Day 6, Wednesday 12 October
Premature Exit.......As I wake this morning, I'm hoping for the best but fearing the worst as just when I've found somewhere that could put me in a holiday mood and just allow me to catch up with things, there is a problem that can't be laboured here. All I can tell you is that we are leaving unnecessarily. As we go down to breakfast I gaze out across the ocean with some sadness. A full American breakfast arrives with all the trimmings including cereal and fruit. It's enough to last me till well after lunch. As I reflect on what a lost opportunity this is for me, Katoon is packed and ready, focused only on leaving as soon as possible. For the time being I feel I've lost control of the tour but in the wider context does it really matter? Probably not!
No Entry.......From the northern part of Koh Lanta Yai she heads down to the tip of the island towards the national park. None of this is new to me as it was covered on my 2014 visit. At the entrance to the park, she wants to enter but I'm happy to wait for her to avoid paying the inflated entry fee for me of 200 baht. All there is here I understand is a viewpoint as glorious as that might be. We head back up the coast again where on the western shores there are the best beaches.
Transition.......Transitioning across the island we stop at the viewpoint restaurant to admire the view, this time looking east towards Trang. Connecting with the road running along the eastern coast we pass more familiar attractions before turning off to the right towards another. It was here on my previous tour that I paid a deposit for a boat tour of the mangrove only to become ill preventing me from travelling the following day.
Mangrove.......Thung Yee Peng Community, one of the ethnic groups on Koh Lanta Yai is a Muslim community created from those who settled on Koh Lanta more than 100 years ago. It is a coastal community centered around the mangrove forest of the islands eastern shore. Much of the livelihood of this community lies in offering boat trips through the mangrove swampland and beyond. Entry to the village is 40 baht but includes access to the nature trail constructed here. For the standard boat trip, it's 1,000 baht which is a bit to far north of my budget right now.
Solitude.......For the first-time visitor travelling to Koh Lanta Yai the first thing that's apparent is the number of khlongs (canals) through the mangrove that have to be negotiated. There are so many that it's hard to know where the mainland ends and the islands start. However, geographically Koh Klang is the first island connected by a bridge. Then it's by ferry to Koh Lanta Noi. Koh Lanta Yai is the last in the chain connected by a bridge. This is where the beaches and resorts are. As we arrive back on Koh Lanta Noi I wonder if there's anywhere worth visiting since there is so little infrastructure for tourists. Eagar to find out we take an excursion around the coastline travelling clockwise from the Siri Lanta Bridge. Along the western coast there is little to see except looking back across the bridge to Ban Saladan. Reaching the ferry port on the north of Lanta Noi we continue clockwise reaching first Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint and then Laem Ngu Viewpoint on the east coast. Both offer gorgeous photo opportunities looking out across to the islands and the coastline of Trang but as expected there is just solitude which for many is not the popular choice.
Back on Track.......So, as we head out of Koh Lanta Noi it's hard to believe much has been achieved leaving me to question what did I decide to come here for. Well, I'd hoped to get a rest day after such recent intense activity but we're well on the move again and I must wipe a tear from my eye that we had to leave.
However, despite misgivings I am actually back in track as this was in my plan as a transition day to the next province but before we leave there is an important attraction that is hard to leave off any visit to Krabi province. To reach it we need to connect back with highway 4 and then back track to Khlong Thom before heading into the mountains to the north.
Emerald Pool, Thung Teao Forest National Park.......Located within the Thung Teao Forest National Park, the Emerald Pool is one of the most popular natural attractions near Krabi. The pool, as the name suggests, is filled with beautiful emerald waters that are perfectly temperate for a relaxing dip. The stunning eco-tourist spot is also home to a breathtakingly beautiful jungle trail that is about 3 kilometers in length. On this trail, visitors can spot a plethora of rare birds, animals, and plants. Whether you're looking for a relaxing dip in warm water, or simply a day amidst the beauty of nature, the Emerald Pool in Krabi is the place to be.
Flipping the coin, arriving at the car park you and asked to pay 40 baht for parking and 5 baht to use the toilet then there is the dreaded 200 baht entrance fee, five times more than the locals pay. You are then are faced with a 1 kilometre walk to reach the pool. By the time we reach it it's 3.30pm and the Blue Pool, 600 metres further on, has closed. The Emerald Pool though is occupied by adults and children alike clearly enjoying themselves but for me there is a limited amount of time I can spend here and end up just taking photos, quite expensive photos I might add.
No Thanks.......We hit the road again and soon there is a turning to the Roi Chan Phan Waterfall actually in Trang province attracting another 200 baht entrance fee for what God created. No thanks! Another day perhaps.
Returning to highway 4 we must press on east crossing the provincial border into Trang.
Enter Trang.......Soon a decision has to be made as to whether to head into Trang City, the safer option or head back to the coast. On reaching a signboard we choose the latter and soon find ourselves in Pak Meng, a seaside village but a poor relation compared with Koh Lanta. At 5.30pm we chase our tails looking for suitable accommodation in a pantomime that has been repeated many times in the past before selecting accommodation within walking distance of the beach.
Saithong Resort.......At Saithong Resort there are bungalows which are functional but with the views of the setting sun over the Andaman last night still in my head, I'm obviously a bit deflated. Well, we still haven't had a main meal since breakfast so it's off to the beach area where we end up on a beach table so it's not so bad. Returning to the resort we have to organize breakfast for tomorrow then there is additional news that there is no available rooms tomorrow night except at the higher price range. I'm not too disappointed with that, at least we're in an area where I intend to spend 3 days. This gives us time to improve on what we have here in Pak Meng.
Well, after 6 days, it's been a roller coaster ride. The important thing now is to concentrate my effort on Trang province and hopefully the next province of Satun as well, neither receiving a great deal of attention during past travels but at least as far as Krabi is concerned, I've well and truly wrung its neck.
Next Page.
Premature Exit.......As I wake this morning, I'm hoping for the best but fearing the worst as just when I've found somewhere that could put me in a holiday mood and just allow me to catch up with things, there is a problem that can't be laboured here. All I can tell you is that we are leaving unnecessarily. As we go down to breakfast I gaze out across the ocean with some sadness. A full American breakfast arrives with all the trimmings including cereal and fruit. It's enough to last me till well after lunch. As I reflect on what a lost opportunity this is for me, Katoon is packed and ready, focused only on leaving as soon as possible. For the time being I feel I've lost control of the tour but in the wider context does it really matter? Probably not!
No Entry.......From the northern part of Koh Lanta Yai she heads down to the tip of the island towards the national park. None of this is new to me as it was covered on my 2014 visit. At the entrance to the park, she wants to enter but I'm happy to wait for her to avoid paying the inflated entry fee for me of 200 baht. All there is here I understand is a viewpoint as glorious as that might be. We head back up the coast again where on the western shores there are the best beaches.
Transition.......Transitioning across the island we stop at the viewpoint restaurant to admire the view, this time looking east towards Trang. Connecting with the road running along the eastern coast we pass more familiar attractions before turning off to the right towards another. It was here on my previous tour that I paid a deposit for a boat tour of the mangrove only to become ill preventing me from travelling the following day.
Mangrove.......Thung Yee Peng Community, one of the ethnic groups on Koh Lanta Yai is a Muslim community created from those who settled on Koh Lanta more than 100 years ago. It is a coastal community centered around the mangrove forest of the islands eastern shore. Much of the livelihood of this community lies in offering boat trips through the mangrove swampland and beyond. Entry to the village is 40 baht but includes access to the nature trail constructed here. For the standard boat trip, it's 1,000 baht which is a bit to far north of my budget right now.
Solitude.......For the first-time visitor travelling to Koh Lanta Yai the first thing that's apparent is the number of khlongs (canals) through the mangrove that have to be negotiated. There are so many that it's hard to know where the mainland ends and the islands start. However, geographically Koh Klang is the first island connected by a bridge. Then it's by ferry to Koh Lanta Noi. Koh Lanta Yai is the last in the chain connected by a bridge. This is where the beaches and resorts are. As we arrive back on Koh Lanta Noi I wonder if there's anywhere worth visiting since there is so little infrastructure for tourists. Eagar to find out we take an excursion around the coastline travelling clockwise from the Siri Lanta Bridge. Along the western coast there is little to see except looking back across the bridge to Ban Saladan. Reaching the ferry port on the north of Lanta Noi we continue clockwise reaching first Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint and then Laem Ngu Viewpoint on the east coast. Both offer gorgeous photo opportunities looking out across to the islands and the coastline of Trang but as expected there is just solitude which for many is not the popular choice.
Back on Track.......So, as we head out of Koh Lanta Noi it's hard to believe much has been achieved leaving me to question what did I decide to come here for. Well, I'd hoped to get a rest day after such recent intense activity but we're well on the move again and I must wipe a tear from my eye that we had to leave.
However, despite misgivings I am actually back in track as this was in my plan as a transition day to the next province but before we leave there is an important attraction that is hard to leave off any visit to Krabi province. To reach it we need to connect back with highway 4 and then back track to Khlong Thom before heading into the mountains to the north.
Emerald Pool, Thung Teao Forest National Park.......Located within the Thung Teao Forest National Park, the Emerald Pool is one of the most popular natural attractions near Krabi. The pool, as the name suggests, is filled with beautiful emerald waters that are perfectly temperate for a relaxing dip. The stunning eco-tourist spot is also home to a breathtakingly beautiful jungle trail that is about 3 kilometers in length. On this trail, visitors can spot a plethora of rare birds, animals, and plants. Whether you're looking for a relaxing dip in warm water, or simply a day amidst the beauty of nature, the Emerald Pool in Krabi is the place to be.
Flipping the coin, arriving at the car park you and asked to pay 40 baht for parking and 5 baht to use the toilet then there is the dreaded 200 baht entrance fee, five times more than the locals pay. You are then are faced with a 1 kilometre walk to reach the pool. By the time we reach it it's 3.30pm and the Blue Pool, 600 metres further on, has closed. The Emerald Pool though is occupied by adults and children alike clearly enjoying themselves but for me there is a limited amount of time I can spend here and end up just taking photos, quite expensive photos I might add.
No Thanks.......We hit the road again and soon there is a turning to the Roi Chan Phan Waterfall actually in Trang province attracting another 200 baht entrance fee for what God created. No thanks! Another day perhaps.
Returning to highway 4 we must press on east crossing the provincial border into Trang.
Enter Trang.......Soon a decision has to be made as to whether to head into Trang City, the safer option or head back to the coast. On reaching a signboard we choose the latter and soon find ourselves in Pak Meng, a seaside village but a poor relation compared with Koh Lanta. At 5.30pm we chase our tails looking for suitable accommodation in a pantomime that has been repeated many times in the past before selecting accommodation within walking distance of the beach.
Saithong Resort.......At Saithong Resort there are bungalows which are functional but with the views of the setting sun over the Andaman last night still in my head, I'm obviously a bit deflated. Well, we still haven't had a main meal since breakfast so it's off to the beach area where we end up on a beach table so it's not so bad. Returning to the resort we have to organize breakfast for tomorrow then there is additional news that there is no available rooms tomorrow night except at the higher price range. I'm not too disappointed with that, at least we're in an area where I intend to spend 3 days. This gives us time to improve on what we have here in Pak Meng.
Well, after 6 days, it's been a roller coaster ride. The important thing now is to concentrate my effort on Trang province and hopefully the next province of Satun as well, neither receiving a great deal of attention during past travels but at least as far as Krabi is concerned, I've well and truly wrung its neck.
Next Page.
Khao Yai Viewpoint, Koh Lanta Yai,
Koh Lanta District
Thung Yee Peng Community, Koh Lanta Yai,
Koh Lanta District
Koh Lanta Noi (viewed from Koh Klang),
Koh Lanta District
Ban Klong Mak Viewpoint, Koh Lanta Noi,
Koh Lanta District
Laem Ngu Viewpoint, Koh Lanta Noi,
Koh Lanta District
Emerald Pool, Khlong Thom Nuea,
Khlong Thom District
Siri Lanta Bridge, Koh Klang/Koh Lanta,
Koh Lanta District
Andaman Lanta Resort, Koh Lanta Yai,
Koh Lanta District