Ton Company Ltd. (since 2000)
318 Moo.2, Ao Nang, Krabi 81000 Thailand Tel. 075 695 633, Email: info@TonCompany.com Website: www.TonCompany.com
Ton Company Ltd. Architecture, Construction and Engineering Project Management 11 years of experience in Krabi 60 completed projects in Krabi, Trang & Lanta Full time licensed architects & engineers Offices in Ao Nang Website: www.TonCompany.com Email: info@TonCompany.com
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Call us 075 695 633 Krabi most experienced villa manager 10 holiday pool villas for rent in Ao Nang Top ranking websites available in many languages Secure payment online (Visa / MC / PayPal) 12 years of experience in Krabi 25 years of experience in hospitality industry Top ranking manager on TripAdvisor.com We speak French, English, German and Thai
KRABI VILLA
www.KrabiVilla.com Krabi Villas by Ton Company Ltd.
Ao Nang beach, Krabi, Thailand Tel: 075 695633 Mobile: 084 1540808 Email: info@KrabiVilla.com Website: www.KrabiVilla.com
WINNER 2009-2011
A WINDOW ON KRABI
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Highlights of this amazing province: town to temples, beaches to Islands, natural hotspots to cultural places.
contents July 2012, issue 77
TOP 10 ACTIVITIES
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Krabi Province is a haven for sun worshippers and pleasure seekers and is also one of the world’s best destinations for activities such as rock-climbing, scuba diving and kayaking.
HOTEL PR NEWS
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Brand, products and services from our sponsoring hotels.
NATURE TRAILS
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If you feel like something a little different from the beaches and islands - put on your Indiana Jones hat, grab your swimming costume and some sensible shoes. Sound’s interesting? We’re off to the Huay To Waterfall.
GEOGRAPHICA 18
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We keep with the jungle theme this month as we explore what lies in the Phanom Bencha national park.
FLORA OF KRABI
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Taking a closer look at the beautiful Thai Orchids this month
SPORT 20 Muay Thai master, Kru “Doc” tells us an inspirational, true story of a man with a dream, a family and a will to change his life.
LOCAL FOOD
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Our new section on the best of what this country has to offer usually out of the back of a tuk-tuk. We love the “authentic” Thai food here in Krabi and want to give you a few pointers on what it is, where to get it and even how to order it in Thai. This month “Som Tam”.
FRUITS OF THAILAND
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The papaya is one of those fruits that’s expensive, hard and pretty tasteless in western countries. Here, it’s cheap, tender and bursting with flavour - add it to your “must try” list.
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ENVIRONMENT 24 The Marine Conservation volunteers with Projects Abroad here take to the sea to see what they can see. Unfortunately, it’s rubbish. Lots of it. There is more than meets the eye under the surface...
HEALTH & LIVING
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We sometimes reach our Singha and Spring roll limits, which is when we dust off the old running shoes, take a deep breath and see what lies around that corner up ahead.
KOH LANTA
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Get the most out of Koh Lanta. Highlights, maps, reviews and articles: Koh Lanta Highlights: Lanta Features Day Tripper: We head out of our bungalow to explore the backwaters of Lanta - and are surprised at what we find there.
REAL ESTATE
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Purchasing and real estate investments made simple with Krabi Magazine. Architect Tips: Established outfit Ton Co. gives real-world advice on how to deal with architects Accounting Matters: This can be a minefield in Thailand, but thankfully we have an expert on hand to explain all about Withholding Tax. Property Guru: Our resident man in the know gives us wellheeled advice on how to go about building your dream home here in Thailand. Home Decor: Make your house look great inside by taking onboard a few simple tips on how to decorate and accessorise for maximum effect Property News: Thailand is fast becoming more and more popular with tourists and travellers alike - it’s official!
KRABI MAGAZINE ABROAD
Specs, dates and advertising rates
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A new section where we ask you, our readers, to send in photos of yourself with a copy of Krabi Magazine from far-flung parts of the globe!
Media Kit
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Window on krabi the beaches
Ao Nang, at 20km from Krabi Town, is the most developed of Krabi’s beaches, a long stretch of white sandy beach with limestone mountains as a backdrop. It has a wide range of accommodation and services and the main shopping street features restaurants, bars, pubs, souvenir shops, dive centers and tour agencies, massage centers and spas. This is the hub from which to plan your trip at sea and to the nearby islands on a typical longtail boat. Noppharat Thara beach, just around the corner from Ao Nang, is 3km long yet still undeveloped, with only a few resorts and bars. Attractive because of its natural setting, this is where local youngsters and families gather at sunset and at weekends. Savour some local Muslim snacks at the beach stalls, or fill yourself with seafood in the local restaurants at the very end of the beach, near the Noppharat Thara National Park headquarters. At low tide, walk out together with millions of small crabs on the sandy pathways to the small islands near the beach. Railay beaches are split and separated from Krabi and Ao Nang by monumental
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limestone mountains. Railay has two sides, east and west, and its settings are simply marvelous: crystal clear waters, pure sandy beaches, lush mountains, rocky islands emerging from the sea. Railay can only be reached by boat, a 15 minutes ride from Ao Nang or 30 minutes from Krabi Town. Enjoy a cocktail in one of the beach bars, visit the Phranang Cave, challenge yourself on a rock climbing course, hike the limestone massif to a lagoon and a viewpoint, or simply chill out. Neighbouring Tonsai lies at the base of a cliff that divides it form Railay West. Tonsai has a shallow beach with slow gradients out to sea which is profoundly affected by the tide. Klong Muang beach is a further 20km away from Ao Nang; it is the up-market side of Krabi, the place to be if you are after a peaceful holiday. Catering to families and couples, it is here that you really get the so deserved repose, surrounded by pristine nature. Tubkaek beach is another real place to hide away; long, clean and peaceful, the area has breathtaking views over Koh Hong islands archipelago, and charming sunsets. From there you can venture inside the National Park and try a walking trail to a viewpoint and a waterfall.
Koh Lanta beaches have a wide selection of resorts for all tastes and pockets. Lanta Yai island has long stretches of gleaming white sandy beaches and shallow emerald waters. Lined with tropical vegetation, a private spot is never more than a short walk away on a southern beach at Lanta Yai.
NATURAL HOTSPOTS Limestone mountains or karsts characterize most of the inland Krabi area, the most spectacular being the massifs of Sai Tai. Susaan Hoi is a 40 million year-old seashell cemetery; once a large swamp where freshwater crustaceans proliferated, today home to 40 centimeter thick, shell encrusted limestone slabs, a geological uniqueness not far from Ao Nang. One must find a broken edge to see the shells clearly, since all of those on the upper surface have been walked on and worn down by the elements and are hard to identify. Khao Phanom Bencha National Park, at 20km from Krabi Town, comprises waterfalls, streams, lush forests and caves. It is home to all kind of flora and wildlife and to the highest mountain in the region from which it takes the name. One of the
features of the park is Huay Toh Waterfall where water runs down onto several huge pools. Tarnbok Khoranee National Park, in the north of the region, consists of limestone mountains, verdant tropical forest, caves and beautiful islands. It is well known for its different species of trees growing around a large natural crystal clear pool, and for the hundreds of birds’ species. Phi Hua Toh Cave, in the nearby Bor Thor area, surrounded by mangrove swamps and reachable by boat or kayak, is where to see pre-historic rock paintings depicting animals and humans. Sa Morakot, the Emerald Pool, is a natural wonder: a pond of turquoise water with an average temperature of 30-40C, fed by a hot spring in the middle of the jungle. Hot Springs of Klong Thom, natural Jacuzzis in which to lift away tensions and relieve body and mind with the mineral enriched waters falling into rocky ponds.
THE ISLANDS Hop on or hire a longtail, the local wooden boats with their picturesque prows. Sail away to Koh Poda, surrounded by turquoise waters, or to Koh Kai, shaped as a chicken and therefore called the Chicken Island, from where a walk on a sandy pathway connects it to Koh Tub. Make a longtail boat or speedboat trip to the Koh Hong archipelago, a group of
limestone islands with hidden caves and lagoons perfect for kayaking or snorkeling. Join an organized tour to amazing Koh Phi Phi islands, full of marvelous bays, limestone cliffs, waters rich in marine life, caves where swallow nests are harvested, and much more. Visit Koh Jum and Koh Siboya, small, unspoiled tropical hide-away that have a unique atmosphere. These islands give visitors the time to relax and recharge their batteries. Or venture out on Koh Lanta, the developing island at the southern end of the province home to sea gypsies communities, where you will meet nature and tradition. A National Park area that comprises many different islands surrounded by coral reefs, such as Koh Ngai and remote Koh Rok.
THE CULTURE Ban Natin, on the way from Ao Nang to Klong Muang, is the place to experience the peaceful lifestyle of the local Muslim community. Home accommodation is available, or you can simply make a stopover and see the production of handmade products such as batik paintings, pineapple-fiber paper and coconut shell carving. Wat Klong Thom Museum features various kinds of beads, stone tools, and stone and earthen ornaments in animal shapes of approximately 5,000 years old, uncovered during archeological
excavations. Fire dancing, part of the beach culture, is a popular evening activity on the beaches of Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi, performed by acrobatic boys who swing burning torches around their bodies, creating sparkling artistic pictures. Ban Sang-Ka-U is a sea gypsy’s settlement in south-east Lanta Yai. It is there that an old clan of traditional v Ley try to preserve a disappearing way of life in this fast-developing island.
THE TOWN Small, charming, silent at times, nice for a day’s walking tour. Krabi Town is full of old buildings, bars and restaurants, local exotic marketplaces and food stalls at the old Chao Fa pier where to sample the local food. The Krabi motto is: “lively town, lovely people”; Krabi’s simple people are definitely proud of their town and of their warm and generous character. Hop on a longtail boat at Chao Fa pier and visit Khao Kanab Nam, the unique pair of hills facing each other on the opposite banks of the Krabi River, symbols of the town; or embark on a journey to Koh Klang, an island next to town on the mouth of the river, where you will experience lives lived by the local fishing communities; or charter a boatman for a visit to the mangrove backwaters.
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top 10 Krabi Activities Krabi Province is a haven for sun worshippers and pleasure seekers and is also one of the world’s best destinations for activities such as rock-climbing, scuba diving and kayaking. Krabi Magazine gives you our top 10 list of activities to try here in Krabi:
Markets Experiencing the hustle and bustle of a local market is great fun. Krabi and Ao Nang are blessed with some great markets, with Krabi town boasting the largest covered market in southern Thailand. There’s a market operating on any given day of the week selling everything from fruit and vegetables, household items, clothes and shoes, snacks, BBQ meat, Muslim curries and more. Try the Thursday market or Saturday markets in Klong Haeng.
Kayaking This is a hugely popular activity in Krabi. The mangroves, caves and of course the beaches, provide plenty of great opportunities for kayaking. The Ao Nang/Railay area is popular as it’s close and convenient but if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, book yourself on a tour to Ao Thalane or Bor Thor in Tarn Boke Koranee National Park. The caves, grottoes and lagoons make for a great day of fun and adventure.
Sa Morakot A trip to Sa Morakot or the ‘Crystal Pool’ can be combined with trips to other beauty spots such as the hot springs. The so called ‘Emerald Pool’ is fed by a natural spring and gets its name from the glorious colour of its water. Perfect for swimming, it makes a great day out and a nice break from the beach. The rainy season is a great time to go as there is more water and less people. The best way to visit is on a tour, making it easy to combine it with a trip to nature’s own hot tub – the namtok ron (hot springs) a series of splash pools fed by a natural thermal spring.
Wat Tham Suea A hike to Wat Tham Seua, otherwise known as Tiger Cave Temple is exhausting, exhilarating and ultimately hugely rewarding. Once you’ve climbed the 1,257 steps that lead to the hilltop temple, you’ll be met by stunning views over the surrounding Thai countryside having been transformed into swathes of lush greenery by the monsoon rain. Combine the temple with trips to other destinations like Sa Morakot or visit as a separate Krabi Town day trip and combine with trips to the market.
Koh Hong Archipelago No trip to Krabi or Ao Nang is complete without a trip to Koh Hong, the stunning group of islands lying off the Krabi coast. The beaches of Kong Hong never cease to amaze visitors with their crystal clear water and stunning white sand. The beaches in Ao Nang can become rough and windy in the wet season, but the beaches on the islands lying in the Andaman Sea remain calm and good for swimming. Koh Hong has two glorious beaches, a lagoon and national park land – a real island paradise.
SUNSET STROLL ALONG AO NANG ESPLANADE/NOPPHARAT THARA BEACH Sunsets over Ao Nang and Nopharrat Thara are probably some of the best you are ever likely to see. The monsoon rain brings storm clouds that hang ominously in the sky, creating spectacular sunsets that bathe the bay in a sumptuous light. Walk along the esplanade to get some great views of the longtail boats bobbing on the water, or just sit on a bench and watch as the sky transforms.
Local Nightlife If drinking prodigious amounts of local brew is on your agenda then seek out one of Krabi Town or Ao Nang’s more lively night spots. In Ao Nang, Luna Bar is a popular joint for movers who want to bust some shapes on the dancefloor. Vodka or whiskey buckets are usually the order of the day. If you want to party ‘Thai style’, then head to Centerpoint in Ao Nang or Kansas Saloon in Krabi Town. With lots of whiskey on ice flowing, these places are an experience. Live music, dj sets and semi-clad dancing girls are what you can expect. For a less salubrious night out, try Soi Salai opposite McDonald’s in Ao Nang. This clusters of neon-lit ‘beer-bars’ are often friendly and good fun and many have cable TV and free pool on offer. The next place for entertainment are the bamboo huts opposite Siam Commercial Bank for a relaxed chillout evening.
Evening in the Last Fisherman Bar/Sea Food Restaurants at Noppharat Thara and Ao nang After a sunset stroll there’s no better way to finish off your evening than chatting over a cocktail or two or indulging in some great seafood. If you finish your walk in Ao Nang continue along the road by the police box until you come to the Last Fisherman Bar, one of Ao Nang’s best night-spots. It’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy a drink by the ocean. The seafood restaurants at the other side of Ao Nang Beach or by the very end of Noppharat Thara beach are a must for local fish fare.
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Rock climbing and Railay Beach Combine a trip to Railay Beach with some rock climbing and serious beach time and then sample some of the local nightlife. Krabi is among the World’s best destinations for climbing. The Railay peninsula is home to the local climbing scene and is considered a mecca for the sport. There are hundreds of bolted routes in the Railay area as well as rock-climbing schools that can provide guides and equipment. Railay, once the sole preserve of backpackers, has become a favourite holiday destination, combining 2 world class beaches, excellent dining and some funky after hours haunts to down a few bottles of local brew.
Longtail boat trip to Krabi mangroves The mangroves that fringe the coastline of the various islands divided by the maze of canals are thick and impenetrable. A nature longtail boat tour of the Krabi mangroves-populated canals, with great views of local wildlife and scenery, will enhance your Krabi experience. Charter a boat driver at Chaofa old pier for the longtail trip, usually lasting 3 hours.
HOTEL ARCHITECTURE FOR THAILAND
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undreds of prominent property professionals gathered at the end of April, at J.W Marriot, Kuala Lumpur, for the announcement of the winners of the hotly contested Asia Pacific Property Awards. These awards are in association with Bloomberg Television and Google and form part of the International Property Awards. Established 17 years ago, they are the world’s most prestigious property competition, covering residential as well as commercial categories. Each year they set out to identify the very best real estate professionals around the globe. This is carried out through a meticulous process involving a judging panel of over 50 experts chaired by Lord Bates of Langbaurgh and covering every aspect of the property business such as development, architecture, interior design and marketing.
deluxe hospitality on the Island of Lanta in Krabi province, Pimalai sits on 25 hectares of lush tropical land with direct access to 900 meters of beach. It boasts exceptional facilities, including 121 Deluxe rooms, Suites and Pool Villas, eight restaurants & bars, conference facilities and a wide range of recreational facilities. Peace, Serenity, Solitude….. These are the words that come to mind for Pimalai. Add to that elegance, nature and genuine friendly service. Be it for a honeymoon or a break from it all, Pimalai nestled in a lush tropical forest, is the destination to set your sights on. The resort combines all the right ingredients – subtle five star comforts, natural beauty, far from the crowds, with no noise except the sound of the waves sliding in and out and slowly breaking onto a pristine sandy beach.
“We are delighted that we were recently recognized at Asia Pacific Award property awards as the recipient of Hotel Architecture award for Thailand” says Miss Sarinya Tiyaphorn (pictured) – Pimalai’s Deputy Managing Director. The next stage is for the top-scoring winners from each category of the Asia Pacific Property Awards to literally take on the world by competing against other high scoring companies from Europe, Africa, the Americas and Arabia. The ultimate World’s Best in each category will be unveiled when the final results are proclaimed at London’s Savoy Hotel on December 12th.
“Perhaps it may be worthwhile to highlight the fact that from the conception of the entire resort at Pimalai, including its lay out, the materials used and those involved in its construction, virtually everything utilized was of Thai expertise and Thai craftsmanship” – Miss Sarinya adds. The Architect involved in the resort lay out was Habita Architects from Bangkok. The interior design was handled by P49 Deesign and the entire landscape by Inside Out, both companies from Bangkok. Finally the entire project was built under the supervision of Mr Chakorn Niyamson, an architect who was also behind the design of the Spa. “PIMALAI has for long been highly regarded as being one of the top ten resorts in Southern Thailand and is also very highly respected as a model of development when it comes to environmental concerns and all the owners & management are very proud to have received such a distinction” commented Miss Sarinya. The magnificent beach resort property, the pioneer of the
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Tides World “Layana Spa Cuisine”
Divulge your senses at the Houben Spa
In conjunction with the award winning “Linger Longer Spa” at Layana Resort & Spa, Executive Chef Apichai Somrak at Tides Restaurant has launched his latest creation of Layana’s Spa Cuisine. While you vacation at the resort, our experienced kitchen team can cater to all diets and prides itself to only use the freshest ingredients from organically grown herbs at the own herb garden of the resort. So Layana….
Welcome to a sanctuary of peace and tranquillity. We have created a space to renew your strength and sense of wellbeing. Select from the finest botanical treatments for the face and body. Let us care for your body, mind and spirit. Our spa specialises in a relaxing technique whereby the mind and body are synchronized, balanced and rejuvenated. Yoga classes are also available upon on request. Open from 9 am.- 8 pm. Contact us at +66 (0)75-665144 or check our website www.thehouben.com
About Layana Resort & Spa
Layana Resort & Spa is an exclusive boutique resort facing a fine white sandy beach and set against a picturesque backdrop of forested hills. Laid out amid tropical gardens and designed to harmonize perfectly with its natural surroundings, the resort comprises of low-rise, contemporary Thai-style buildings that combine spaciousness with an open, cool and natural ambience. The guests have the opportunity to appreciate an idyllic island world far from the pressures of the city. As an exclusive haven of luxury, Layana Resort & Spa aims to offer the ultimate in individualized service. Throughout, guests appreciate the hospitality that is unobtrusive to preserve privacy, and yet attentive to give a sense of privilege and to fulfill every wish.
ABOUT THE HOUBEN
The Houben is a private family run villa-style hotel comprising 15 sea view rooms graciously perched on a cliff. The hotel overlooks a striking panoramic view of the Andaman Sea, just a few steps to Kantiang Bay - the best hideaway sandy beach on Lanta Island. The Houben concept combines modern style living with a touch of Thai, creating a simply irresistible experience. Our design is thoughtful, minimalist, relaxing, inspiring and yet eco-friendly. The Houben is the ideal place to escape from city life and for anyone who loves to pamper themselves in a natural environment. The Houben is where comfort meets style; where the sun dives into the tranquil horizon; where your vacation feels like home. We can’t wait to see you there.
World Environment Day 2012 at Amari Vogue Krabi in June
This year’s theme ‘Green Economy – Does it include you’ once again reminds us as a company and as individuals the importance of caring for our environment. The UN Environment Programme defines the Green Economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive. On this occasion Amari Vogue Krabi arranged a beach clean on Tubkeak Beach and invited all team members to join in the activities.
About Amari
Amari is the centerpiece of the ONYX portfolio of hotel brands reflecting modern Asian hospitality, a down to earth vibe and embodying Asian flair. ONYX Hospitality Group operates four diverse yet complementary hotel brands – Saffron, Amari, Shama and Ozo - each catering to the distinctive requirements of today’s business and leisure travellers. ONYX reaches beyond its Thai roots to offer innovative management solutions across the Indian Ocean, Arabian Gulf and Asia-Pacific regions. Visit www.onyx-hospitality.com.
PRESS RELEASE
SOFITEL KRABI PHOKEETHRA GOLF & SPA RESORT WELCOMES ACCLAIMED ARTIST & MUSICIAN MIKA SINGH
Krabi, Thailand June 12, 2012 – Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort hosts ‘The Badshah of Bollywood’ Mika Singh, acclaimed writer and musician as he takes a few days off from his hectic live performances for 2 nights of rest and relaxation at the majestic, French inspired Thai resort. Known as the ‘Powerhouse Entertainer’ for his electrifying live shows, Mr. Singh is in the perfect place for some down-time. The destination of Krabi offers the chance to explore the beauty of the Andaman coast, blessed with hundreds
of magical islands, private coves and shimmering, turquoise waters. The local landscape boasts some of the most stunning scenery in the whole of Thailand, with beautiful temples, perfectly preserved national parks & jungles and a friendly, colourful local culture There is definitely a new trend in the up-and-coming Southern Thai Province which is growing every year and with such a high profile singer visiting, it goes to show the greater importance of the Magnifique destination of Krabi to the budding Indian market. Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents with 120 addresses, in almost 40 countries (more than 30 000 rooms). Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, London, New York, Shanghai or Beijing, or nestled away in a country landscape in Morocco, Egypt, French Polynesia or Thailand, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French “ art de vivre”.
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Discover Sofitel on www.sofitel.com Press Relations Sofitel Luxury Hotels MEEPORN OEAWPANICH TEL + 66 (0) 2555 9600 Email: pr@sofitelphokeethrakrabi.com
Sofitel PR News - July 2012 Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Spa Resort’s Human Resources Department, along with their Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs, recently visited Nong Talay Wittaya School to distribute complementary sets of essential medicine to elderly and handicapped local residents of the district. This was in aid of Elderly & Handicapped Day, a national day in Thailand which falls on 13th April each year to raise awareness and support in the Kingdom.
All medicine sets were kindly donated from Thai Nakorn Patana Co Ltd. Locals were also treated to some of Sofitel Krabi Phokeethra Golf & Resort’s delicious homemade chocolate chip cookies and muffins!
For more details, please feel free to contact us on 075627800 or email info@sofitelphokeethrakrabi.com
It was something we had always threatened to do, but never quite managed to get around to doing it. Now, with the weather forcing all sea-based activities to take a break for a while, we decided to head inland to try something completely different...
Today we were at a loose end, so it was a perfect opportunity to hop on the bike and take a scoot out to the Huay To Waterfall we had heard so much about. Our Thai friends had been telling us about this place for months now, so curiosity finally got the better of us and off we went. The waterfall itself is a part of the Khao Phanom Bencha National Park - a 50 sq. km piece of lush, protected forest that lies around 35 km from Ao Nang. It is the only national park in the whole of the Krabi province that is fully located on the mainland - so it is easy to get to without having to rely on water transport. Our trusty scooter had is there in around 40 minutes, and we parked up to go see the man about some tickets. Being a national park, they charge a small admission fee for visitors which goes to support the upkeep of the area. We were pleasantly surprised when the ticket man gave us a great 2 for 1 discount! Although to be honest, he wasn’t exactly beating the visitors off with a stick. Another pleasant surprise was the extremely helpful employees that were dotted around the parking area. They greeted us and asked what we were interested in seeing. We were given a map of the park and pointed in the direction of the waterfalls, as well as
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Huay To Waterfall Trek
a viewpoint that pointed up an ominouslooking slope into what looked like a trail that has not seen the footprint of man since the Spanish inquisition. Still, it was only 750 meters up (according to the sign) and we could loop around to the waterfall afterwards (according to the smiling Thai man), so we decided to throw caution to the wind and started up the path. The path started out like a path, then after a while decided it didn’t much like the thought of being a path anymore, and withered into a trail. Then the trail had a look at it’s watch, decided it needed a nap, and shrank into a rough dent in the undergrowth that you could only see if you looked slightly to one side of it - much like looking at an eclipse. The map boasted proudly that most of the national park was ‘virgin forest’. We now know this to be a translation of ‘jungle’. There is no doubt about it - this is literally, no walk in the park for the feint of heart. The trail here is fairly steep and uneven, and it is very warm and humid. But that’s the whole point when you think about it - here we were just a short bike ride away from our nice, airconditioned house and we were smack in the middle of the set for an Indiana Jones film. I’m sure I heard the faint chuckling of
Story and Photos by : Paul Stretton
the sign below that promised the viewpoint to be a mere 750 meters above. Let me tell you that 750 meters seems longer walking through the jungle than on a flat road. Lesson learned!
After a while, we got into our stride and began to adapt to our surroundings. Stopping to take a drink from our water bottle (definitely a good thing to bring), we were struck by the silence of our surroundings, broken by only our heavy breathing and the occasional squawk of some unseen bird and the screech of a cricket high up in the canopy. On the way
we were aware of how close we were to nature here - not at all like the fenced off areas and well defined walkways of parks and forests back home. We came across enormous ants an inch long, a termite mound as big as myself, huge golden orb spiders lounging in the middle of immense webs, and lots of different lizards that scuttled up trees and through the undergrowth as we approached. After a particularly loud rustle ahead of us that shook the undergrowth violently, we again checked the map to see what other inhabitants we might come across. The map boasts a very helpful and informative ‘Flora & Fauna’ section that said the park is home to tapir.. ok.. serow.. right.. wild boar.. erm... panther…. PANTHER?? Yes, it said panther. And after that, clouded leopard. Somehow after the panther and leopard, the Asiatic black bear wasn’t so shocking to read. Maybe that was the idea of the thoughtful map-making people. Fortunately (or unfortunately - depending on how you look at things like this) we didn’t come across any of the aforementioned animals. They must hear us coming a long time before we get anywhere near them, so we were in no real danger. That’s what I keep telling myself, anyway. Before we knew it, we came to the viewpoint at the top. Now if you decide to take this trek, be advised that the ‘view’ in viewpoint is slightly overrated. There is in fact a gap in the trees that allows you to see miles into the distance over the whole of the Krabi province. You will not be standing proudly on a mountaintop, gazing upon a spectacular panoramic view, like I thought. Anyway, it wasn’t the view we had come for - but the waterfall,
and we made our way eagerly to the sign that pointed the way. Just a few minutes later, we could hear the roar of water getting louder and closer. The thought of jumping into fresh, cool water to refresh our sweaty bodies had us slipping and stumbling eagerly towards the sound. The jungle parted and there we were staring down a 70 meter roaring torrent of fresh water. It was a beautiful sight to behold, but unfortunately not too safe to swim in, unless we fancied getting back to the bike in 5 seconds flat. We crossed the river easily and decided to start heading downwards on the other side - following the water as we went. After a while, we realized that the waterfall was actually in several stages - 11 tiers in all - and some of them much safer to swim in. We found a deserted section, stripped down to our
swimwear, and dove in. This made the whole trip worth it! Unlike the warm, salty water of the ocean - this was clear, cool and fresh. We splashed around for 10 minutes or so under the falls, before lying in the sun for a while to relax and dry off. We headed further down the trail and as we came closer to our starting point, we started to see other people - the first since we started on the trail at the bottom. We noticed that they were all Thai - no foreigners here but ourselves. Little kids were squealing excitedly as they splashed and fell in the cool pools below the falls as the parents watched on. Elderly women rested on rocks and soaked their feet, smiling and waving at us as we passed. We soon reached the bottom and realized that we had indeed walked in a loop all the way around. If we
wanted to just see the waterfalls, we could have gone the other way and not via the viewpoint - good to know if you don’t fancy the trek! By now we were feeling hungry, and deservedly so. Although there was a restaurant there at the bottom, we knew that we would probably just want to lie down afterwards, so we decided to just head back straight away. On the way back to the bike, we noticed that there were several traditional style bungalows for rent - which would be a great experience for anyone wanting a real getaway break. As we drove out of the front gates, our friendly 2 for 1 ticket man waved us farewell from his booth, and we left glad that we had finally gotten to have this experience. If you are looking for something truly authentic and aren’t afraid of a little effort to get it, then the trek and waterfall is something I would heartily recommend. If you are coming here, it would be a good idea to bring water bottles with you although there is a restaurant on site if you need it. Also, wear something on your feet more substantial than 49 Baht flip flops, if you want to get through the trail without swearing loudly every 10 seconds. Some parts of the loop are fairly steep, so trainers or Teva-style walking sandals would be a good idea - take it from me. Also, if you are planning on swimming in the waterfall pools, please remember that this place attracts a lot of local Thai residents, who are Muslim. So women, perhaps no itsy-bitsyteeny-weeny bikinis here - Guys, you too.
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Jungle Fever If you have a horrible feeling that you might be returning to your home country with more sunscreen than you came here with, don’t panic - there are plenty of other things to do around Krabi when the rains make an extreme sport out of sunbathing. Just heading inland a little will open up some of the most amazing Indiana Jones inspired terrain that will keep everyone occupied for the day... Located just 20 kilometers from Krabi, Khao Phanom Bencha National Park covers a total area of 50 square kilometers including some parts of the Ao Luk, Khao Phanom and Muang Districts. The park has pristine, lush forest on its highest peaks and its major attractions are streams, waterfalls, and wildlife that only serve to enhance its magnificent scenery. The site is overshadowed by the mountain, “Khao Phanom Bencha” that rises to 1,397 meters above sea level. This provides a much needed watershed area for the surrounding areas of the Krabi Province as the Phanom Bencha mountain range is laid from north to south. The weather is warm and humid throughout the year and the area experiences two seasons: hot from January to April and Rainy from May to December, with maximum rainfall in June to October period. As a moist evergreen forest, fauna in the park includes such species as Hopea odorata, Dipterocarpus alatus, lagerstronemia cupida, Malacca teak, Michelia champaca, Parkia speciosa and Baccarea sapida. Ground fauna includes palms, genus Calamus or Daemonothops, greenia wightiana and bamboos. There are a number of animals living in the park: serows, wild pigs, panthers, clouded leopards, black bears, mouse deers, langurs, gibbons, Stump-tailed monkeys, Asiatic wild dogs, squirrel, iorises, white-rumped shama, hornbills, pheasants and red jungle fowls, to name but a few! The main attraction of the Park is the several tierd Huay To Waterfall, which has its source at the peak that gives name to the park. Namtok Huai Sa-de is located in the opposite direction, behind the park’s office, 1.2km away. It is a clean path but you will need to stay alert when walking on the slippery rocky banks. The park’s office is Khao Pheung Cave, which is worth a visit if you are up for the walk. There are 5 caves in the area nearby, each with that glitter and shine with tiny crystals as well as impressive stalagmites and stalactites of various shapes an sizes.
For additional information contact Phanom Bencha National Park headquarters on 075 660716/7, or email phanombencha_np@yahoo.co.th
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Thai
Orchids
If you have eaten in a Thai restaurant during your stay here in the Krabi provence, or stayed in a resort or hotel, it is nigh on impossible that you will have not come across one of these beautiful flowers. The ubiquitous ‘Thai Orchid’ is used to decorate cocktail glasses, dinner plates, bed linen, chairs, clothing and much more. They are the very epitome of exotic Asia and are used all over Thailand as a symbol of beauty and elegance. Although the purple and white coloured specimen you will have most likely seen here is the most popular choice, there are around 1200 different species of orchid growing in just Thailand alone. They are a horticulturists dream and can take a remarkable amount of patience and care to look after. Some species can take up to 4 years before they bloom for the first time! They are found in every part of the world, except the Antarctic and major desert areas, and can grow in the ground, in trees and even in rock. Despite their proliferation, As with many other plants and animals, deforestation and poaching took a heavy toll on Thai orchids over time, but the situation has improved incredibly. Several projects in Thailand are dedicated to preserve the genetic pool of Thai orchids, growing the orchids in nurseries and reintroducing some species into the wild again, or cultivating them in specially designed orchid gardens. Over the last few years.Thailand has become the number 1 worldwide exporter of these amazing blooms - sending them to the 4 corners of the globe in a variety of ways. The sale of these exported flowers was values at a whopping 2.6 Billion Baht in 2004, and has been rising steadily every year since. Orchids are an interesting cut flower with wide variety in colours, fragrances, sizes and shapes, and they have a display life that is longer than other kinds of cut flowers. As well as being used for decoration in restaurants and resorts, they are also used widely in commemorative celebrations and ceremonies. They overtook the classic rose, which used to be the most popular flower for these kind of special occasions, until the orchid proved to last longer when cut, and was more cost effective to boot!
O
ne of the more popular methods of transporting them is to buy a little ‘grow pack’, consisting of some seeds or a cutting presented in a glass bottle. These are a wonderful present and souvenir of Thailand and a great way to bring home with you a little piece of your travels here. They can be bought in most stores in a tourist area such as Ao Nang or Krabi town. You will see orchids hanging almost everywhere in Ao Nang, especially around restaurants, and they are easy to purchase at any of the many garden centers that you will see just off the side of the main road from Krabi to Ao Nang. They come in a huge variety of colours, shapes and sizes, but all with a wonderful aroma! I recently bought a hanging basket with pink, yellow, purple and white orchids cleverly interwoven by the owner of one of these centers, showing the love and care that goes into looking after and presenting these flowers to the best of their ability. If you are interested in seeing more kinds of orchid, there are places here that can cater for your need. There are several orchid farms and nurseries throughout Thailand - a major one being the Thai Orchid Garden in Phuket. Here you will see, in their own words, ‘anything you want to see’. A grand claim indeed, and I am assuming it is limited to the realm or orchids...Still, they have hundreds of species of the flower and are very knowledgeable on the subject, so you should be able to find the answer here for any questions you might have on the care and exporting of your orchids.
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Nok Muay Jimmy!
Not all Thai Boxing champs are small Thai men. Some are even tall Americans - but how does someone who had no interest in any martial arts come to be a winner of 26 fights here in Thailand? Some basic Thai for you to start this Month; The word “Nok” in Thai translates as “Fighter”, “Muay” is “Muay Thai Kickboxing” and “Jimmy” is for “Jeremy”, who is an American living right here in Ao Nang. Jeremy has learned Muay Thai from only Thailand and has now racked up a very respectable 16 fights here in Krabi. “Muay Thai” is Thailand’s National Sport of Kickboxing in the boxing ring and is sometimes referred to as “Thai Boxing” or “Thai Fighting”. With over 1,000 training gyms in Bangkok alone, there are over 30,000 Thai KID fighters under the age of 10 years old in Thailand, both boys and girls, and there are fights almost every day – every year somewhere in this amazing country.
Sawasdee krap … Hello this is Khru “Doc” and welcome to Krabi the Paradise of Thailand. I am a Muay Thai teacher certified in Thailand, where I have been living now for over 6 years. My best American friend here is “Nok Muay Jimmy”. His real name is “Jeremy” but Thai people cannot pronounce his real name easily, so they love to call him “Jimmy”. I first met Jeremy on Facebook and he told me he had a dream about Thailand but knew nothing about the place. I told him he should come to Krabi and come see Thailand for himself, and that’s exactly what he did.
His glass was empty. Jeremy was a pure soul when it came to learning Muay Thai and I have found out that is the best student to have and teach. Many people come to Thailand to learn Muay Thai, but it is hard for most because as a young person they might have already had some teaching in another martial art, and this makes it difficult for a person to truly learn Muay Thai. I know this from my own personal experience - even though I have been learning Muay Thai for almost 20 years. It has taken me almost half those years to “empty my glass” so that Muay Thai can fill it up. I had ten years of boxing, kickboxing
Almost 2 years ago now, he moved his wife and 2 young children here. I was conducting Muay Thai Missions at that time, so he got connected with the Muay Thai family here in Krabi. He started to train, fell in love with the “Real Deal” Muay Thai and the Muay Thai family and now has these 16 fights under his belt. When we first met, he had never experienced any kind of Martial Arts and did not even have an interest in it. But living in Krabi, experiencing Thailand’s National Sport and the Thai people in the Sport - he got hooked. We have watched Jimmy fight and he has fought with people that have way more skill and experience, but he still wins and the Thai people love him for it! SO how does he do this? I would say he wins because of 3 amazing things.
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Jeremy at Ao Nang Stadium
and martial arts experience before studying Muay Thai. Those styles are really different from Muay Thai, so not only is a new style hard to learn but you have to un-learn the things you already know. I started Muay Thai when I was 30 years old and, yes - I can confirm that it is hard to teach an old dog some new tricks! But hey - that was almost 20 years ago now... He can naturally see blows coming. Jeremy can see strikes coming at him and he actually moves out of the way. This is a God given ability because most people will stand their ground and take the strike. This is one of the amazing abilities that Muay Thai fighters have and they play sparring games in order to perfect this ability. This is something that Jeremy picked up very quickly. Muay Thai fighters are known as “Hard as a diamond but soft as Thai silk”. For most it is easy to be hard, but to be soft takes people to the female side of their personality. Most “Macho Guys” do not want to go there and thus they cannot learn this amazing side of Muay Thai. In Thailand there is a freedom to be soft and is actually vigorously encouraged. One of the best examples of which is a famous Muay Thai champion called “The Beautiful Boxer”. Embracing all things Thai - he is fully connected with the female soft side of Muay Thai because of his sex change from woman to man, and he is known for his knock out elbow strikes which must be performed softly and smoothly in order for the strike to be devastatingly effective. He has a Thailand heart. Thailand is the largest country with the largest Buddhist population in the world. Buddhism promotes a calm and humble heart in everything. A Thai monk that instructs Muay Thai at a Temple to young Thai kids would tell them one main purpose of Muay Thai is to teach them a humble heart. This is so strange to western fighters - especially Americans - because they tend to fight out of violence and anger. Jeremy understands this. He is a Christian and in Christianity one main characteristic is humbleness. Jimmy told me when he fights it is an act of Worship to him. He is so thankful to his God and creator that He has given him life, health, fitness, family and Thailand, so he shows his “thankfulness” as Worship in the Muay Thai ring. Another amazing thing about Thai fighters is they show royal honor and respect for each other. How can that be when the #1 goal in Muay Thai is to knockout their opponent?
The Muay Thai family in Krabi has taught this to me, I love practicing this myself and if you would like … we can train you too. “Jimmy” has only lost one of his 16 fights in Thailand. Two fights ago, he went up against a Thai young man that has a very unique kick - one which has been known to break people’s arms - Jeremy’s included! Jimmy’s fight #16 was a comeback fight from this broken arm, so there was some concern as to whether his arm had healed enough to fight. Muay Thai fights consist of five 3 minute rounds with 2 minute breaks in-between, meaning a full fight can last upwards of 20 minutes. Jimmy did great in his comeback fight #16, his arm did get hurt a little, especially when his opponent kneed him there - but thanks to the adrenaline coursing through his body at the time, Jeremy did not feel it until the fight was over. Family and friends came to his fight, we all were behind him and cheered him on to victory. Jeremy is tall for his weight class, so his knee strikes are his strongest weapon and he was taught this by his South Thailand trainer, Khru Sallee. In fact, a major part of Khru Sallee’s daily training in Muay Thai is to do 1,500 power knee strikes into a heavy leather punching bag. I personally can do 3 sets of 100 but I am done after that! The Muay Thai knee strike is the strongest combat strike in all fighting arts in the world. Some scientists actually carried out a study on a Muay Thai knee strike with a Thai fighter that weighed 150 lbs. Unbelievably, his knee strike had the same force of impact as a small car colliding with a brick wall. Now that’s going to hurt by anyone’s standards!
Jeremy with his Wife Lisa and Trainer Khru Sallee
Jeremy waiting for his fight
When you see a knee strike in a Muay Thai fight it does not look as powerful as it really is, and Jimmy’s knee strike is full Muay Thai! In his fight, he truly worshipped his Creator with full honor and respect to his Thai opponent. Jimmy KO’d his opponent by knee strike in the 3rd Round and the crowd went wild! Many people all over the world of all ages are enjoying Muay Thai and we are all encouraged by Champs like “Jimmy” that have a Thailand humble heart. You can do it too! Phra JAO uay phra pon krap … God bless you from Krabi, Khru “Doc”.
Jeremy performing the Wai Kru/Ram Muay Prefight Dance
If you want to learn more about Muay Thai or even take a Lesson please feel free to contact Khru “Doc”. DocThailand@gmail.com – Cell 087-810-2177
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Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad) This is the first of a new series of local, down-to-Earth, honest-to-goodness Thai food that, quite frankly, we here at Krabi Magazine wolf down on a regular basis. Thailand is renowned the world over for it’s cuisine, and rightly so. But there is so much more to it than chicken and cashew nuts and green curry - the staples of any foreign visitor to these shores. Not that there’s anything wrong with either of these - they just seem to crop up more often than not on the tables of Thai restaurants outside of Thailand. So we are going to introduce you to some different dishes. Some you may have tried before, some not. Some you might not like the look of, or sound of - but they are tried and trusted by thousands of Thais and us local ex-pats alike - and we want to share these with you. As an added bonus, most of the dishes in this section are very cheap to buy as they can be classified as “street food”. Not as bad as it sounds - just that they can be bought from those “tuk-tuk restaurants” you see at the side of the roads here. One thing we can guarantee is they will be full of flavour! So, to kick things off we are taking a look at the Green Papaya Salad - or “Som Tam”. Granted, a salad made from unripe fruit may not sound that appealing, but with a few simple additions it can be transformed into an amazing dish.
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Som Tam is a classic ‘street food’ and you shouldn’t be able to walk more than a couple of hundred feet around here without coming across a restaurant, tuk tuk or stall that could serve you up a bowl of this wonderful food for around 40THB. It can be served ‘foreign style’ with very little chilli, or ‘local style’, with a handful thrown in. It should be on every visitor to Thailand’s list of things to try, and even without the spicy factor, the other ingredients alone make a mouth watering treat. Here in Krabi, they are made everywhere if you know what to look for. Take a look at the cart and if you can see a clear plastic display case with tomatoes and other veg in it, that’s your cue. The salads are made by mixing shredded green papaya with garlic and chili peppers in a large clay mortar with a wooden pestle, then seasoned with lime juice, fish sauce, palm sugar and optional shrimp. Usually when a foreigner asks for a Som Tam, the vendor will offer you a taste of it as she makes it - so she doesn’t go overboard with the chillies. It can be a very spicy dish indeed, so remember to use the magic phrase “Mai Pet” if you don’t want it spicy!
So your homework is to go out and try a Som Tam from a roadside vendor. Don’t worry about the language barrier - you will be greeted with a smile. Here’s what to say…
For the ladies, say “Kor Som Tam thai, sai prik (number of chillies here) met kaa”
And the guys, “Kor Som Tam thai, sai prik (number of chillies here) met krap” 1 - Noong 2 - Song 3 - Sam 4 - See 5 - Haa 6 - Hock 7 - Jet 8 - Ped 9 - Khao 10 - Sip Sit down, tuck in and feel pleased with yourself for trying a very “Thai” dish, as well as supporting the local economy and getting a very cheap meal at the same time!
Papaya One of the more popular fruits in Thailand is the humble Papaya, known in Thai as ‘Ma-la-ko’. It is readily available all the year round in Thailand, and is used in many ways in everyday life. If you take a look at the trees lining the side of the road, or many of the beaches in the Krabi province, you will more than likely come across one of these impressive looking plants, that grow up to around 12 feet in height. They are a very resilient and can produce hundreds of ripe, delicious papaya fruits per year. Starting off as a small, round, green bulb on the tree, they soon elongate into the more familiar shape, as well as ripening into the sunset-orange colour that makes them so appealing. Although they grow all over Thailand, they are more prevalent in the south, which makes them even cheaper, fresher and more readily available in the Krabi province than anywhere else in the country. To sample some papaya, you can easily find them for sale on the market stalls around Krabi and Ao Nang for around 20THB per kilo, which is a complete bargain when you consider how much it would cost in many Western countries! Although this price reflects the fact that you yourself need to peel of the rough outer layer and scoop out the hundreds of dark seeds that are crammed into the interior of the fruit, before eating it. If you would rather someone else did this for you, keep your eye out for the many fruit vendors that roam the highways and byways of most of Krabi, selling their wares. They will have cleaned and chopped the fruit into handy bite-size pieces before placing them in a plastic bag and serving it to you complete with toothpick for instant and easy consumption. And even though you will not be getting the whole fruit, at a measly 10THB per bag, it won’t eat up too much of your holiday funds. Try adding a splash of fresh lime juice to it to really bring out the flavour of the fruit. This is also a great suggestion of you are ordering a papaya fruit shake. As with most other fruits and vegetables here, the papaya is easily incorporated into a plethora of recipes including curries, salads, ice creams and cakes. They contain many vitamins essential to good health, and are especially high in Vitamin C, so there has never been a better reason to go out and try some of this delicious, nutritious and cheap local fruit than today!
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By: Linnea Bergdahl
what a Load of Rubbish 24
Gazing out at our watery horizon of an evening as you sip on your icy-cool sundowner, you may not realise that something undesirable lurks beneath the waves. No, not that - I mean plastics. It’s becoming a real problem across the planet and thankfully, we have some passionate volunteers who are ready to do something about it...
risk of eventually becoming added to the garbage patches, or end up in the stomach of a seabird. Would it then be possible to clean up the Pacific garbage patches? Given their enormous size, their tendency to move and the small bits of plastic they contain, it would be a tremendous challenge. The best we can do is to make sure the rubbish never enters the ocean in the first place. If you are a scuba diver or snorkeler and you find rubbish in the water, PLEASE pick it up and put it in the bin. If you also report it to Project Aware, it’s even better as more people will gain knowledge about the increasingly problematic situation of marine debris. Just because you might not see the rubbish, it doesn’t mean it’s gone. The ocean is not a dumpster.
Just over ten years ago, a sailing boat on its way from Hawaii suddenly came across something you wouldn’t generally expect to find in the middle of an ocean– a mass of floating plastic. This was no ordinary piece of flotsam though, as it turned out to cover an area twice the size of Texas. It was named The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. After research expeditions in the Northern Pacific, scientists have found at least one more garbage patch. The Eastern Pacific garbage patch lies midway between Hawaii and California, while the Western Pacific garbage patch is found off the coast of Japan. Because of the way the ocean currents flow, in certain places they come together in great swirling masses called “gyres”, and anything floating at the surface tends to get stuck swirling endlessly in these areas. As our oceans are all connected, a plastic bottle found in the garbage patch in the Pacific might have started its journey on the coast of China, in Europe or perhaps even coming from the Andaman Sea. The volunteers at Projects Abroad, together with Aqua Vision Dive Centre in Ao Nang, have been removing rubbish from the Andaman Sea for almost a year in an effort to reduce the amount of plastics in our oceans, and therefore reduce the growth of these shocking garbage patches. Equipped with scuba gear, plus the additional gloves, scissors and bags to collect the rubbish in, the volunteers have been surveying numerous dive sites
around the Ao Nang and Phi Phi Islands in the search for garbage. Removing plastic items like bottles and food wrappers is very important as the material takes many years to disintegrate an when they finally do, they end up as tiny plastic flakes. These flakes float at the surface where fish and sea birds easily mistake them for food, causing them digestion problems and even death. It’s exactly these tiny plastic pieces that make up most mass of the garbage patches. When we remove the rubbish from the reefs, each item is also recorded by the volunteers and reported to Project Aware. The Project Aware Foundation is an organization of scuba divers from around the world that are active in the conservation of our marine environment. It has a unique program - “Dive Against Debris” - where rubbish items collected during dives can be entered into an international database of marine debris. This data will help to paint the picture of the global problem of marine debris. The scuba divers see the styrofoam boxes floating on the surface, they see the bottle tops, the beer bottles and the plastic bags wrapped around the corals. But if they do not tell anyone about it, how would a change ever be possible? Since August last year, the Project Abroad volunteers have collected and reported a total of 61 plastic beverage bottles and 65 food wrappers from the reefs. One thing for sure is there are still many more left out there and if not collected, these plastic items face the
For further information about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch check out the NOAA website, http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/info/patch.html and if you want to report your marine debris findings, head to www.projectaware.org.
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Run With It I
f you’re finding it a bit of a challenge to sit around not doing much as the rains fall, there is one thing you can do to lift your spirits, feel better and see some of the place - all for free. During the green season here in Ao Nang, it is the time of the year when we locals go into a ‘hibernation mode’ of sorts until the rains ease up, the wind changes and the seas calm down and we can get busy working again. For the western brain, doing nothing in Thailand can be somewhat of a challenge. The Thai people, on the other hand, are adept at it and can easily handle ‘wasting time’. It may seem like the perfect excuse, as at this time of year many of the restaurants are closed, the trips to places such as Poda island and Railay run very infrequently, and in general, activities can easily get rained off. But for me at least, I would go nuts if I didn’t get out in the open at least for a while each day. There is always something you can do just to get some fresh air in your lungs, discover parts of the place many others will never know even existed, and the best part is, it’s completely free! All you need is a pair of shorts, a T-shirt, running shoes, and most importantly, an alarm clock. Yes, the running shoes part most likely gave it away already, I’m talking about going for a run. Now the alarm clock is an important part as in order to have the best conditions for getting out an about, you need to get up early in the morning. The earlier the better is the case in Ao Nang, at least, as there is little traffic in town and most importantly, it is cool. I try and start by 7:30am at the latest when the days are warm. Also, as you may have noticed, it is more likely to rain in the afternoon around 3pm. Now if you live in the town of Ao Nang itself, you have plenty of choices on where to go. You can of course follow the main roads down past Mc Donalds, onto the beach road and up the other
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side. Then you can just turn back and retrace your steps to where you are staying. But there are other, more pleasant routes that are worth making the effort to run, especially as I am hoping you didn’t just come to Thailand to run past a Mc Donalds! If you are close to Ao Nang beach in the morning, this is a great place to go - as long as the tide is out. The sand will be flat and firm enough to run with trainers, and the beach itself is 2km long from end to end, which makes for a much more interesting place to get sweaty in the morning. You will come across a few others with the same idea as you on this beach most mornings, as it is right in the middle of town, but off the main road and away from early morning traffic. If you continue along the beach road, following it round the corner and past Kontiki Dive Centre, you will come to Noppharatara Beach. This is my location of choice if running in the town as it is
usually deserted in the mornings, save for a few local Thai women doing their exercises before the start of a busy day. The beach here is also 2km long and as the water here lies very shallow, when the tide is out there is much more flat sand to run on. You are also presented with a wonderful view of the outlying islands on a clear day. Farther away from the town as you head away from it, again up the ‘Mc Donald’s road’, is a longer road that will take you to more rural areas. Here you will find less buildings and more greenery. There are rubber plantations and pineapple fields dotted along here if you explore the little dusty paths that lead off the main road. The best idea when heading out for a run is to just try going down paths to see where they lead you. You may find yourself in the middle of a little hidden village of local people washing clothes, huddled around cooking breakfast or chasing after squealing children. The beauty of this place is that you will rarely be trespassing and a friendly smile and a wave will always be appreciated and reciprocated. All roads seem to lead back to town here, so don’t worry about getting too lost! People will always point you in the right direction if you ask them.
open 7AM - 5PM
A good 40 minute run early in the morning does wonders for you, both physically and mentally. It gives you energy and a positive outlook on the rest of the day, even if you plan to spend it swinging in a hammock reading a book. I have found in my years living here that it is the single best way to see a side of the place that not many people get to see, and at a beautiful time of the day to boot. So if you are feeling a bit ‘blue’ and not quite sure what to do for the best, try going for a run, jog, or just a walk somewhere different and you may be surprised at what you can do and see right here in Ao Nang.
BUNGALOWS AND RESTAURANT BAR - GAMES ROOM - DIVING EUROPEAN MANAGEMENT 90mt from Noppharat Thara Beach
Noppharat Thara
tel 075-637791 - fax 075-695117 sabairesort@hotmail.com - www.sabairesort.com
RISTORANTE-TRATTORIA ITALIAN AND THAI FOOD
GREAT FOOD, LIVE MUSIC, LIVE SPORTS www.facebook.com/roveraonang
Sabai Residence
NOPPHARAT THARA PIER, BOATS TO KOH LANTA, KOH PHI PHI, PHUKET
HOLD ME CLOSE Tsunami Memorial Sculpture
NATIONAL PARK
ST.AGNES CHURCH
Mandawee
I8
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Alta Marea Italian Restaurant
Tolmaj Apartments Sawasdee Restaurant Centara Ao Nang Bay Mercure
The Airport The Cave KR Bar
CENTER POINT
Carnivore Steakhouse
Thai Village Resort
BOATS TO PHRANANG & RAILAY BEACH
Luna Bar
Wangsai Seafood
Boat tickets
Fr ien
Dragon Bernies
n rma she e’ t Fi Ca f Las t e s h T La The
BOATS TO PHRANANG & RAILAY BEACH
Boat tickets
Ao Nang Villa Chillout Dive Equipment Shop
The Verandah Resort
Krabi Heritage Resort Peace Laguna Resort
Somkiet Buri Resort Taj Palace SOI RCA
Centara Resort
Ao Nang Paradise Resort Chandee Buffet
UP Bake
TO KRABI TOWN
Ao Nang Villa
KRABI AQUARIUM
TO SHELL FOSSIL
SATURDAY MARKET
AO NAMMAO
AO NAMMAO VILLAGE
Hot Yoga
MONDAY-TUESDAY FRIDAY MARKET
Krabi Consultants
Jungle Village
AO NANG SCHOOL
TO KRABI TOWN
BOATS TO PHRANANG PIER KRABI & RAILAY BEACH
TON Company
Devil Spa Red akon
sab Boos ce Residen inavian ca S nd Just Deli
AoNang Big Bike
Smiling Dog Cafe’
Mod Kaew Pub Entertainment Spaghetti House Bamboo Vogue Pranang Restaurants Mac Donalds Thailandia 2
Aquavision Diving
The Massaman
ds
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Boat Noodle SOI CENTARA
The Earth Cafe
Starbucks On the Rock Subway Pizza Company Svensen
BEACH ROAD BOATS TO PHRANANG & RAILAY BEACH
The Longtail Boat AO NANG SEAFOOD PARADE
Krabi Resort
&
Krabi Apartments
Ale x
NEW MARKET
Lai Thai Apartments
Pams Pub
Blue House
Ao Nang Mosque
AO NANG VILLAGE
Titti House
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t sor Re ant SK Optik r ng Na stau Oceanmart o e on A R y n CENTER POINT Ba Luna Can Beach La lack Irish Rover B Terrace
Lae Lay Grill AONANG Krabi Spesialisten Restaurant VIEWPOINT t TOURIST Lazy Pub ale La Playa Resort h C POLICE s is NIGHT FOOD STALLS Sw
AO NANG BOXING STADIUM
Palm Paradise Emerald Gardens ChaWan Resort Pavilion Queen's Bay Baan Bandaley
SATURDAY MARKET
Klong Haeng Mosque
KLONG HAENG VILLAGE
Bergers
Cobra Show
PhuPimaan Resort
CTOP Nice Nature Homes Nice Day Resort
SupsaengDao Resort
THURSDAY MARKET
Kitdee Media & Krabi Magazine
Boat Restaurant
Fullmoon House
POST OFFICE
Aning Restaurant Ao Nang Beach Resort
TO KRABI TOWN
The L Resort Brazil Grill
ts
Ao Nang Gardens
Sabai Resort
Ayudhya Suites
Tattoo de Cafe’ Burger King
Nadivan Apartm a en
Ben Beach Bar
Azzurra Restaurant Jeanette's Restaurant Kings Tailor Eden Restaurant
TO KLONG MUANG
Hippy Bar
Absolute Tailor Nok Minimart
Restaurant Review
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Koh Lanta highlights Koh Lanta is situated in the southernmost tip of the Krabi province. It consists of two islands, Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai. Koh Lanta Noi is the smaller of the two and does not have tourist facilities. Visitors travelling by road from the mainland pass through the smaller island on the way to Koh Lanta Yai - the center of the tourist operations. Ban Sala Dan village on the north side of the island is Lanta Yai’s commercial center and the pier where visitors arrive on the island. It is a row of shops, seafood restaurants on stilts, dive shops, tour operators, banks and guest houses that cater for newcomers on the island. The bulk of the Lanta beaches lie along the west coast of the island and can all be reached by road: Khao Kwang, Khlong Dao and Phra Ae all have long stretches of white sand facing the Andaman sea, while Khlong Khong, Khlong Nin and Ba Kan Tiang and other smaller bays are all nice to relax and swim. The east coast of Koh Lanta Yai is flat and has many local villages scattered along its coastline. Koh Lanta has a very diverse cultural mix of people who have lived on the island in harmony for hundreds of years: Thai-Muslim, Thai-Chinese and the original sea gypsies still inhabit the place in harmony. The biggest town on the island is Lanta Old town. Boat trips to Koh Lanta are available during the monsoon-free period from October to April. May to November sees the closure of some of the island businesses and of the boat passenger services due to rough seas. A minibus service is the alternative way to reach the island via land. Lanta Old Town It was once called Ban Si Raya and was the commercial port for Chinese and Arabic trading boats that sailed between the ports of Phuket, Penang and Singapore. Today it is a village with a few rows of stilted shop houses home to an ancient community that was established on the island long ago. It is a picturesque place with Chinese timer shop-houses dating back 100 years, from the old days of sea trading. Near the shacks along the coast, local fishermen dock their longtail boats giving the whole scene a very Thai look. Ba Kantiang Beach Spectacular crystal–clear seawater and soft white sand, romantic sunsets in utmost privacy. This is why Ba Kantiang has come to symbolize a hideaway in Lanta for relaxing in natural surroundings.
Lighthouse on Lanta Located in Tanod Cape on the southernmost tip of the island, the lighthouse tower of Lanta is the perfect symbol of solitude. It is the place where immaculate nature still survives as it is rarely reached by tourists due to the rugged road conditions. Koh Lanta National Park The park covers a marine area dotted with several small sandy islands surrounded by coral reefs. The headquarters is located on the island’s southern extremity. Ban San-ka-u A sea gypsy’s settlement in south-east Lanta Yai. It is there that an old clan of traditional Chao Ley try to preserve a disappearing way of life in this fast-developing island. Eco-tours These are run all year round from the east coast of Lanta Yai, not affected by the low season rough seas. Make your way to Thung Yee Pheng village for a trip with a local community, or book a tour with friendly and experienced local companies. Nature Because of its bio-diversity and richness of natural resources, Lanta is a good place for trekking. Explore limestone cave chambers and passageways in the Lanta caves, or walk upstream to the spring water waterfall where you can swim in cool rock pools. Fire Dancing This is definitely one interesting part of the Lanta beach culture. A fire dancing show is usually performed by young boys performing twisting acrobatics swinging burning torches and ropes lit on fire around their muscular bodies. A distinguishing show that sparkles in the dark.
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Stepping Back in Time
W
e take to the back roads of Koh Lanta to discover the “other side” of this amazing island. When people think of Koh Lanta they envisage sandy beaches, a turquoise sea and soft sand. While this is indeed the case, there is another side to this idyllic island - a greener side.I decided to investigate further this “other side” to see what it was all about. I boarded a minivan that was carrying our guides for the day and off we set. As we passed the car ferry and cruised to the east, our helpful guide gave us the program of the tour in perfect English. On the sides of the uneven tarmac road, small dusty shops sold fruit, vegetables and other commodities to local villagers. It was Friday; a young boy strolled leisurely to the local mosque. Soon after, the tarmac started to disappear and was soon replaced by earthy mud that was testing the skills of the driver. It became clear that speed was not the theme of a minivan trip in Koh Lanta, where even the buffaloes seemed to move slower than usual. The first stop of the day was in a local cock fighting compound where local villagers train “champion-to-be” chicken fighters. Apparently, locally organized fights are a small thing in Koh Lanta; the big events are held in the city of Trang, on the mainland. We visited the inside of a barrack where cocks are kept in round wicker cages, and then assisted in a fairly gruesome training session. In a roofed terrace, one nervous looking cock jumped freely on the dusty ground while the expert trainer held the contender in his hands, releasing him when he felt it necessary. Local villagers sat on benches around the area watching approvingly, praising their favourite fighter. The soundtrack was the constant “cock-a-doodledoo” cries of the birds, which was deafening in parts!
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On the boat, Nas looked at his young son and reminisced about the times when, as a kid, his father would take him fishing in these waters. Little has changed in the area since. We are told that 32 people of his village take an active part in the project; cleaning the area, planting new mangroves and other trees and running the information center. We boarded the minibus for the short journey to sleepy Lanta Old Town, where we enjoyed lunch in a restaurant on stilts overlooking the mangroves and the islands. The lane to the deep south is filled with overgrowing vegetation; the minivan sped up and down the hilly roads, dense jungle separated us from both the ocean and the Lanta mountain slopes. A few houses on stilts seemed precariously perched in strategic locations, with staggering views over the ocean. As the minivan followed the bumpy route again, I marvelled at the scenery outside the window: a succession of shrimp farms, marshes, coconut and rubber tree plantations, cows, buffaloes and goats that grazed in green fields surrounded by rice paddies. All natural beauties of the real Lanta. The village of Thung Yee Peng, a few kilometers away, is home to the Agro Tourism Center; a community-oriented project partly financed by the Thai government, aimed at providing funding for the development of local villages in need. We met Nas, the official guide, who took us to the wood jetty where we boarded a longtail boat for a trip along the backwaters. The tide was low and the thousands of mangroves that colonize the flat islands between Koh Lanta Yai and Koh Lanta Noi showed off their maze of un-submerged roots. We passed a few floating fish farms, stopping near one for a quick look, then headed to Koh Lanta Noi at a slow pace through extremely narrow canals. These were the ancient safe shortcuts that boatmen used to travel between the two Koh Lanta islands when the seas were too rough for a direct crossing. Despite the noise of the longtail boat engine, the fauna we encountered was plentiful; a baby varan sunbathed in the mud, surrounded by miniature bright blue and yellow crabs; a big monkey showed himself for a few seconds before disappearing in the dense forest. On our approach to Koh Lanta Noi, groups of tiny fish jumped out of the water in small loops, flying fish presented us with short acrobatic shows, and a massive eagle spread its wings, flying away regally. Inside the Lanta Noi canals, big white herons were perched on dead tree branches; a high number of blue and orange winged birds flew all over us. I was speechless. The longtail approached the shore and we disembarked at a tiny village; sweet Thai music came out of loudspeakers, men and women were busy doing their chores while fish lay drying in the scorching sun. I thought of Lanta Yai and its beaches, its activities, its nightlife: so near yet so distant from this world. We followed Nas on a red earth path lined by smelly rubber trees. Half-way through the circular walk, we stopped to watch how the locals work the rubber, flattening it first with their feet and later rolling wide sheets with hand-operated machines. We were offered a glimpse of local life in the next village and even bought some exquisite local sweets, before making our way to the pier where our boatman was waiting for us. From there, the view was excellent: to the left the limestone mountains of the mainland, to the right, the mangroves; in front of us, the several lush islands that dot the east sea of Koh Lanta Yai and in the distance, Lanta Old Town.
The visit to the sea-gypsy village was a real treat. We walked a narrow lane that cuts the village in two, with houses on stilts built right on the sea shore. Children and dogs roamed carelessly in the muddy paths, while an older woman disentangled fishing nets. Villagers smiled at us as we tried to absorb everything around us. On the porches, women dressed in traditional sarongs rested or cared for newborn babies while men sorted out the catch of the day. Squid fishing is the main industry for these dark-skinned sea people, traditionally known as “Chao Ley�, who still retain their ancient way of life. The longtail boats parked in the shallow waters near a rocky area are used to position iron squid traps in the sea that are emptied on a daily basis. These Chao Ley retain their original dialect and have no fixed religion. They still believe in the supernatural and worshipping of spirits and have yearly festivals in which they ask
forgiveness from the sea gods; there are numerous small spirit altars around the village, all adorned with flowers or small offerings. The sky was clouding up as we left for our return trip to the resorts. It opened dramatically as I sadly parted from our guides. The rain was hammering down, which was my cue to leave this oasis of nature and ancient traditions - one which I hope to visit again soon. This tour can be done independently by renting a motorbike and riding the few Lanta roads carefully. Although is is quite useful and inexpensive to book a tour in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan and have a knowledgeable local guide with you.
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A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
NEED SOMETHING FUN TO DO ON KOH LANTA? Do you want to make a difference in our lives? We are 40 hAPPy rescue dogs and 30 kitties, that would love your affection and some doggy walks!
HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON! OPEN EVERy DAy: 10am - 5pm
LANTA ANIMAL WELFARE located across the school on Pra-Ae -
T: 084 3044331
COOKING SCHOOL, Restaurant & Bar has built our Centre & is our major Sponsor located 3 km from us on Klong Dao Beach Front
HERITAGE
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KOH LANTA YAI NORTH KAW KWANG BEACH
Lanta Diver main office
Passenger Ferry
Car Ferry to Lanta Noi & mainland
POST OFFICE Kaw Kwang Resort
Lanta Diver Ko Lanta Diving Center Blue Planet Divers The Frog
BAN SALADAN
Minivan Station
SUNDAY MARKET
Blue Planet Divers Costa Lanta Resort
TO LANTA OLD TOWN
Laguna Beach Club
Lanta Diver
Mike’s Collection Eden Bar&Dining
Noble House branch
Lanta Pizzeria
Cafe’a
u Lait Deli Lanta Diver Southern Lanta branch Southern Lanta Resort
Fix the girl
Lanta Car Rental SK Optik
The Retreat
Chaba Bungalows Maneelanta
Lanta Island Resort
Phone +66 (0) 75 68 41 24-27 Fax +66 (0) 75 68 41 28
KLONG DAO BEACH
Minivans to Krabi/Phuket
E-mail : info@lantaislandresort.com Website : www.lantaislandresort.com
Congrit Resto
Everything Shop Ancient Realm Resort & Spa
Elephant Trekking
Time for Lime
Cooking School & Restaurant Holiday Villa Lanta Resort Lanta Sand Resort
DID YOU KNOW....
Our profits are donated to the charity LANTA ANIMAL WELFARE So.. come Learn, Eat & Drink your hearts out! AND FEEL GOOD
Funky Fish Indo Furniture Lanta Palm Beach
KLONG DAO BOXING STADIUM Lanta Tavern
Escape Cabins
Dreamy Spa I-Yarade Real Estate
Lanta Law Thanee
Layana Resort & Spa Tides Restaurant Lanta Casuarina Resort Dive & Relax Irish Pubs
Cooking School Restaurant
thai & fusion
Beach Bar
Fun & Professional evening Cooking Classes on the Beach Front
HAPPY HOURS 3 - 6 pm On our FAMOUS Cocktails
FANTASTIC 6 dish Tasting Menu that changes every evening
Bungalows
PHRA AE LONG BEACH
White Flower Apartments White Flower Bajen Sports
Lanta Castaway Resort Siam Pharmacy Lantanian Center
8 cozy air-con & fan
Desjoyaux Pools Andaman Sunflower
9 years with Quality & Funky Atmosphere
Red Snapper
Closed Mondays
KLONG DAO BEACH - KO LANTA Tel: 075 684 590 www.timeforlime.net
Bajen Steakhouse & Nintendo Wii Minigolf
Relax Bay Resort Lanta Diver
Lanta Manda Resort Faim de Loup bakery Bootshaus Retro Restaurant
Lanta Loft
Relax Bay branch
Sunrise Creek Villa Project Custom Homes
Elephant Trekking
TO LANTA OLD TOWN & EASTERN ISLANDS Lanta Animal Welfare
KLONG KONG BEACH
FERRY TIMETABLE: to Koh Phi Phi 8am & 1pm to Ao Nang/Railay 8.30am & 1.30pm to Phuket 8am &1.30pm to Koh Lipe 1pm
Chaw Ka Cher Resort
Saneh Villas LPH Kirikan LPH Klong Kon Villas
tel. +66 (0)899085990 thomas@exotiqproperty.com www.exotiqproperty.com
BUS TIMETABLE: to Krabi every hour 6am to 5pm to Trang every hour 8am to 3pm to Phuket every hour 7am to 4pm MARKETS: Ban Saladan Sunday mornings Lanta Old Town Monday mornings Klong Nin Saturday mornings
BUILT AND MARKETED BY
TO SOUTH OF THE ISLAND
LaNta aNImaL WELfaRE Is a Non - Profit organization. We help keep the Island safe for you by conducting Sterilization & Rabies vaccine programs. We give first aid to injured & abused animals. DOGGIE WALKING at 5 PM ! ! 30 shelter dogs would be truly grateful to get your love & affection. You can adopt as well! Volunteers & donations are greatly appreciated and NEEDED. PLEASE HELP US TO CONTINUE THIS WORK www.lantaanimalwelfare.com 084 304 4331, 089 967 5017
You are one step away from your dream property in Koh Lanta. It is one phone call... Complete service, one stop shop The longest established agents in Krabi Lawyer involved in all transactions Freehold, leasehold, land, businesses Call us and visit us for an informal chat You will not regret it
ESCAPE CABIN FEB09+.pdf
1/19/09
2:06:43 PM
www.exotiqproperty.com - krabi@exotiqproperty.com - tel 081 6778367 - 089 9085990
... escaping into the nature and seclusion Phra Ae, Koh Lanta TEL: +66 (0)8-4446-8909 FAX: +66 (0)75-684-240
stay@escape-cabins.com www.escape-cabins.com
C
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Stylishly decorated cozy villas nestled
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in a peaceful and private setting
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TV and DVD player Fine quality Belgian mattresses for your restful night every single day Never crowded swimming pool with panoramic view of lush tropical nature Single to family size, with or without kitchen, daily to monthly Visit our web for availability calendar
COCONUT BAY Resort & Estates www.coconutbayresort.net
S A LE S S UP P ORT CONS ULT I NG CONS T RUCT I ON
sunrise creek KOH LANTA ‘Coconut Bay Resort & Estates' is a bespoke boutique resort development that is offering residents and guests a stylish and opulent accommodation in a picturesque beach front location. The unique tropical properties are located on a sandy stretch of a secluded private beach on Koh Lanta. The properties will compliment the turquoise waters gently lapping the picturesque cliffs enclosing the palm fringed bay. Established developer. Interest free financing is available. Unique investor program. 0898 398 255 relax@coconutbayresort.net www.coconutbayresort.net
INDEPENDENT PLOTS CHANOTE TITLES FREEHOLD S T U N N I N G S E AV I E W GREEN BELT AREA G AT E D C O M M U N I T Y DESIGN YOUR OWN HOUSE PROGRESSING PAYMENTS FROM 4 MILLIONS THB
legal sales support consulting management
C A LL U S N O W FO R A G U I D ED VI SI T
+6 6 ( 0 ) 8 9 9 0 8 5 9 9 0 krabi@exotiqproperty.com
Working with
a Reputable Architect in Thailand M any people dream of designing and building their own villa so that they can live in the tropical paradise of Thailand in style – Ton Company Ltd. are proud to have made that dream come true for countless satisfied customers.
We have over 12 years of experience in Krabi, with more than 60 successful Architecture and Construction projects in Thailand already under our belt. Designing and building your own property from scratch can be the most rewarding experience. It can also be challenging and stressful, particularly in a foreign country where you are unfamiliar with the language, culture and local construction industry. We have the wealth of experience and local industry knowledge to make your project both a stress-free and enjoyable process.
Initial Consultation So, you have made the important decision to build your dream villa in Thailand and you are now ready to turn that dream into a reality. Your initial consultation is an exciting opportunity for you to share with us your vision and discuss your functional requirements. This will include the type of construction, specifics on the number and size of the rooms and their intended occupants and purpose.
Our qualified team of 18 professionals speak English, French, German and Thai with in-house Architects, Engineers and Landscape Designers. You will also be allocated a dedicated Project Manager who will take personal responsibility for ensuring all your requirements are met.
We will ask you many questions at this stage as we want to pin down your exact requirements as early as possible so that we can provide realistic advice on what is achievable within your proposed budget. We will also furnish you with ideas and recommendations of our own, which you may also wish to consider.
Our unique and comprehensive Architect & Construction Service encompasses the complete ‘end to end’ process from buying land and creating construction plans to adding finishing touches such as landscaping and interior design. We even offer a Property Management Service if you want to generate a future rental income. If you have already decided that Thailand is the location for your new home, then you won’t need us to remind you of the many benefits of living in this most beautiful and vibrant country!
As part of our comprehensive service we can also purchase the land on your behalf – if you opt to do this independently then it is important to bring along any documentation related to your plot so we can ensure that there are no potential issues that may affect the project. Based upon your first consultation, an architect from Ton Company will give you an initial proposal confirming the project scope and provide you with a preliminary cost estimate.
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Design Our core design concept is to create simple yet elegant Thai villas designed for tropical living such as the traditional Thai Design and Build. The layout should be practical and maximize space and we will take care to ensure that ongoing maintenance is manageable and economical. We regard every design project as collaboration between the architect and the client and view our clients as contributing members of the design team. In fact, we encourage an open dialogue
throughout the entire process and our client inclusive approach ensures that you receive continual expert advice and guidance on all aspects your project. Based on information gathered in your initial consultation, our architect will provide you with a Schematic Design to give you a visual image of the property and the room layout. This is not intended to be the finished article and your architect will continually revise the design with you, until you are 100% satisfied. You will review the Schematic Design together to ensure that you are happy with the room layout, flow and the overall look and feel. Your architect will also explain anything that is not clear, so don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as possible. We want to ensure that we are all working towards the same end result and it is significantly easier to make changes to the design at this early stage! Design Refinement and Development We will propose the most efficient and cost effective method for construction and constantly evaluate the design throughout
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the entire design and development phase. At this stage your architect will present a much more detailed Schematic Design to provide you with a picture of the finished product. It will include the structural elements, plumbing and electrical installations and even details of the finishes, such as lighting arrangements etc. We will help you check the Schematic Design thoroughly and only once we have answered all of your questions and you are completely satisfied, will we ask you to approve the design. Construction Documents Next your architect will prepare the Construction Documents that must be submitted to gain a permit or approval to build – don’t worry, your dedicated Project Manager will lead the entire process for obtaining build permission, so you are in safe hands. It is at this stage in a build project that you should investigate reliable builders and contractors, but again - Ton Company Ltd. will take care of that for you. Hiring the Contractors As soon as the Construction Documents are complete, we will begin to source the contractors for construction. With our indepth knowledge of local Thai contractors, we perform a number of critical activities on your behalf including: • Pre-qualifying contractors for invitation to tender. • Analyzing tender bids from selected contractors and conducting tender negotiation. • Selecting contractor(s) and preparing all necessary contracts. • Agreeing construction timelines with contractors to ensure work will complete within project timelines. • Depending on availability of our construction team, some construction projects are now carried out in house. This creates continuity and the shared vision our clients expect and deserve for their project. Construction This is the moment that you have been waiting for, although it can prove the most
busy and stressful part of the entire project. However, with Ton Company Ltd managing the entire construction for you, you are able to sit back and enjoy watching your dream take shape and finally become reality. Your dedicated Project Manager will adopt a strong ‘hands-on’ approach and perform the following activities: • Evaluate monthly bills from the contractor to ensure no over payments • Evaluate and cost all variation requests from the contractor • Maintain Project Accounts • Prepare final Project Accounts in preparation for client handover • Identify areas that require specialist contractors, such as landscaping • Manage on-site construction using specialist inspectors and engineers to ensure all building works comply to quality expectations and building regulations • Ensure full Health and Safety procedures are adhered to • Handle day-to-day site issues such as “Requests for Information”, and “Requests for Approval” • Conduct regular site meetings with contractors to address issues and ensure progress • Ensure construction works remain on budget Completion At last your new home is ready! As we want to ensure that your villa is everything you dreamt of, our Project Manager will provide a full aftercare service so that you can move in and enjoy peace of mind. Your Project Manager will: • Compile a ‘Defects’ list and manage all defects until resolved • Handover to client and manage the defect liability period for a further 12 months. With a reputation for exceptionally high quality Thai architecture, we are confident that you will our find competitive prices and excellent customer service impossible to beat. We are more than happy to show you our current projects and arrange a visit to one of our sites, so why not contact us today to make an appointment ?
For further information about our comprehensive range of Thai Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Property and Project Managements Services, take a look at our websites: www.TonCompany.com, www.krabiArchitect.com and www.KrabiVilla.com
withholding tax
This is a very important part of any form of accounting herer in Thailoand, and so here we will try and clarify what this Withholding Tax is all about. Basically, this is a tax collected by a deduction made on a payment when said payment is made. The payer who will remit it to the Revenue Department on behalf of the payee collects the tax. The tax the payer collects and remits to the Revenue Department on behalf of the payee will become a credit that will apply against the income tax (personal or corporate) due by the payee. The most well known withholding tax is the tax deducted from the wage of an employee by the employer, but there are more than a hundred type of transactions subjected to withholding tax. Withholding Taxes on Local Remittances Many foreign investors during the first few months of their presence in Thailand forget to withhold taxes on their payments. This can be a very costly mistake as the payer is responsible to the Revenue Department for the payment of the withholding tax. If you forget to collect the withholding tax when you make a payment to a supplier, you may very well have problems in claiming it back from the supplier. There are 20 main categories of income subject to withholding taxes - not including the sub-categories. Rates of withholding tax are between 0.75% and 10% for the withholding tax on dividends. To illustrate the point, there is 2% withholding tax on advertising charges, 3% on services, 5% on rentals (if the payee is a juristic person) and 10% if the payee is a taxable foundation. For example, your company hired a service provider in Thailand and need to pay a service fee of 100,000 THB to said service provider. Now your provider should calculate in its invoice as follows:
The Withholding Tax payment you have made to the Revenue Department on behalf of your service provider will become a credit against your service provider company corporate income tax. The form you use to pay the withholding tax to the Revenue Department will depend of the type of payment. A company that withholds tax on a payment made to another company will use the P.N.D.53 withholding tax returns form. A company that withholds tax on a payment made to an individual (monthly rent, services…) will use the P.N.D.3 withholding tax returns form. Finally, a company that withholds tax on the payment of individuals’ income such as for example salaries must use the P.N.D.1 withholding tax returns form. In all the cases mentioned above the company needs to file the form within 7 days from the end of the month of the payment. Finally, the P.N.D.1 form is the annual withholding tax return for individuals that contain the summary of the tax withheld during the year on employees salary income. The company will need to
100,000 THB +VAT@ 7% (7000 THB of VAT) = 107,000 THB 100,000 THB – Withholding Tax @ 3% (3000 THB of Withholding Tax) = 97,000 THB 97,000 THB (100,000 THB-3% Withholding Tax) + 7,000 THB of VAT = 104,000 THB Amount your company will have to pay to the Revenue Department on behalf of your service provider = 3,000 THB
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file this form before the end of February of the year that follows the year when the payments were made. Refund of the withholding tax Withholding Tax is why even companies that are incurring losses end up paying corporate income tax. As another example - assume that your company had lost 200,000 THB in 2011. As a result of this loss, your company does not - in theory - have to pay corporate income tax. While your company does not have to pay corporate income tax (because it incurred a loss) on its 2011 exercise, it may have during the year built a withholding tax credit. For example, if your company is a service company, your clients have paid on your company behalf withholding taxes with the Revenue Department upon payment of your invoices. Now assume that your withholding tax credit with the Revenue Department for 2010 is 200,000 THB. If your company does not need to pay corporate income tax, you may be tempted to ask the Revenue Department to refund the withholding tax your clients have paid on behalf of your company over the year. After all, you have a right to it.
Should you claim a withholding tax refund? No, we do not recommend you to do it because it will trigger a tax audit from your company. Actually, your company will be audited by the tax administration every year anyway. However, the audit will be more scrupulous if the tax administration knows that you have requested a refund of your withholding tax. Therefore, it is best to wait for the tax administration to complete its yearly audit account of your company’s financial statements. If there is a small problem with your financial statements, you can use the withholding tax refund as a negotiating tool. Note that once the tax audit is completed and even if there were no problems, it is still recommendable to “donate” your withholding tax to the Revenue Department for the benefit of Thailand.
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Building a Dream House? Avoid the avoidable
This month’s article is based upon the many pitfalls that one will face when taking on the huge task of building their dream house here in Thailand. The homeowner’s work begins with hiring the contractor or a local building team. Communication is everything. Costly mistakes, poorly thought-out decisions, inadequate planning, failure to pay attention to the details and inattention to budget can plague the best-intentioned home construction project. Building a home is an incredibly complex process and a number of small mistakes will happen. You can avoid the biggest and costliest mistakes if you do your homework early on. Try to discuss aspects with your builder clearly, and always try to respect the people building your home. Even at the most frustrating of times.
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Phone. EN 0899085990
TH 089 7727858
krabi@exotiqproperty.com www.exotiqproperty.com
BALI - LOMBOK - HUA HIN - KOH SAMUI - KRABI - KHANOM - PATTAYA - PHUKET
Exotiq Property offer brokerage and full ‘Design and Build’ services. Our dedicated team of architects, engineers and builders can discuss house options on a personal basis. Contact us on the above phone and email to arrange an appointment and discuss your requirements.
BIDDING ON THE PRICE Doing business in Thailand is about haggling and bargaining, it’s expected due to Thai culture and ways, but never forget that the extent of your bargaining will almost certainly have an immediate affect regarding the quality of the finished product. The Thai contractor - especially the local builder - needs jobs; he has a team which requires on-going work. This means that he will almost certainly accept any negotiated price, no matter how low it is just to keep his team busy. This will have an effect on the finished job due to workers not getting paid on time and deadlines being missed due to cash flow problems. Firstly, be sure to carefully select a list of competent contractors. Almost certainly ask to have a look at examples of their work. Once happy that what they have showed you is work they have actually done, hand them your plans and wait until they come back with a breakdown of costs regarding labor and materials. It can be awfully tempting to simply assess all cost breakdowns and go with the lowest bid. If you really trace down the nightmares involved in building, you will find that a large part of the problem is that people go for the low-bid price. Also remember that when somebody bids
something too low, they may have done it on purpose and plan to make it up later, or they may have done it accidentally. Either way, they’ll soon be in trouble because they’re losing money. On some level, they may start doing things subconsciously like shaving time and cutting corners. Create your own guidelines when figuring out the estimate. This means putting together a list of specific tasks that each contractor will have to treat similarly. Example, Concreting quantities, Roof structure material allowance, quantity of bricks, etc. If you have quotes from, say, four different teams, they should be fairly close in terms of material estimation. The more you study and spend time going over the areas stated above, the more you will start to understand how things get done. Take a look at the plans of your house and how you would breakdown the overall costing. It is doubtful that you will cover everything but try and give it a go. I won’t digress too much regarding price structure and cost per square meter here due to the flexibility of the subject. In other words, it pays to do your homework.
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Nong Thale River Residence Custom designed villas & holiday rentals
c i g a Live am magic life! Experience the difference
Modern minimalistic Villa Ao Nang “baan Will”
Nong Thale River Residence l l l l l l
www.nongthaleriverresidence.com
l l l
300
l
Quiet and spacious residential area Near Ao Nang beach and entertainment Krabi International Airport 25 kilometer Spacious plots 1100-1600m2 Custom built villas Quality materials Environment aware construction Project management and rental service Good accessibility for seniors Opportunity to experience on site before buying
350 m
4034 Krabi
4024 Klong Muang
Wat Klong Son
Kamalot
info@kamalot-ltd.com
+66 (0) 818940675
Co. Ltd. Land & Development
บริษัท กมล๊อต จำกัด
Glam up When it’s Pouring Down The Green season is here once again, and as downpours alternate with periods of sun in the Krabi provinces, we will find ourselves undoubtedly more confined to our homes for longer periods than in the high season - whether we like or not. So if we have to look at the same 4 walls every day - why not make them a little more interesting to look at? One of the ways to fight boredom and to pass the spare time is to find ideas to improve the look of the inside of your home. Turning your home into a private hideaway might be as simple as adjusting the colours, light and scent of your inner spaces.
For example, our feelings can be calmed by a warm candlelight releasing a fragrant vapour. Carpets with tiger and leopard motifs give impressive character and colours to a room. The walls are of paramount importance to a living room; if they look long and boring, you should think about dividing them into blocks and painting them with your favourite colours. A wall of a turquoise blue looks much deeper than a white wall and evokes images of the nearby sea. Other important features in home décor are decorative items like lampshades and paintings: choose those with a tone contrasting to the colours
of the walls so they stand out more. Paintings are a great way to add loads of character to your home and can be purchased from any number of local artists that live and work around the Krabi province. Another great way to add some life and interest to your house are the inclusion of some plants and flowers. Not only do they add colour and fragrance, but they also act as natural air purifiers as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the environment. Again, Thailand is awash with hundreds of species of flora and a trip to one of the many roadside “Garden Centers”
you may come across will undoubtedly have you leaving with your arms full! Don’t just keep them inside, either. Try lining your garden path and other walkways with them and you will immediately see the difference such a simple addition makes. It’s not only the walls that can use a little imagination - wooden shingles or granite tiles can cover part of the floor to really change the “mood” of a room and make it much more interesting. Colour Shades can be a little tricky when talking about home décor: too many of them can clash together. A small room should have simple components that make it look spacious. Making the interior of your house charming does not only depend on an architect or on the structure: you can play a large role in it. The theme you chose will be a mirror that reflects your taste and personality. Your home will be a pleasure to visit for outsiders, and for you to look at on that never-ending rainy day.
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Thailand
reaches for the stars It may not come as much of a surprise to those of us who have actually travelled here to Thailand to hear that the country has been climbing up the popularity polls as one of the most desirable locations on the planet. The most recent global body to acknowledge Thailand’s burgeoning popularity is the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) which has elevated it a place upwards from #12 to #11 in their list of “places to be”. It looks as if we could even break into the revered “Top 10” by the end of this year, if recent forecasts are anything to go by - which would be a fantastic accolade for the country and one which would only serve to strengthen it’s place as one of the best destinations in the world for tourism. At the same time, it would underline the importance the tourist trade plays in Thailand’s economic growth. When compared with our Asian neighbors, Thailand is head and shoulders above the rest, which include Singapore at #15 and Malaysia in the #14 slot. The #13 position is currently occupied by Austria, with Turkey in at #12. The #10 slot belongs to Hong Kong at the moment, who actually received a massive $1 Billion less in tourist dollars than Thailand in 2011. The monetary value of tourism receipts across the globe reached $1 Trillion dollars for the first time last year - up from $928 Billion in 2010. 28% of these belonged to Asia and the Pacific, and the numbers are growing. Thailand’s own receipts grew by more than $5 billion last year, one of only 5 countries to do so - the other 4 being Spain, France, the USA and Hong Kong. The Tourism Ministry here has stated that the numbers of tourists arriving in Thailand rocketed up a massive 19.8% to hit 19.1 million people in 2011. The Northern city of Chiang Mai was also recently voted as the #2 overall destination in the whole of Asia by Trip Advisor - a massive accolade by anyones book. So it all looks good for Thailand, as it’s track record has gone on to prove again and again. It’s economic growth, increase in people arriving on our shores and the overall bump in popularity and monetary polls cannot be ignored and seems to point to a bright future for our amazing country.
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About Us Accessing consumers that include the affluent, brand-conscious, well-educated, well-travelled and families with children; the Krabi Magazine is perfectly targeted to advertise travel and leisure products, luxury/cosmetic goods, electronic/ photographic equipment, food and drink, entertainment, accommodation and much more. Advertising with the Krabi Magazine does not begin and end with your business appearing in print, but includes online exposure within our Facebook, Twitter and Issuu pages. With every issue of the Krabi Magazine packed full of well-researched, informative content and stunning photography, we have found that our average reader spends between one to two hours perusing an issue over at least three sittings – time enough to receive the advertiser’s messages and information. Krabi Magazine is distributed to many 5-Star resorts who place them in their rooms for guests’ convenience. We also have a high-quality real estate section; advertising in which is perfectly targeted towards our readers that are those interested in property purchase.
our scope 5,000 - 10,000 copies per issue Sold throughout Thailand in Asiabooks and at Bookazine newsstands Distributed in hotels, resorts, retail outlets, airports, restaurants & pubs, cafes, boat piers, spa & fitness centers and more Also available by subscription and online 10% subscriber distribution, 10% purchased from newsstands and 80% complimentary/ corporate copies
Contact us at: krabimagazinemarketing@gmail.com
Advertising Rates for 2012 - 2013 Advert Size
Low Season (May - Oct 2012)
High Season (Nov - Apr 2013)
฿10,500 ฿7,000 ฿4,500 ฿3,000
฿13,500 ฿9,500 ฿5,500 ฿4,000
Full Page Half Page Third Page Quarter Page
Format:
21cm x 28cm
Front Cover:
Matt art-card paper: 310g
Internal Pages:
Matt art paper: 210g full colour
Number of Pages:
50 - 100 (Season dependent)
Frequency:
Monthly
readership 7% 7% 48%
18%
5%
Hotels Trade Newsstands
find us on Facebook
follow us on Twitter
15%
Subscriptions Pubs & Restaurants Travel Agents
THANEE ATTORNEY & COUNSELOR AT LAW
E-mail: info@thaneelaw.com www.thaneelaw.com
INTERNATIONAL LAW OFFICE STANDARDS YOU CAN TRUST
- Legal advisory - Project management - Company formation - Work permits - Visa and immigration - Business contracts and licenses - Wills and testaments
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Krabi Magazine Around the World If you’ve been a visitor to our shores and happened to take a copy of Krabi Magazine back with you to your home country, then we are looking for you! We want to see how far and wide our publication can get, so if you have a copy if Krabi Magazine, take a picture of yourself with it; the picture should clearly show your face and the copy of the magazine in the foreground. In the background there should be a landmark of any known or unknown place in the world. To get the ball rolling, here’s our very first one all the way from freezing Moscow! Email your pictures to us at krabimagazineeditor@gmail.com Please specify your name, country of origin, and the name of the location (no Photoshopped pics please - we can tell!). You can also include a paragraph describing your time in Krabi and the things you loved of this great Thai province. The best pictures will be published in Krabi Magazine, and your name will be entered in a raffle to win a yearly subscription to Krabi Magazine, to be sent monthly to anywhere in the world.