.JPG
IMG_8072.JPG
IMG_8088.JPG
We hop on the boat to sail to the island called the James Bond Island since a scene of the movie Goldfinger was shot there. A giant and unique nail punches the bay. An impressive picture but the island is overloaded with tourists who damage the calmness of this bit of isolated land.

IMG_8098.JPG
IMG_8101.JPG
IMG_8110.JPG
IMG_8114.JPG
IMG_8118.JPG
IMG_8123.JPG
A day full of attractions and gorgeous landscapes even if the heavy touristy concentration ruin the pleasure a little bit.

IMG_8141.JPG
IMG_8148.JPG
We go back to Bangkok by bus to spend a last night in the capital. 15 days passed among tuks-tuks, paradisiac beaches and tropical fish. The time went by too fast. It's always what we say when we liked what we've just lived.

Thursday 25 October 2007

Paradisiac beaches on the Koh Phi Phi island

Steep rocky walls that a green and lush nature trickles over. Strips of sand gnaw the rock to form superb bays. The island of Koh Phi phi is actully composed of 2 islands : Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh.
Phi Phi Don is characterized by 2 crescents of sand linking the two headlands of the island which shape a big "X" within the blue immensity. As for Phi Phi Leh, it's a protected area and it's impossible to stay and sleep on. It harbours some grottoes swallows get in to build their nest, a nest they make with their saliva. Climbing bamboo ladders, a few life-risking villagers go to pick them. These nests are famous for their aphrodisiac powers and are an ingredient of Chinese soups. At 2500 euros a kilo, these nests are considered as national treasure and the grottoes entrances are guarded. Phi Phi Leh is also famous to be the scenery of the movie "the beach" and full of scuba diving and snorkelling spots dot the coastline.

IMG_7103.JPG
IMG_7108.JPG
IMG_7110.JPG
IMG_7177.JPG
IMG_7322.JPG
IMG_7325.JPG
IMG_7406.JPG
IMG_7411.JPG
IMG_7414.JPG
IMG_7417.JPG
IMG_7423.JPG
IMG_7429.JPG
IMG_7439.JPG
IMG_7451.JPG
IMG_7453.JPG
IMG_7488.JPG
IMG_7493.JPG
IMG_7499.JPG
IMG_7501.JPG
IMG_7510.JPG
IMG_7513.JPG
IMG_7517.JPG
IMG_7597.JPG
IMG_7607.JPG
IMG_7614.JPG
IMG_7623.JPG
IMG_7633.JPG
IMG_7642.JPG
IMG_7868.JPG
The sea bed gives the gorgeous beaches their cue. Funnel-shaped corals and red gorgones spread out and extend the rock while anemones and giant clams attempt to cling to. Seaweeds and mosses struggle to occupy the last free parcels of rock. Soft corals dance according to the currents and hide throngs of angel- and butterfly-fish. Close to the surface, the trumpet-fish wanders about alone while near the bottom, the struggle is fierce for some crumbs of corals.
The parrot-fish shatters the coral and the clown-fish frantically swims among the anemones. Within the chinks of the rock, porcupine- and box-fish clumsily move about. Turtles, black-tip sharks and lion-fish complete this submarine watercolour.
Everyday, the same ritual which turns into a deep pleasure : fixing the mask and going underwater to discover the submarine kingdom. An intoxicating kingdom we fall in love a little bit more after each dive.

IMG_7004.JPG
IMG_7016.JPG
IMG_7029.JPG
IMG_7059.JPG
IMG_7071.JPG
IMG_7075.JPG
IMG_7084.JPG
IMG_7090.JPG
IMG_7154.JPG
IMG_7158.JPG
IMG_7159.JPG
IMG_7162.JPG
IMG_7168.JPG
IMG_7174.JPG
IMG_7190.JPG
IMG_7202.JPG
IMG_7206.JPG
IMG_7212.JPG
IMG_7220.JPG
IMG_7226.JPG
IMG_7229.JPG
IMG_7242.JPG
IMG_7248.JPG
IMG_7258.JPG
IMG_7267.JPG
IMG_7274.JPG
IMG_7278.JPG
IMG_7296.JPG
IMG_7308.JPG
IMG_7313.JPG
IMG_7334.JPG
IMG_7336.JPG
IMG_7349.JPG
IMG_7363.JPG
IMG_7383.JPG
IMG_7393.JPG
IMG_7402.JPG
IMG_7472.JPG
IMG_7524.JPG
IMG_7525.JPG
IMG_7544.JPG
IMG_7556.JPG
IMG_7561.JPG
IMG_7568.JPG
IMG_7582.JPG
IMG_7590.JPG
IMG_7650.JPG
IMG_7654.JPG
IMG_7659.JPG
IMG_7662.JPG
IMG_7672.JPG
IMG_7675.JPG
IMG_7683.JPG
IMG_7691.JPG
IMG_7707.JPG
IMG_7724.JPG
IMG_7726.JPG
IMG_7736.JPG
IMG_7739.JPG
IMG_7744.JPG
IMG_7752.JPG
IMG_7753.JPG
IMG_7761.JPG
IMG_7767.JPG
IMG_7772.JPG
IMG_7777.JPG
IMG_7790.JPG
IMG_7793.JPG
IMG_7796.JPG
IMG_7801.JPG
IMG_7809.JPG
IMG_7819.JPG
IMG_7820.JPG
IMG_7822.JPG
IMG_7823.JPG
IMG_7826.JPG
IMG_7828.JPG
IMG_7831.JPG
IMG_7832.JPG
IMG_7884.JPG
IMG_7900.JPG
IMG_7908.JPG
IMG_7915.JPG

page 2 of 2 -