Krabi/Phuket 2010 – The Finale
May 16, 2010 | 7,555 viewsPhew…. A sigh of relief there? After 6 chapters (7 including this one) of tying up loose ends, I finally am bringing an end to my Krabi-Phuket 2010 saga. Yes, after much deliberation, procrastination, and succumbing to complaints, laments and erm …. threats (?!).
Here are the previous chapters, in case your memory’s playing tricks on you :
PART TWO – Patong Beach in Phuket, RED LIGHT District of Bangla Road, Cheap Thai Seafood
PART FOUR – Krabi Town Famous Night Market
PART FIVE – Koh Det’s Amazing Breakfast in Ao Nang, Krabi
PART SIX – Phi Phi Islands Day Tour
James Bond Island – Originally named Ko Tapu, or “Nail Island”, the remarkable piece of rock reached super-stardom when featured in the 1974 classic James Bond movie; ” The Man with the Golden Gun”
After the previous day’s excursion to the Phi Phi Islands, we booked for another sightseeing program on the very next day. Actually, we booked from the same tour agent (Let’s Go Krabi) on the evening after the islands tour. After much haggling (we Malaysians are good at this, I tell ya!), we agreed on a 800baht/RM80/USD25 per person – Kayaking Full Day Trip which includes :
a) Go to Phang Nga Bay by A/C minibus
b) Longtail boat to James Bond Island & Khao Ping Gan
c) Canoeing trip at Lot Cave
d) Visit Suwankhuha Temple (Monkey Cave)
e) Lunch @ Koh Panyee (Muslim Floating Village)
f) Rejuvenation session at a waterfall
Breakfast of Khanom Jeen in Krabi (read previous post to discover more)
The pickup van arrived at about 8.30am (Thailand time), picking us up from our inn. The day tour took about 10 hours in total, and we arrived back in Ao Nang at about 6.40pm.
The longtail boat ride will take you along the rivers, leading into the seas and enclaves surrounded by mountains and passing by mangrove swamps.
James Bond Island – You will see many speedboats and longtail boats docking here for a camwhoring session with the famous nail-shaped rock.
At Ping Gan Island, where we stopped for the Ko Tapu (James Bond Island) appreciation-cum-photography session, you will see tourists (and us alike) attempting the impossible …. like in the above shot, for instance.
Darn sweltering heat rendered us almost incapacitated and motionless. Okay, maybe not as dramatic, but still, we were seeking for shelters in any form, like this shady hut for example. 🙂
The Canoeing trip around Lot Cave – Where you can choose to paddle your own canoe, OR let them do it for you. Wise choice to let them paddle for you, really. So you can enjoy the view while basking in the sun, rather than sweating it out, battling the waves.
Passing through caves and canyons, the canoeing session was pleasant, yet without much thrills/spills. Anyway, nothing beats getting your bottom wet from the puddles of water inside the canoes! 🙂
Where we boarded the canoes (two pax per canoe, please … don’t get yourself capsized!)
Delicious Thai feast at Koh Panyee (Floating Village) – About 6 dishes, including rice and water. Note that the spiciness level has been toned down DRASTICALLY. The majority of tourists are the westerners anyway.
A picture of serenity @ the Floating Village of Koh Panyee. Populated by Thai Muslims, you can buy souvenirs from the labyrinth of stalls operated by the locals, walk around the piers and watch how they spend their daily routines, or even register yourself for school. Okay, maybe not …
And there you have our over-eager tour guide! (Sorry forgot his name). He was a real nice chap though, at times a little annoying when he rattled off non-stop …..
Suwankuha Temple (Golden Cave Temple/Monkey Cave) – A 200 years-old reclining Buddha statue, and rock formations leading to the skies …. wait, that lower left pic did remind of The Descent !!!
Refreshing oneself at the waterfalls …. but instead, we got FOC Fish Spa treatment! Nature’s most ingenious creations, the fish came in the usual tiny, anchovy-size commonly seen in fish spas everywhere, but there were some rather BIG fishes swimming around, pecking at our dead cells!
The McDonald’s facing our Ao Nang Grand Inn, and various amenities, shops, and food stalls (not shown in this pic) around Ao Nang area come nighttime.
And so we were back in Ao Nang after a long 10 hours journey to the seas, caves, swamps and waterfalls. Usually, the package retails for 1,600 baht per person, but we managed to bargain our socks off; reducing the asking price printed on the brochures to half. 🙂
If you’re in a much larger group, maybe you can get even better deals!
Dinner at Thai Thai Restaurant along Ao Nang Beach. A fusion of local and international cuisines, we had pizzas, tom yum, green curry, and fried rice.
Initially we intended to walk over to Wangsai Seafood Restaurant for dinner, located about 20-30 minutes walk from our place. Or you can take the taxis (resembling more of a songthaew or mini truck) for 50-60 baht per person. But after the tiresome day, we decided to go against this idea.
Instead we strolled leisurely towards the beach, about 5 minutes away and found ourselves attracted to the soft breezy lullabies; both from the crashing waves and the cabaret-like performance at Thai Thai Restaurant. Food was forgettable, yet we relished every moment of rejuvenation and blissful tranquility.
To end the night, we went for body massage at one of the parlours facing the seas. Talk about loosening up knots in our nerves! From 200baht/RM20/USD6.30 per hour, you can opt for a myriad of massages, ranging from head+shoulder, full body, oil/milk/lotion massages, as well as foot massage.
And our final breakfast in Krabi; a random stall at a junction of two streets, in front of a convenience shop named V-Shop. The stall has no name, hence good luck in locating this stall for the early birds of Ao Nang. Noodles with chicken or beef (remember, pork is a rarity here) for 35-40 baht each.
And for the parting shot, take a look at these colourful, brightly-lit lanterns decorating the path parallel to Ao Nang beach.
And they lived happily ever after …… 🙂
Any questions, feel free to contact me at ipohmotormouth@gmail.com. Have a blessed journey if you’re wandering to Krabi or Phuket. Go get yourself tanned, and come back regenerated!
Full chapter by chapter accounts at the following link :
>>> KRABI/PHUKET 2010 – ON THE SUNNY TRAIL <<<
Krabi/Phuket 2010 – James Bond Island, Canoeing, Monkey Cave, Waterfall & Thai Thai Restaurant | Motormouth From Ipoh – A Malaysian Food Blog…
Last part of my Krabi-Phuket getaway. Read all the 7 chapters to find out more regarding this budget trip, yet we managed to cover most of the islands and the mainland….
thank you for sharing all your krabi experiences..
i wish to be there one day! =D
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
May 16th, 2010 at 10:37 am
You’re most welcomed, ken.
Not too worry, Air Asia comes up with lucrative offers ever so often.
And since Bangkok’s out of the picture (at least now), Krabi, Phuket or Chiang Mai might be your best bets.
[Reply]
Krabi looks amazing! Thanks for sharing the pictures… I like that first picture of the “rock” at James Bond Island.. 🙂
[Reply]
wonderful trip, I plan to visit there withing next two year
[Reply]
And with this completed, where’s your next destination? 🙂
[Reply]
Hehehe…. finally the last of your krabi/phuket post 🙂
Really enjoy all the posts! 🙂
[Reply]
Nice photos, I wish to be in Krabi one day but looks like the condition in Thailand doesn’t allow me to go there.
[Reply]
Wow….the whole post I like James Bond Island.
[Reply]
[…] here: Krabi/Phuket 2010 – James Bond Island, Canoeing, Monkey Cave … Categories: ????????????? Tags: beach, breezy-lullabies, cabaret, […]
haiya…finally finally, after 5 months, the closing chapter came out!
I do miss the massage by the beach,
and the 7-11 yogurt!
maybe we can go for another trip next time.
[Reply]
Nice trip there. U muz have a lot of fun there 🙂
[Reply]
We drove to Krabi and Ko Lanta from ipoh during CNY….wonderful place to go and still not too commercialized compared to phuket….food is still cheaper than phuket and not too much redlight around
[Reply]
Yeah… at the end of the trip is always the hardest! After all, it’s time to get back to the real world right bro??
[Reply]
enjoying looking at ur krabi pics as i went there recently too….the sea kayaking really burn my skin off…but totally enjoy the experience
[Reply]
excellent! wow u really did a gr8 job with the Thai posts. how do u feel now it’s finished? 🙂 happy right?!!
[Reply]
Hi James,
Thanks for the beautiful write out each time I drop by your blog. I have an award for you . Please pick it up from here . You deserved it 🙂
http://elinluv.blogspot.com/2010/05/sunshine-award.html
[Reply]
that’s quite a lot of things done in a day! looks fun though 🙂
[Reply]
Dear J2kfm,
I absolutely love your blog! I discovered it about a month ago as I was browsing through other food bloggers pages and I found the treasure which is your blog! whee!!! I hail from Perak as well, and oh do I really really miss all the food there. I am in another country now, pursuing studies and your blog brings home to me, well, virtually at least, so thank you!!
Anyway, I was just curious why there aren’t any posts on food in Tanjung Rambutan? There is a very famous ‘railway station roti canai’ shop in that town that I would love to see your take on it! Well, perhaps one day if you’re free, do go try that. =))
Keep posting, spread the love for food! Perak rocks!
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 1:59 pm
You’re most welcomed, Lucy!
Your comment made me feeling mighty pleased now … hehehe … ‘terangkat’?
Tanjung Rambutan? Oh, I seldom venture to that town, though mostly I went there for work purposes only, at the nationwide famous medical facilities.
I’ll ask around for the specific shop that you mentioned.
And yeah … Perak DOES rock!!!
[Reply]
thanks for ur update n the info to share with us..
im going to phuket next month..
yeahooo…
cheers(”,)..
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
You’re welcomed shuying. Finally eh?
Sorry for the long hiatus between posts ….
[Reply]
Very nice pictures. You make me wanna go there my next holidays.
Thanks for sharing your experiences 🙂
[Reply]
Thank you nice article. I am someone who really love phuket. Last month I’ve been to Surin Beach and like this place very much because this beach is quiet, white beaches and crystal clear waters. Surin Bay Inn is the great accommodation, i stay here. It’s just like a happy family, everyone there is so nice and hospital.
I am sure, i will come back. SEE YOU PHUKET
[Reply]
Thanks for sharing your Phuket experience,
this post was very helpful… Keep posting and good luck with your post!
[Reply]
Great post, i am going to Krabi next month, and this post helps a lot.
May know how many person u all going? the price u got for Day trip in Krabi is really cheap, i hope i can get this cheaper price as well but i not reli good in bargain=(.
Thanks again for this post^^
[Reply]
J2Kfm Reply:
November 28th, 2011 at 8:57 pm
Hi there … there were 7 of us for this trip. Don’t really have to bargain hard, since if you think the price they offer is reasonable, then just take it.
But of course, wouldn’t hurt to bargain slightly especially during the low season. They would be more than happy to lower the prices.
[Reply]
ismewlin Reply:
November 30th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Next month is the Peak season for Krabi, hopefully i still able to get cheaper price for our day trip=)hehe….
will go to the shop u recommended. =)
[Reply]
Hi
Such a good trip!
I’ve got only one question.
I’m going next month to Thailande and I have only one full day in Phuket. What excursion i have to choose? Phang nga bay or Phi Phi Island?
I hope you can help me.
[Reply]
Hey!
Just loved your.It is awesome.It seems to be very much interesting.The content of your post is very much effective.Thank you so much for sharing.
[Reply]
this is very useful for me, thanks for sharing, it’s very detail.
[Reply]
[…] With kind permission, article from : http://www.j2kfm.com/krabi-phuket-finale-james-bond-island […]