Travel Report Krabi, Thailand

Travel Report Krabi, Thailand

Krabi, Thailand
one stop on Wendy's & Joe's world tour 2004/05

Krabi
 

 
Journal Update 26th April 2004 / Krabi Island, Thailand
We are now here in Krabi after a four and a half hour bus journey up from Satun in Southern Thailand. The bus journey was quite fun, with plenty to see en-route. With horrific Thai music at deafening levels for most of the journey e.g. ning nang ning nong wahhhhh - think Dolly Parton on Acid (without the Bristol's). We are glad to escape Ko Pi Rats, but did have a wonderful last evening on our veranda with a Canadian professor of English and Physcology who was the most well travelled person we have encountered to date. He enlightened us about Thai culture and recounted his many explorations and exploits in, South East Asia and Saudi Arabia. I enjoyed listening to him and Joe talking about world affairs with great passion. I now realised what Joe has been doing for the last 8 months he was off work being lazy, he was reading The Times newspaper!

One of the best things about travelling, apart from eating all the time and getting up late, is meeting fellow travellers, and sussing out the next adventure. Joe has just bumped in to a couple who now think we are stalking them, as we have followed their route since Tioman Island in Malaysia. They are being very good natured about it, but we see the fear in their faces. Next time I am sure they will run off! We are going to hang out here for a couple of days to nurse my injuries, and then head off to one of the islands either Pi Pi or Lanta. Joe's leg is looking a lot better and mine is getting worse.
 

Journal Update 28th April 2004 / Krabi Island
Well we have certainly fallen in to a relaxed routine in this little fishing town. Most people skim through on their way to the beaches in Krabi or the islands but for some reason we are enjoying poking around the bars and shops and eating as ever the lovely food. The night market is particularly good - we shared a Pad Thai and drinks for 40 Bhat last night which is around 70 pence.

Krabi Boatman
We had a lovely morning on a long tail boat exploring the Mangroves and caves (a bit spooky). Thought we might meet some pirates and be robbed or buggered or worse! The guy (Abdul) was very excited to show us around and we ended up going to his village to have a look where unfortunately we met some pirates and the above happened (only joking! - we are still all intact). The houses were little more than shacks on stilts up at the waters edge, mingled with the Mangroves with the occasional fish farm housing Red Snapper and Barracuda. We saw the fisherman heading out to the open ocean to catch shrimps wearing their sinister balaclavas.

 
Krabi River Trip
The rainy season is upon us - though we rather look forward to the downpour at about 3.00 pm as it cools down the place and is exciting to watch (especially with a cold beer or glass of wine in hand). We are thinking two extra nights here and then we will take a look at the islands. We decided to buy the Lonely Planet to Thailand yesterday as the Rough Guide is sh!te. So if you are planning to visit South East Asia keep that in mind.

Journal Update 29th April 2004 / Krabi Island, Thailand
We had a lovely night out last night in Krabi Town which was helped with lashings of Chang beer for Joe and a couple of glasses of wine for me, shrimps with glass noodles for me and Joe has become rather partial to chicken with holy basil and rice. We have laid off the junk food for a while and we are feeling quite trim now. I have noticed that I am developing muscles on my legs which I have never had before and Joe is hopping faster than ever before! Though our confidence was put back a bit last night when we endeavoured to get in the hotel lift with some very skinny Thai people only to set off the alarms and a big red sign flashing OVERLOAD.

They shouted to Joe "GET OUT" and it was sad to see his face fall as the doors shut. We were all sniggering on the way down only to be met by Joe at the bottom of the stairs indignantly shouting OVERLOAD ME? This made them all dissolve in to hysterics.

Joe went back to Raliegh today. No not Rayleigh Essex (home of the purple rinse) but Rai Leh Beach Krabi. A 45 minute boat ride from Krabi town took us to a golden stretch of sand and dramatic lime stone cliffs called West Rai Leh which was spotted with plush resorts and was next to the less delux East Hat Rai Leh (mud and hippies-yuck).
 

The long tail wooden boat ride was ace fun past the fish processing plant to open sea (with only a floating dead rat to make me heave today!) We had a poodle around for an hour or so then the heaven opened and we had another tropical rainstorm. So once that subsided we caught another boat to the resort of Ao Nang. Joe nearly weed himself with excitement on the boat as the ride was fairly rocky in the high waves, but thankfully our captain looked like he could navigate the high seas with his weather beaten face, Popeye hat and permanent fag hanging from his lips.

You remember the couple we have been stalking (or are they stalking us?) since Tioman. Well we met them again in Ao Nang. Well we met Amanda - she said they were having problems getting out of bed and laid in until 1.00pm today! They have been travelling since last August. I am sure we will see them again on Ko Phi Phi.

We got a Sawngthaew back in to town which is a customised pick up truck, where the locals and truly adventurous farangs hang off the back. Joe enjoyed this no end. We have just bought our tickets for Phi Phi and are setting off tomorrow at 10.30am hopefully the weather will hold out until the afternoon.

Wendy Brierley

a further stop on Wendy's & Joe's world tour 2004/05