Diary Patong
25.February.2006
Don't have any good photos from this day trip to Krabi since the sun played hide and seek.
Was picked up by mini bus from the "hotel" in Patong at 07.30 AM, and arrived at the Port Island Hopper, Sirey Island, early. Where we had to wait for more than 1 hour before leaving for Krabi around 9.15-9.20 AM by speedboat. With so many hotels in Phuket, the drivers some times need the time to pick up guests from hotel/resorts they have never heard about or think they know, like searching for the hotel in Karon while the tourists are waiting to be picked up in Patong.
It was a windy day with too much clouds for my liking. But it was too late to cancel the trip, so beautiful Krabi next! The speedboat was one of the smaller ones and therefor we had a very bumpy ride even if the waves was not that large. Have experienced much larger waves on previous trips.
The ride to Krabi would normal take 45 minutes. On this windy day it took around 1 hour. But as often is the case, in the afternoon the sea is mostly calm and the speedboat can go for full speed.
First stop in Krabi was Chicken Island. The guide told us to take pictures of the famous island before going for snorkeling. Taken photos against the sun is never a good idea if one want colorful pictures, but that apparently never crossed the mind of the guide. A short ride to the other side of the island was all it would take to snap some nice photos.
Next stop was snorkeling along the steep western hillside of Chicken Island. It looked like every company in Phuket/Krabi stop at this spot. Why I don't know!!! The water visibility was around 1 meter and if there is a live coral reef here, somewhat I doubt, one can not see it!
After wasting half hour for nothing it was time to go to Poda Island. Since it was high tide we where not lucky to see the "Amazing Sand Bar" (the narrow strip of sand) connecting Chicken and Mo Island.
The guide told us 20 meters off the beach at Poda Island the corals was very beautiful. How he can say that is more than I understand. There was only a few very small corals in shallow water, and water visibility was not much better than Chicken Island.
Where the sea was rough water was much clearer, but since we only stayed here around 40 minutes there was not enough time to relax and explore the whole island.
With so many tourists on this famous island I was very surprised to see that the beach had lot of debris. Not like the popular beaches on Phuket Island that are always clean.
Then we where off to Phra Nang Beach, a 10 minutes ride. Here we stayed 25 minutes. Again not enough time to explore and relax. Even if I see no point of swimming, since the sea near Krabi mainland is not that clear. I miss Phuket with its crystal clear water when I stay in Krabi.
Next stop was Hong Island, but due to low tide we was not able to enter the cove and only stopped to look at the island from distance for one minute before going for lunch at Tew Son Bay. Not that the water at Hong Island looked special clear, but it could be nice to stop at the beach for 15 minutes after going on a so long trip.
Tew Son Bay is a chapter of itself and should be avoided at all cost at low tide. At low tide the speedboat can't go close to the beach. It is better to stay in the boat and eat fruit than go trough the horrors of walking the long way to and from the restaurant at low tide.
The following is quoted from the brochure: "Relax on the white sandy beach and enjoy beach actions as swimming...". Swimming here must be a joke, the water is muddy with zero visibility. Walking on the muddy bottom is like walking on quicksand. The food at the restaurant was not much better and drinking water could we forget. The crew had to walk the long way back to the speedboat to get us some water.
At last the nightmare was over and we could go to the next island, Rang Nok for swimming, only a few minutes away. Rang Nok is one of the many islands famous for their swallow birds nests. But we didn't stay at Rang Nok since the island was closed for visitors that day (source www.phukettourism.org: Normally visitors are only allowed to see the island (Koh Rang Nok) from the boat, as going on the island would be disturbing the swallows).
Instead we go for full speed to Khai Nok/Nui Island. Khai Nui with its wonderful coral garden in shallow water was the highlight of the day and saved it from being a total disaster and the water visibility was good even if it was not perfect.
The coral garden is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen around Phuket, Krabi and Racha, in shallow water. It was at times like swimming in an aquarium surrounded by small tropical fish. Will go back again and again, so long the water stay clear, 3 days later the visibility was not so good. Rest of the day we stayed at Khai Nok where one can see Black Tip Reef Shark around 100 meters from the beach.
End of Trip
21.February.2006
Welcome to Similan Islands, where the sea is fantastic clear!
Similan Island (#8)
A woman gaze at the famous rock symbol of Similan
More tourists arrive on the powder perfect white beach at Similan Island
Close up of the hidden entrance to the wiewpoint
A few people on their way down from the viewpoint
Not a umbrella or sunbed in sight. This is paradise!
Ba Ngu Island (#9) had the best snorkeling on this one day trip. But I was too busy to take photos to check out Similan Island so I can be wrong.
Miang Island (#4), I could stay here forever. The water is sooo beautiful and extremely clear. The beach has baby powder perfect white sand like rest of Similan. Miang Island has hill-side bungalows so I plan to be back for a few days next year.
Miang Island, My Thai girlfriend is relaxing in the perfect crystal clear sea. The water is so perfect that she never wanted to leave!
