Krabi festivals: Thailand resorts, Phi Phi hotels

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Phi Phi Lanta Island Krabi Town

Amphoe Muang (Krabi Town)

Khao Khanap Nam
These two hills, roughly 100 meters high, flank the Krabi River running between them to form a distinctive vista and the town's most prominent landmark. To visit them, take a long-tail boat from Chao Fa Pier; travel time is just 15 minutes. From there take stairs leading up to caves with stalactites and stalagmites. A large number of human skeletons have been found here. It is theorized that they and the remains of people who came and established a home at Kanab Nam, but were cut off by an inundation and quickly perished.

Tham Sua Kao Kaeo Ao Luk Tanu Monastery
lies in Ban Tam Sua of Tambon Krabi Noy, 9 kilometers from Krabi Town. Tam Sua means Tiger Cave, and the reason for this name is that an especially large tiger once live there. It roamed the foothills of the Ao Luk Tanu Mountains, also called Kao Kaeo. Inside the cave are natural rock impressions of tiger paws. Outside, the forest has great trees hundreds of years old growing in a fold of Kao Kiriwohng Mountains that surround the monastery. Among the best known are Ko Tan (Heavenly Musicians), Lod (Passing Through), Chang Kaeo (Crystal Elephant), Luk Tanu (Arrow), and Pra (Monk's). Aside from the monastery itself, this area has another aspect of interest, especially to archaeologists : Many stone tools, pottery shards, and unfired clay holy images have been found, dating from prehistoric into historic times.

Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park
This lies in Tambon Nong Talay, Tambon Sai Thai, Tambon Ao Nang, ang Tambon Pak Nam, with many interesting places to see. Among which are

Nopparat Thara Beach

In times past villagers in teh area called this three kilometer long beach Hat Klong Haeng, meaning Dry Stream Beach, because when the tide ebbs the stream flowing from the northern mountains almost disappears, so that the beach has no shore and stretches all the way to Koh Kao Pak Klong Island. In the vicinity of the beach are many places to stay serving tourists. Details and further information may be obtained by writing to Nopparat Thara Beach National Park.
Reservation should be made in advance at the Forestry Department in Bangkok, Tel. (02) 5790529 or at the Hat Noppharat Thara National Park, P.O.Box 23, Amphoe Muang, Krabi 81000, Tel. (075) 6347436.

Tham Sadet
This cave, situated 7 kilometers from Krabi Town in Tambon Sai Thai, has lovely stalactites and stalagmites. The cave was visited in 1909 by King Rama VI before succeeding to the throne, and has been called by local people Tam Sadet a Thai word meaning royal journey ever since.

Susan Hoi (Fossil Shell Beach)
The shell graveyard at Ban Laem Pho was once a large freshwater swamp, home to a kind of snail. Over eons dating from the Tertiary Age, about 40 million years ago, these snails lived and died by the million, to the extent that the dead snails formed a layer upon which existed the living. Eventually, weather changes precipitated the swamp's disappearance, but by then the layer of fossilized snail shells was forty centimeters thick, resting on ten centimeters of lignite below which is the subsoil. Because of geographic upheaval, this Shelly limestone is now distributed in great broken sheets of impressive magnitude on the seashore at Laem Pho.

Sa Kaeo
8 natural springs large and small, the crystal clarity of which gives this place its name, Crystal Springs. They are in Tambon Kao Tong on the Krabi-Nai Sa road, and each has a name : Nam Lod (Water Passing Through), Cherng Kao (Vallery), Jorakeh Kao (White Crocodile), Nam Tip (Heavenly Waters), Nam Krahm (Indigo Water), Morakot (Emerald), Hun Kaeo (Barking Deer) and Noy (Small).

Ao Nang

This bay is beautiful and at the same time very strange to the eye because of its limestone mountains. Its famous beaches include Rai Ley, Tam Pra Nang (where the tam or cave, is sacred to local villagers) and Nam Mao; none of these can e reached by road. However, boats leave regularly from the accessible part of Ao Nang to take visitors to them. There are also other islands to visit as well : Kai Island. Tap Island, Mor Island, and Padah Island, where there are clean sandy beaches, clear water and schools of colorful fishes in abundance perfect for diving, snorkeling, or swimming. Boats to the islands are boarded at Ao Nang

Huay To Waterfall
This waterfall has eleven levels and springs from the Kao Panom Mountains in Tambon Tap Prik, Kao Panom Mountains in Tambon Tap Prik, on the Sri Trang - Pracha - utit road. Each level contains behind its falls a pool of naturally

Moo Koh Phi Phi

The name is derived from Malay and the original was Pulao Pi ah Pi, where in pulao is the Malay word for island, and pi, pronounced with only a half p sound, was very close in pronunciation to the English word be; the ah was eventually dropped, so the name was said something like Bi Bi. Later the P was pronounced with a stronger aspiration and the name became the Pi Pi we know today (the h with which it is usually spelled is confusing and superfluous). The name refers to the mangrove wood found there. Six islands are in the group; Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley, Biddah Nok, Biddah Nai, Yung, and Pai; total area is about 35 square kilometers. They were incorporated into the national park in 1983. Some of the interesting places to visit include

Travel to the Phi Phi Islands

Ko Phi Phi can be reached by boat either from Krabi or Phuket. In downtown Krabi tourists can take a boat at Chaofa pier. The boat leaves for Ko Phi Phi daily. Boat tickets are available at the pier or from travel agents in the town. It takes about 2 hours and a half for the journey. Regular boats from Ao Nang to Ko Phi Phi are also available during high season.

Mu Ko Phi Phi
An archipelago of six islands consists of Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Le as the major islands. The superb scenery of the islands includes high hills with jutting cliffs surrounded by marvelous beaches and emerald sea, hiding underneath a bank of coral reefs and colorful marine life. Places to visit of Mu Ko Phi Phi include

Ko Phi Phi Don

covers a total area of 28 square kilometers : 8 kilometers in length and 3.5 at its broadest point. At the north end is Cape Laem Tohng, where there is a Chao Ley, or sea gipsy village. These sea gypsies emigrated from Koh Lipeh in Tarutao National Park, near the border with Malaysia. Diving at Laem Tohng is excellent, as it is also at Hua Rah Ket to the extreme south. There are long beaches with rocks scattered about. Two curving bays are especially beautiful : Ton Sai and Loh Dalam. This is also where accommodations and tourist services are found.

Ko Phi Phi Le
is 6.6 square kilometers in total area : 3 kilometers in length and 1 at its broadest point. The island is entirely limestone and steep cliffs rising from the sea very nearly ring it. Surrounding waters average about 20 meters in depth, reaching 34 meters at the deepest point off the island's southern tip. Phi Phi Ley has several beautiful bays : Pileh, Maya and Loh Samah ; Ao Pileh is very nearly enclosed by the limestone walls of the island's cliffs, so that the water appears almost to be an island sea. On Phi Phi Ley's northeast is the famous Viking Cave; this was renamed by H.M.Rama IX when he visited it in 1972, Tam Pya Nak, from the shape of a particular boulder, which resembles in shape the head of the great serpent of Buddhist legend, the Naga. It is a place much revered by the local people who come there to collect the swift's nests used to make Bird's Nest Soup, a Chinese delicacy. On the eastern and southern walls of the cave are colored drawings dating from historic times. There are pictures of elephants and also of various boats : European, Arab and Chinese sailing ships ; baroques, motorboats, and steamships. It is theorized that these pirates who paused in their travels from west to east, sheltering in the cave to escape the monsoon winds, transfer cargo, or make repairs. Travel to the Phi Phi Islands Tour operators in both Phuket and Krabi provide transport and tour packages to this popular destination. Regular boat service is available form Jao Fah pier in Krabi.

Ko Phai
lies also to the north of Phi Phi Don, not far from Koh Yung. Sandy beaches are on the north and east sides of the island. Broad coral reefs stretch away into the south.

Ko Yung
lies to the north of Phi Phi Don. There is a rocky beach on the east side, and a smaller strand of sand in a fold of the hill. Many beautiful and various corals are found there.

Lanta Island

Area: 152 sqkm
Koh Lanta, Thailand This island forms the most southern district of Krabi province. It was known long ago by its name in the Malay language, Pulao Satak, which means Long Beach Island. Later, so many Thais, both Buddhist and Muslim, came to live on the island that there seemed to be a million eyes, which is what some people think Lanta means in Thai. Others hold that the name is corrupted from Javanese "lan-tas", and means a fish grill (which is built of wood with a square grill on top where the fish are set in a circle). Several islands are in the National Park:

Lanta Yai Island
is where the District & National Park offices are located. The island geography is mountainous and rugged, especially near the southern tip; some beaches are gravelly, others have fine white sands. A clan of Chao Ley, or "Sea Gypsies" are resident on Koh Yao Yai and they preserve many of their ancient customs and ceremonies; e.g. the setting of ceremonial boats adrift to bring good luck and prosperity on the full moon nights of the sixth and eleventh month. This and other features of their lives are open to view. To visit the island take a regularly scheduled ferry from Ban Hua Hin Pier in Tambon Koh Klahng, Bor Muang Pier in Tambon Sai Kao or Jao Fah Pier in Krabi Town.

Taleng Beng Island
This island is in some ways a smaller version of Phi Phi Ley; made of Limestone, honeycombed with caves, inhabited by the same swifts whose nests are made into soup. Small beaches and caves appear where the tide ebbs.

Hah island
A group of five islands. Hai Yai island has a field of grass on its ridgeline. Another island resembles in shape a sailboat; one has water that passes from one side to another beneath it. There are some corals in shallow waters.

Ngai island
A fine sandy beach and coral reef run down the east side of this island. It is perfect for diving. Regular ferries and charter craft are available from Pak Meng Beach in Trang Province.

Rok Nai Island
is composed largely of formidable cliffs. On the east side are a fine sandy beach and coral gardens growing around sea rocks. On the northern side are San Jao Bay and Tohng Bay.

Rok Nok Island
The southeast and southern ends of this island have fine sand beaches and shallow water corals. Also not to be missed are Man Sai Bay and Talu beach. Transport to the island is via charter from either Pak Meng Beach in Trang Province or from Lanta Yai Island. There are tents for rent, contact Lanta National Park Tel.: +66 (075) 629018-9.

Hin Dang
This submerged open water reef in the Andaman features a multiplicity of colorful corals to attract serious scuba divers.
Local festivals and Religious Rites

The Setting Adrift of the Chao Ley Boats
takes place on Lanta Island during full moon of the sixth and eleventh month in the lunar calendar. This is a religious rite performed by Sea Gypsies who gather on the beach near Ban Saladan Village.
They dance their famous "rong ngeng" round the boats to be set adrift. Ceremonies feature singing and dancing; the reason for the festival is to bring prosperity and happiness to the participants, it is something hard to find elsewhere.

Krabi Berk Fah Andaman
This festival takes place in November and celebrates the opening of the tourist season in Krabi. Watersport competitions, cultural shows and good-natured fun are the schedule

Getting to Koh Lanta

By car:
From Bangkok take Route 4 passing Petchburi, Prajuab-Kirikan, Chumporn, Ranong, and Phang-nga Provinces before reaching Krabi; a total distance of 946 kilometers. An alternate route is to take Route 4 to Chumpom and then tum onto Route 4L. This leads through Lang Suan District of Chumpom to Chaiya and Wieng San Districts of Surat Thani; from there follow Route 4035 passing Ao Lur District of Krabi, back onto Route 4, and down to Krabi Town. This shortcut is just 814 kilometers, and is followed by the bus services from Bangkok. For information regarding bus transport, contact tel. (02)435 1195-6 (non-air conditioned buses);or tel. (02)435 1200(air conditioned buses).
From Phuket Take Route 402 to Route 4 and pass Tambon Koto Kloy of Takua Tung District in Phang-nga; Tap Puhd District, Phang-nga; and enter Ao Lur District of Krabi; the total distance is 185 kilometers. Regarding bus transport, tel.(076) 211 480.

By train:
From Bangkok Station take the train to one of the following stations: Trang, Putt Pin in Surathani Province, or Tung Song in Nakorn Sri Thammarat Province; from any of these places a bus may be taken onward to Krabi. Regarding train schedules and costs, contact the travel office of State Railway of Thailand, tel.(02)223 7010

Remark:Until recently limited access has been the major restraining factor in the growth of Krabi's tourism industry. The nearest airport was 155km to the east in Phuket and the drive on what is a rather basic road took a good two hours. But all of that has changed with the opening of Krabi Airport (see issue7). Now the problem is no longer access rather accommodation. Currently Karbi has a total of 5,000 hotel bedrooms of which 3,000 are in the three to five star category. Several resorts are working flat out to be complete and open for the start of the high season in November as 1,000 bedrooms extra bedrooms are already fully booked and paid for by major Travel Agents allocation.