Krabi is an archipelago of about 130 islands
south of Thailand. It’s all you can soak up white sands, clear waters and
greenery.
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| Crystal clear water, Krabi, Thailand |
The cliffs add beauty to the glassy waters as
if they came up to the surface of the sea right then.
Long tailed boats take you to these many
islands. Koh Phi Phi islands, the most popular of them all. With a population
as less than 50,000 most of them speak Thai and English.
We stayed at Aonang which is popularly called
the Krabi town itself. Few minutes stroll on the effervescent streets we reach
the Aonang beach from where all the boats leave to various islands.
The Aonang beach itself has its disparity
when there is high tide when you can almost stretch your hands out to touch the
emerald waters and in low tide mostly by evening you can see the underwater
life plonked on the shore waiting for the next tide.
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| Jelly fish on the shore |
I love beaches. I've lived all my adult
life researching on best beach destinations of the world. Krabi tops the list
of clear waters in different hues of green, blue and pure white beaches, corals
and colourful fishes.
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| Corals |
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Dusk at Aonang Beach
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We reached Krabi by noon from Bangkok
after days of shopping to two golden days of relaxation.
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| View from the aircraft |
Quite shocking to realise that a sandwich
handed over to me saying it was chicken transformed into freezing cold fish
sandwich. Otherwise pleasant Thai airlines weren’t quite pleasant on the
domestic front.
The view from the aircraft was
breathtaking as we could spot small islands dotted in deep blue sea and the coastal
area lined by white waves lashing on the shore.
The tour operator promptly received us
at the small dingy airport and briefed us on the small island. Special mention
was to try the non vegetarian food at the island.
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| Carved soaps |
We reached Aonang Cliff beach resort
which was a four star property 5 mins walk away from Aonang beach. We could see
the beautiful cliff from the resort. Both sides of the tidy road was decorated
by shops which sold aromatic oils, carved soaps, bikinis, beachwear, diving
equipments, 24x7 stores which sold beverages, snack, toiletries, massage
centres, restaurants and curios.
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| View from the pool, Aonang Cliff beach Resort |
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| Aonang Beach |
After a short nap we decided to
walk around the streets. The music at the restaurants and beach facing cafes (mostly
reggae) set the mood for us to walk in the humid small town of Aonang. The
massage parlours listed the various massages offered and handed out brochures
which looked like a replication of the same one everywhere.
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| Aonang beach |
Even restaurants had pictorial menus
and prices listed. A person was prearranged to welcome each person walking on
the street to come dine at the restaurants. A bikini offered at 500 baht can be
bought at 300 baht. Enjoy the bargaining at Krabi and chit chat with the locals
there.
The next morning we had signed up for
the four island tour which includes Phra Nang , Chicken island, Koh Tup and Poda
island.
We were picked up in a buggy version of
the tuk tuk by barracudas tours. At the beach we got into long tailed wooden boats.
It was a task to go aboard these from hip deep ocean on to rusty ladder onto the
boat. The sights were amazing with the color of the sea changing like nature’s
chameleon. The cliffs of various shapes towering on either side made it feel
like an illusion ride through a beautiful painting.
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| Long tailed Boat |
There is always an urge to click photos
of the scenery on either side still we realise it's hours long beauty.
1) We walked on the shore of the first island
till one end which is a cave and adventure enthusiasts climbing cliffs. Rock
climbing is an important sport in Krabi.Phra nang had a cave and a deity who
was offered flowers. Young children made sand castles, couples in love kissed
as waves shook them, many others basked in the sun. I walked hip deep in water.
We sat under a tree enjoying the shade and absorbing the beautiful sight in
hope that it never ends.
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| Chicken island |
2) We went to chicken Island with cliff
bordering water resembles a chicken in crouching position. Here the boat would
dock for us to do snorkelling. We could pick up our snorkelling equipments with
mask and pipe attached to each and life jackets. I was almost engulfed in a huge
life jacket. The first dip and I felt as if my body was sucked down into the currents.
I panicked regardless of the fact that I could swim. I wore the mask and looked
down to see curious coloured fishes swimming around my feet. The sea bed was
far far away and I didn't want to let go of the ladder. My mother wanted to
capture my snorkelling experience in water but I just didn't want to let go of
my hands.
I climbed back adjusting my gigantic
life jackets to realise I had lost my breathing pipe of the equipment to the
mermaid under the ocean.
3) Tuk island we had lunch. In a box of rice was
served chicken and boiled veggies. We can on tree roots on the surface of sand
as we gobbled up our lunch. I enjoyed my swim in cold water on warm sands. My
nail polish scrapped on the corals and this was the best possible way of losing
it.
4)
Poda island was the fourth where we swam again changed into dry clothes
and slept on the sands under shade. I had fresh watermelon to hydrate myself
from all the salt around.
As we came back to Aonang, I was 5
shades darker and my heart was 10 times pleased.
Choosing a good massage parlour and a
restaurant will be the most difficult decisions of your lives for the options
you are spoilt for choices. The funny part is that we can bargain even for
food. 10 to 20 percent discount can be easily got for dining in at the
shacks.
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| Tom Yum soup with Shrimps |
It is a must to try the spicy Tom yum
soup and their fried fish with a gravy of your choice ranging from lemon grass,
chilli, paprika and coriander.
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| Steamed fish with chilli and coriander |
Wine is sold by the glass at 90 baht and
a variety of local beer like Singha and Chang can be bought. Fried rice served
in pineapple is another common dish here.
By the evening the beach withdraws to
low tide and you can see a variety of sea animals on the shore like crabs,
jelly fish etc .
We got a whole body aromatic massage at
new life spa for two hours and absolute bliss and a body as light as feather
free from muscle knots and spasm.
Most clichéd as it may sound, Krabi
deserves a second visit maybe some time when I find love.
How
to reach there – We took a domestic flight from
Bangkok by Thai airlines. Bangkok airline and Air Asia also connect BKK to KBR.
There are direct flight from India to Krabi if relaxation is the only motto of
your trip.
Things
to do – Island hopping to see various
landscapes, massages, rock climbing, Phi Phi Islands, snorkelling, kayaking
What
to eat – Eat local food notably their
steamed fish with a flavour of your choice – chilli, lemon, lemon grass,
coriander
Sightseeing –
Four island tour, Koh phi phi, Hot spings, emerald pool
What
to pack -
Diving equipments
Sun screen
Swim wear and change of clothes as you
may have to stay wet all day
An ocean pack (water proof backpack)
Water proof casing for your phone/camera
as well
Things to Note -
·
Drink lots of
water as the sea can be very dehydrating
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Soak yourself in
sunscreen
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Take good care of
your belongings
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Bargain a lot
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Check safety
measures of all adventure sports before signing up for it
Anchenjo, short form for “Anchuthengu” which means 5 coconut trees, is an abandoned fort which strongly reflects the Dutch/Portuguese and British influence in Kerala back in the 1700’s.
The Rani of Attingal gave permission to the British to build the fort near Varkala and she was well pleased by expensive and exclusive gifts offered to her. But the chief men and the feudal lords demanded that anything given to the queen may be passed on only through them, which the British did not agree to and there was a rebellion against the East India company by the locals.
The lighthouse opens only between 3pm tp 5 pm but if you have already been to the one at Trivandrum then this is no big wonder.
