Krabi Magazine July issue 2018

Issue #138 July 2018 www.krabi-magazine.com

MAGAZINE

KRABI Belay on!

Check out our write up Krabi’s busiest rock climbing routes

Krabi cuisine

Taste the varied and wonderful food Krabi has to offer

KHAO KAHAPNAM MOUNTAIN THE SECRET BEHING THIS

ICONIC MOUNATIN DINING TRAVEL ACTIVITIES BEACHES LOCAL

GET OUT AND EXPLORE

THERE IS SIMPLY TOO MUCH TO MISS

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Managing director:

Joe Alonzo Joe@krabi-magazine.com 085-069-4752

Operations manager:

Pimpimol ‘Mem’ Wongkajorn info@krabi-magazine.com 093-658-4415

Distribution logistics:

Blackmagic Team

Contributing Writers and photographers:

Zina Docto Anastasia Slepysheva 69 Slam Govinda Restaurant Grace Clinic

Instagram support:

@tropic.bound @krabimagazine @charlesberg

Published by: KitDee Media Co., Ltd. 093-658-4415 info@krabi-magazine.com Visit us online at: www.krabi-magazine.com

Welcome to the mixed month!

We have dedicated this month as the weather is varied and unpredictable to offer an eclectic mix of articles and information for our readers.

Read about Longtail boats creation and the historical significance to the region, or maybe rock climbing is your fancy, we’ve got an article on this as well. Want to take a trip away from Ao Nang? Well we’ve got 2 major destinations in Koh Lanta beckoning your visit with Saladan and Lanta Old Town, both of which are worth a visit if you’re thinking of things to do, and a must do if you’re already going to Koh Lanta.

The ‘Green season’ as it’s come to be known is May - October in Krabi so it covers a wide gap of 6 months. During these 6 months the weather is an eclectic mix of super bright cloudless days and heavy monsoon style storms. The days are relatively unpredictable and can turn on a dime so keep that in mind if you are traveling on a bike.

Enjoy these varied articles as the weather literally shifts day to day.

Krabi Magazine is published and produced by KitDee Media & Design Company Limited and is protected by copyright laws. No part of this publication can be used or reproduced in any form: printed, electronic, photocopied or otherwise without the written permission of the publishers.

The publisher reserves the right to refuse to publish advertisements, text or advertising features.

Disclaimer.

While great care has been taken in the receipt and handling of material, publication and accuracy in this magazine. The publisher will not accept any responsibility for any errors, loss or omissions which may occur. The information and stories published are those of the writers and contributors, and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or the editor. The description of properties, the contents whereabouts and prices given in this magazine are to be used as a guide only. Please request further information from a particular advertiser and seek legal advice prior to entering into any binding agreement.

All information and prices was correct at the time of this issue going to press.

Contents

KRABI MAGAZINE

July 2018

FEATURES 12. Krabi’s Iconic Mountains Khao Kanapnam Mountain in krabi town has a histoical and cultural significace to Krabi

18 Dim Sum A food/history lesson combined

30 Longtail boats The symbol of Southern Thailand explained

38 Healthy holidays What Thailand can do for you while your on holiday

HERE TO THERE 34 Ao Nang Dining Guide Our top picks for dining while in Ao Nang

LOCAL PULSE 16 Window on Krabi What to do in this amazing little province

64 Krabi’s largest island 22 Thai Customs

If your in Koh Lanta, this quiet sleepy town is well worth the trip

The sunset is;and as it’s called because every beach offers stunning sunset views

48 On Belay

66 Koh Lanta activities

26 Krabi Activities

What you need to know abot rock climbing in Railay

What to do while you’re on Krabi’s largest island

What to do while on holiday in Krabi

54 Saladan, Koh Lanta

70 Unplug in Koh Jum

60 SCUBA Diving

The capital of Koh Lanta, Saladan has more to offer than expected

Take a break and step back a few years in time on Koh Jum

Everythig you need to know about life beneath the waves

44 Lanta Old town

How to behave and live in the Kingdom of Thailand

Come to C-Salt Cafe and try our special menu for July-August

Every couple of months, we offer a different menu inspired by a particular local cuisine or ingredient. During this July to August you can enjoy our Monthly Special Menu and savour Theme of “Pak-Wan”. Melientha suavis or Pak-Wan is a medicinal plant. Highly nutritious properties as antioxidants and have a lot of fiber to help excrete.

Although some people find similarities with other vegetables, it is very hard to compare to any other. Therefore, it is compulsory to try “Pak Wan” while visiting Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa. Choose between: Yam Pak-Wan Goong Krob – Thai style salad with Deep fried Sundried Shrimp, Pak-Wan and pulled chicken.

Gaeng Khua Kai Pak-Wan - Roasted Chicken in Red Curry with Paw-wan.

Tom Klong Pla Krob Pak-Wan - Hot and spicy fried seabass soup with Pakwan and roasted herbs.

Luxury in pure nature at Rayong Marriott Resort & Spa.

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR MAKE A RESERVATION, PLEASE CONTACT

WWW.RAYONGMARRIOTTRESORT.COM

The river runs through it Khao Kanap Nam Mountain the symbol of Krabi

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hao Kanapnam mountain is an iconic landmark in Krabi and certainly one of the must see locations of the province.

The Krabi river which runs from the interior of Krabi’s mangrove estuaries out to the Andaman sea, on it’s journey to the Andaman sea it looks like it almost splits a mountain in two. If you look Eastward when standing on the rivers edge you can see the 2 distinct rocks as if they are falling apart from one another.

It’s a beautiful backdrop to the popular mud crab sculpture which is a popular place to take a photo from Khao Kanapnam mountain is actually home to a large open cave system which you can easily access. There are numerous longtail boatmen waiting to take you through the mangroves to the cave for a small fee of 200thb/person.

The trip takes no more than 15 minutes from the Chao Fah pier area of Krabi town.

The caves themselves provided a hideout for Japanese soldiers stranded here during WWII, there are actually statues of these Japanese soldiers acting out various acts in the caves.

On the way to the mountain you will pass by the riverfront village of Koh Klang and it’s numerous seafood restaurants on site. The typical tour will take you to the cave system, and then also to one of these famous riverfront seafood restaurants. where you can pick from a range of different nets each with a different species of fish to cook for your meal, seafood doesn’t get more fresh than this.

One piece of advice, we’d recommend you visit the Khao Kanapnam mountain trip during high tide as more of the mangrove waterway will be accessible and the driver will be able to take farthing into the labyrinth that is the estuary system.

Good luck and enjoy this natural wonder right in the heart of Krabi town, it only takes 3 hours start to finish, so what are you waiting for?!

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Window on Krabi Islands

Parks

KOH PODA This is the iconic island of Krabi and the first and most dramatic one you can see from Ao Nang beach. Hop on a longtail boat - the local wooden boats with their picturesque prow and sail away surrounded by turquoise water.

THA POM NATIONAL PARK Thapom is a simple local national park, not the easiest to access, but certainly worth the trip. Just outside Ao Nang, Thapom is a place where salty seawater and freshwater from the mountains mix perfectly creating an observable stratified layer, where both sea fish and freshwater fish live separately but together.

Close to Ao Thalane Bay, Thapom is a 30 minute drive from Ao Nang.

CHICKEN ISLAND This should be next on your list as it is right next to Koh Poda. From the right angle when passing Chicken Island (Koh Gai) you can catch a glimpse of a chicken’s neck and head, some would argue more like that of a turkey but it’s up to you. The second island, Koh Tub, is connected to Chicken Island by a sandy isthmus and people can walk from one to another at low tide.

KOH HONG This island archipelago demands everyone’s attention as it is one of the highlights of Krabi Province. The Archipelago, a group of limestone islands with many hidden caves and lagoons makes it perfect for snorkeling and exploring. Make sure you visit Lading and Pakbia islands before Koh Hong as they are much less visited and sport a blend of both lush jungle and tropical waters. Koh hong is usually crowded until 3pm so we recommend visiting other Lading and Pakbia in the morning, then going to Koh Hong after the crowds have started to leave.

KOH PHI PHI Private bays, limestone cliffs, waters rich in marine life and caves where swallow’s birds nests are harvested are all here on the island that Leonardo Di Caprio once rolled his hot bod in while filming ‘The Beach’ at the now iconic Maya Bay. KOH JUM & KOH SIBOYA Both are unspoiled tropical hide-aways that have a unique atmosphere. Tune in to the slow culture here, imbibe the peace and recharge your batteries with the soundtrack of lapping waves.

KHAO PHANOM BENCHA NATIONAL PARK At 20 km from Krabi Town, the Khao Phanom Bencha national park 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 it’s name. One of the features of the park is Huay Thoi Waterfall where water runs down onto several huge pools.

TARNBOK KHORANEE NATIONAL PARK Located in the north of the province, Tarnbok Khoranee national park is made up of limestone mountains, verdant tropical forest, caves and beautiful islands. It is well known kayaking explorers as there are a number of tributaries curving into a number of small caves boasting ancient cave paintings.

SA MORAKOT, THE EMERALD POOL Truly a natural wonder of Krabi: a pond of turquoise water with an average temperature of 30-40°C fed by a hot spring in the middle of the jungle in Klong Thom district, 70 kilometers from Ao Nang.

HOT SPRINGS Situated in Klong Thom district, These natural hot springs are natures jacuzzis. They melt away tensions, relieve the body and mind with the fresh spring water running over mineral enriched limestone rocks.

KOH LANTA The developing island at the southern end of the province known for its prime sunset views, heaps of activities and glimpses into sea gypsy life. Koh Lanta is also a National Park that comprises many local islands surrounded by coral reefs, such as Koh Ngai, Koh Mook and the remote Koh Rok.

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Reminder When visiting many of the national parks in Krabi there is often an entrance fee which you need to pay by cash at the time of entrance. This fee can vary but it is always between 90thb - 400thb per person. If you do book a tour through a local operator, please make sure to check with them prior to departing as to whether or not the tour price includes this national park fee.

Beaches AO NANG BEACH: At 20 km from Krabi Town Ao Nang Beach is the most developed of Krabi’s many beaches. Ao Nang Beach is famous for it’s white sand beaches and large limestones karsts towering over the eastern edges. All of your accommodation, shopping and service needs can be found here. It is the hub from which to plan your trip to sea as well as to any number of the nearby islands.

NOPPHARAT THARA BEACH Just around the corner from Ao Nang, yet still undeveloped with only a few resorts, bars and restaurants, Noppharat Thara beach offers a bit more “local” feel than it’s sister Ao Nang.

Attractive because of its natural setting, this is where local youngsters and families gather during sunset and on weekends. Savor some local Muslim snacks at the beach stalls, or fill yourself with seafood in the local restaurants at the end of the beach neat the Noppharat Thara National park headquarters. At low tide, walk out together with millions of small crabs on the sandy pathways to a small island on the western edge of the beach.

KLONG MUANG BEACH A further 20 km away from Ao Nang Klong Muang is the up-market side of Krabi, the place to be if you are after a peaceful and hassle free holiday. Catering to families and couples, it is here that you really get that well deserved repose, surrounded by pristine nature.

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TUBKAEK BEACH Next to Klong Muang Beach, Tub Keak beach is another place to just get away; long, clean and powerful, the area boasts breathtaking views over the Koh Hong archipelago and provides for wonderfully charming sunsets.

From Tubkeak beach you can venture inside the National Park and try the nature trail “Naga trek” to one of the most spectacular viewpoints in Krabi.

RAILAY AND TONSAI BEACHES Are split and separated from Ao Nang by a limestone mountain range. Railay has two sides, east and west, and its settings are simply marvelous: crystal clear waters, pure sandy beaches, lush mountains and rocky islands emerging from the sea. Both beaches are known all over the world for their famous climbing routes. They can only be reached by boat, a 15 minute 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 or ‘deep water solo’ cliff jumping into the sea, hike the limestone trail to a lagoon or the viewpoint or simply chill out and watch the day pass you by.

KOH LANTA BEACHES Koh Lanta has a wide selection of resorts for all tastes and pockets. Koh 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.

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DIM SUM ‘A TOUCH OF HEART’

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ait on a second hold up, isn’t Dim Sum a food from China? Yes you’re right and this magazine and dedicated to Krabi and all it’s wonder. Well then why are you writing about a Chinese cuisine option in a magazine about Krabi Thailand? Well read on and you’ll see why.

in the early 19th centuries as life in China was becoming more and more difficult due to famine, drought, floors and most of all violent rebellions plagued rural China, wiping out much of the population and leaving those alive in squalor living conditions.

Many families would subsist on rice and water for years, and the government’s approach to solving unrest or anger was often by dealing more death to the already weak and tired population. These violent conditions left many Chinese families with little to no options and many chose to emigrate to another land. in the late 19th century when the UK was investing in Singapore they caught labor to develop the city-state and openly welcomed Chinese and Indian labourers to help build up the present day metropolis. Those who had little opportunity in their homeland were suddenly given shelter, work, food and money for spending, they were happy and felt they had found a new home. As the year moved and the British developed Malaysia and other regions of Southe East Asia these same migrants were moved around the peninsula coming to rest in cities such as Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Phuket and Hatyai.

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With these migrants who came with nothing more than a pot, a few bamboo mats to sleep on they brought their home culture and cuisine with them. For much of the rural population one of thee cuisine options was Dim Sum. Dim SUm is basically a rice wrapper or rice dough wrapped around filling and then steamed. The fillings range from BBQ’d pork to seaweed, shrimp, red bean and much more. They are traditionally served individually in a small bamboo tray which is placed on top of a kettle full of boiling water allowing the steam to permeate the bamboo trays cooking the dim sum inside.

When you choose to eat Dim Sum you’ll have the option to choose from a range of different pieces, give them to the chef who places them a top a stack of other bamboo trays for a time, when the steam is enough they will bring you the tray and unveil it’s interior for you to dig into.

Dim Sum is not only about the food though, traditionally there is ways tea present at every meal and this tea is incredibly important o balance any meal as the pieces of dim sum can sometimes be a little dry due to the amount of rice dough used.

Dim Sum is a cultural highlight found throughout the Kingdom of Thailand and is yet another example showcasing the diversity of the Thai people.

Currently ethnic Chinese make up some 15% of the Thai population.

Enjoy Dim sun at almost any 7-11 you come to, but if you want to really try some real deal Dim Sum head to Krabi town to BaBao 315/8 Maharat Road, Krabi town 81000 +66 (0) 81 677 3328

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Thailand

Customs Thailand is the 'Land of Smiles', and it's an important part of the culture and greeting. Smile, don't lose your temper, keep a calm voice.

Accept what people offer you with grace. If you don't like something, carefully decline, and smile

Sacred and revered. Even if it’s a ruined, half destroyed statue of the deity – treat it with the utmost respect and you will shine in the eyes of the Thai.

Common sense here – don’t clamber up onto one or mimic a pose for a photo. Snap a shot respectfully and if possible, ask a monk if it’s okay.

Public displays of affection are a big no-no all over Thailand.

Maybe the restaurant is not the best place for snogging.

In Buddhism, the feet are seen as the lowest part of the body, both literally and guratively. Never point your feet at a Thai, monk or statue of Buddha.

Instead, sit with your feet under your knees or cross-legged.

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Easy this one – remove your shoes or sandals at any indoor space. When in doubt, look for other shoes at the doorway and follow suit. Resorts may be an exception, but absolutely take them off at a Wat (temple) or Thai’s home.

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The Thai Royal Family is revered and there can be no worse “faux pas” than to joke about the King, or any Royal Family member. Some have actually been thrown in jail for making “uncivil remarks” about their beloved leader. It’s serious business, so take note. Use common sense and you’ll be ne.

Ladies, please cover your chests and shoulders, and wear bottoms that go past the knee. Women should never touch or hand anything directly to a monk. Anyone should onate some money if possible, to help maintain the temple. Again, use your common sense and you’ll be a star in Thailand.

A slight head bow and a prayer-like gesture with the hands is the traditional greeting, thank you, sign of respect and goodbye. Wai-ing will certainly light up some smiles of appreciation.

It’s one of the greatest ironies of life that the one place in Thailand with the best beaches and scorching sun is also one of the most conservative when it comes to dressing. The predominantly Muslim population here in the South can take real offense to half naked bodies wandering into their shops and restaurants.

You deserve that tan -we know- but you can’t tan indoors, anyway (at least not naturally).

Thailand is an excellent place for bargains, and haggling is expected amongst customers and vendors. Remember to take the “softly-softly” approach and don’t be aggressive. Smile, ask for the best price, and take it from there. Keep calm and never lose your temper.

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K R A B I THAI COOKING CLASS AT AO NANG THAI COOKERY SCHOOL

FISHING AT EXOTIC FISHING THAILAND

SCUBA DIVING AND SNORKELING AT AQUA VISION

If you want to take home some techniques of the famous thai cuisine you must stop off at Ao Nang Thai Cookery School, opened since 2001.

Looking to hook massive fresh water species? Then look no further than Exotic Fishing Thailand situated in beautiful Phang Nga. You will find more than sixty species such as Jau Catfish, Vundu Catfish, Piraiba Catfish, Goonch, Chinese Black Carp, Yellow Cheek Carp, and dozens of others. Exotic Fishing Thailand offers a special stocking program to ensure that their fishing only gets better and more interesting.

With Krabi being host to over 100 islands, it’s makes perfect sense for you to venture out and see some of the nooks and crannies which this beautiful province is home to.

Learn how to cook Royal Thai Cuisine with experienced chefs who will take you step by step through each recipe with the exotic herbs and spices that make Thai cuisine one of the world’s culinary delights.

One of the main instructor SOW, whom has 10 years cooking and culinary experience in some of Thailand’s five star hotel and restaurants.

At Ao Nang Thai Cookery School, you will be able to learn by choosing your own dishes to cook.

Back home, impress your friends with green Thai curry fragrant soups or stir fried chicken with cashew nuts, spring rolls, chicken satay, pad thai and many more recipes.

When the cooking is all over you can sit and enjoy all of your hard work.

Ao Nang Thai Cookery School is just the thing you need when you want a break from the beach and discover the authentic thai culture.

The lake is over 25 rai (nearly 10 acres) and is one of the largest fisheries in southern Thailand.

At Exotic Fishing Thailand, they offer fishing packages for all levels. Most of clients stay for a few days to have the chance to catch as many species of fish as possible. You will not be disappointed with the huge variety of fish stocked in this beautiful pond.

It is also possible to enjoy a nice and reasonable priced meal or a real Thai cooking class at the Mountain View Restaurant.

Open Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Phone number: (+66) 088-379-9377 www.exoticfishingthailand.com

The Andaman sea is home to a range of creatures, from the illusive nudibranchs to the streamlined white tipped and black tipped reef sharks. There are even sightings of whale sharks which occasionally carouse the waters.

It’s not just that, there are thousands of parrot fish, schooling travelies, clown fish and territorial damselfish.

All that is just below the waves and waiting for you to visit.

Aquavision is one of the first dive companies in Ao nang, they pride themselves of their attention to detail and safety protocol, rest assured when you’re diving with Aquavision.

Phone number : +66 (0) 75 637 394 www.Aqua-vision.net

Phone number : +66 (0) 81 415 9358 / +66 (0) 75 695 478 www.aonangthaicookeryschool.com

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AC T I V I T I E S HORSEBACK RIDING AT KRABI NATURE HORSE RIDING

GET YOUR FLEX ON AT MARINA YOGA

ENJOY A UNIQUE SHOW AT BLUE DRAGON CABARET

Have you ever dreamed of a romantic horse rides on the beach with the one you love ? Have you ever dreamed of escaping your busy lifestyle to a relaxing holiday with your family or friends ? Then Krabi Nature Horse riding is the place for you.

Take a break from the beach and try another way to enjoy your holidays. Marina yoga offers a systemic and flexible approach to yoga that will suit anyones needs.

At Marina yoga, it’s not about pushing yourself, it’s about finding your center through the guidance of the caring and professional teachers.

Blue Dragon Cabaret Show gives you one of the warmest welcomes you can find in the land of smiles and does so in many different languages. Thailand is well known for ladyboys and Blue Dragon shows them doing what they love the most: dressing up and performing.

Some of these ‘ladies’ have features that would make women jealous. The performers are keen to entertain and put on a good show and the best way to enjoy it is to don your imaginary feather boa and embrace their world of glitz, glamour and over-the-top drama.

Khun Pan, the owner, will help you explore and discover Krabi by horse riding along the white sandy beaches and thai countryside, and even swimming with horses by high tide. You just have to choose between a one hour trek, a two hours trek, a half day trip or a whole day trip.

Krabi Nature Horse riding offers a variety of horse riding activities suitable for all the levels. The horses are selected to match with wide range of your riding skills to ensure that you will enjoy your ride.

Open everyday 8.30am-4.30pm Phone number : 075 662 305 / 0810 085 9627

Marina yoga classes integrate the use of many different postures (Asana), breathing (Pranayama), relaxiation (Shavasana), and meditation (Dhana) to relieve pain, prevent injuries and promore general well being.

Yoga practice is the best way to tone your muscles, get you in shape fast while developing you from the inside out, this is done by putting a strong focus on awareness and control during all classes. The incorporation of mind and body helps reduce both physical and mental stress. Yoga can be practiced by anyone, regardless of age, strength or flexability.

At Marina yoga, no more aches and pains, through increased oxygem flow throughout the body you will actually gain energy as opposed to loosing it and end every class feeling reinvegorated and fresh again.

Phone number : +66 (0) 94-320-5335 www.marinayoga.com/

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If you want to enjoy an amazing show with beautiful costumes, fun dancing, great lip syncing, the Blue Dragon Cabaret show is a must see with very professional Lady Boys.

Blue Dragon is the first cabaret show in Krabi, very entertaining to watch, located in Ao Nang’s Center Point on the third floor. Three shows are scheduled every nights, at 8 pm, 9.30 pm and 11 pm and each one of them lasts one hour.

If you go before and between the shows you may have the chance to take photos with the transgender performers trying to bring in more customers by parading on the sidewalk.

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All hail the queen!

Just make sure you old your nose Durian, that famous thorny, smelly, heavy, eggy tasting fruit is back on the shelves. Find your way inside it’s thick outer shell and you’re in for a surprise.

Some say it is the most smelliest fruit in the world, some say it is the tastiest, it’s all in the eye of the beholder right? But those signs at hotels, buses and airport banning its entrance onto their premises make it seem more like the former. A tropical fruit you won’t find it in your local grocery store back home, but you can find in during the months of April-June in almost every

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fruit stall in Thailand. A favorite among many South east Asian locals (thai’s, Malaysian’s and Singaporeans).

Some compare the smell of fresh durian with rotting flesh, some say it’s more like rotten eggs, on a good day some might equate this pungent fruit with that of a robust Limburger cheese, all in all the votes are in; durian smells BAD. But it’s something to try right? You’re out of your comfort zone, you’re in a new land, your on your way to new experiences, so why not allow those

new experiences to be over a beer at dinner? It’s a great fruit and many locals will eat only durian for a meal as it is a very heavy and full of fats. In terms of filling you up it is said to have the density of a coconut. A single durian contains enough fat to keep you full for hours to come.

Durian now comes in many shapes and forms, now being made into chips for your on the go enjoyment, and even drinks (mostly sold at only souvenir shops). So take your pick whats your pleasure, flesh, chip or drink?

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In a salty paradise A little freshwater is all you need Just before the popular beaches of Ao Nang, Noparathara and Klong Muang is the large Nong Thale lake. Sporting a range of spectacular mountains on the Eastern areas of the lake, a few small trees sprouting from the waters close to the edges of the pons and relatively few people to speak of, this is a great place to visit if you’re looking for a new activity.

The actual lake is about 10 minutes drive from Ao Nang beach, it’s a little complicated with directions so we just included the GPS points for the lake so you can put them in your phone and be sure you wont get lost.

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Swimming is possible at the lake but we recommend you take a kayak for rent and just paddle around the lake. If you want a really amazing experience, then make sure you go to the lake at 4-6pm so you catch the stunning sunset colours which really illuminate the lakes surroundings.

Best of luck and happy travels!

GPS: 8.092236, 98.821399

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So Loud, so Strange, so Practical, so

Thai!

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T

he Longtail boat has become a symbol of Thailand for decades now. It’s strange overbearing diesel engine which sits on the boats stern and billows out black clouds of smoke seems rather our of place, but it’s actually a perfect fit.

This is where Thailand’s beautiful ingenuity comes into play. As these car and truck engines were only helping to power land based vehicles, the local fisherman thought if there was a way to modify these engines then they could be used to power the various fishing boats. So a group of rural fisherman began modifying a boat to make it able to handle the weight of a car engine while

The longtail boat came under fire in 1989 when the Thai government outlawed logging of natural timber which is the primary ingredient in making the iconic longtail boat. Instead builders were forced to import the lumber they wished to use from Malaysia, Myanmar or Laos driving up the price exponentially. Some feared it would be the end of the longtail but as the

The longtail boat was born out of pure necessity and out a Thai sense of ingenuity.

Back some 70 years ago when cars and trucks were beginning to permeate Thailand from Japan, Europe and America, these cars and trucks had engines of varying sizes.

With people navigating the waterways of the coastline throughout Southern Thailand, there was a need for having a motorized boat to take passengers throughout the region and go out fishing. The current boats using only wind-power were much slower and less efficient.

also modifying the car engines to be able to drive long drive shafts at an angle.. With a few trials they came to a resting place and defined these iconic boats which we all know so well today.

market comanded and demand was still high, fisherman agreed to pay the increased price for the same boat.

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Made of locally harvested hardwood timber the long tail boats are made in all shapes and sizes. From the smaller, more efficient boats used to travel throughout the local islands in the region, to larger passenger ferry which are capable of carrying 30+ passengers over long distances. The boats creek and shift under the weight and waves but are strong and sturdy so don’t fret if your boat creeks when you step aboard.

Today a longtail boat (without it’s engine) costs between 150,000-200,000thb *($5,000 - $7,000USD) Today long tail boats of all varieties help carry the Southern Thai economy over the seas, from tourism operations to passenger ferrys, to fishing operations to rescue missions, the long tail is the first in line.

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Bouganville Pizzeria I Pure Italian 723 Moo 2 Soi 9 Ao Nang Krabi

Bouganville also offers a variety of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options for the more health conscious tourists and locals. All dishes are prepared fresh daily with all natural ingredients imported directly from Italy.

Average price: 200THB What to Try: Panizza & Calzone Free WiFi? Yes Opening hours: 4:30 pm - 11:30 pm Delivery hours: 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm Tel: 084 - 146 - 3433 July I 2018

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Govinda’s Restaurant I Vegetarian food 115/1 Moo 3, Ao Nang, Krabi

Looking for high quality vegetarian or vegan food? Well you’ve found the best there is in town, managed and owned by a groupod of devote vegans Govinda’s serves freshly made sandwiches, cakes, lasagna Falafel and much more.

Come down fora visiti and you’ll leave happy.

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Average price: 200THB What to Try: The Falafel sandwich Free WiFi? Yes Opening Hours: daily 12-3 and 6-9 Tel: 099-464-2158 www.krabi-magazine.com

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A holiday in Thailand; Why - oh - Why??

By. Zina Docto

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Fastening those seat belts and allowing anticipation and excitement hastens a virtual time lapse to take place for those travelling to Thailand. Ignoring the duration of their air travel, Westerners and Europeans flock each year to the various regions of this amazing country. Thailand has an allure that is somewhat mystic and rarely fully articulated when making an attempt to describe the ‘Land of the Free’. Each person’s experience here seems quite ethereal and uniquely personal. For those of us expatriates having lived here for some time, we understand why. Even for us, it took some time to wrap our understanding around why our hearts affection had sunken deep into the soil of this enchanting nation. Open your mind and heart as we give you a glimpse of Thailand through our eyes.

The moment you arrive in Thailand you will feel warmth.

Not just the warmth given by its natural climate but the warmth of the Thai people.

Extending laughter, gentle voices, kindness and moreover; smiles. More than likely your first day in Thailand will reward you with more smiles than you may have received in your homeland in days, weeks or even months. It becomes infectious and not to wonder why Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles”. Get ready; you’re going to be doing a lot of smiling.

All of creation seems to sing in unison as you gaze upon the mountains teaming from the earth. Lush foliage and leaves the height July I 2018

and breadth of a man. The wildlife ranging from wild monkeys to Asian Elephants meandering around the jungle. To the aqua tropical seascapes inviting you to join in on scuba or snorkeling expeditions to venture into the depth of silence. A world apart from the world you normally face day in and day out.

A recoil back in time as you face centuries of history found in ancient ruins, mosques, temples and even Muay Thai training camps.

Where you see young men lacing up tattered

gloves, with hearts as warriors. Preparing to face their opponent in the ring, through Thailand’s national and most beloved sport.

To not mention food would be as unscrupulous as not mentioning the Eiffel Tower while in Paris, France. Thai food takes on a flavor, flare and ambiance all its own. The variations of freshly prepared noodle and rice dishes, seafood, curries and amazing desserts are endless. Beyond that is the presentation of these electrifying edible masterpieces. Even in the most simple

restaurant or street food cart, Thai’s ensure that your eyes behold something to satisfy the pallet for sure. Inviting you to feast on a fare that was made with Thai spice and sincere love.

Endless amounts of Thai handicrafts, silks and fashion are available for the shopper possessing champagne taste on a beer pocket book. The colors and textures of handmade artifacts and even lookalikes cause even the most frugal to deepen their pockets for purchasing keepsakes of your time here in Thailand.

Lastly, massage!

Thai massage is a treat that leaves you feeling as if you’ve been given five star service.

Whether you receive a massage in a lush spa or in a hut on bamboo stilts by the beach.

You will leave invigorated, rejuvenated and desirous of an immediate return. Thai massage is likely to induce relaxation to the point of mediation or outright deep sleep.

Ultimately what Thailand does for the traveler is bring them to a place of rest and relaxation; both physically, emotionally and even spiritually. In other words, “Thailand takes the stress out of a person who is stressed out”.

Many people in our global community or now facing all-time highs of stress.

Family and financial pressure, paying off education loans, financial debt, turmoil in relationships, lack of purpose and hope.

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The list’s goes on and on and it has come to a place where the physical health of many have been impacted as well.

Heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and mental health challenges such as depression and anxiety have been linked to stress.

As a Wellness Coach we provide our clients an experience that will take you off the grid. Allowing time to reduce stress, time to self-evaluate and create a lifestyle plan that will not only affect your emotional health but your overall personal and physical well-being.

Our retreats are not designed to have you pound and grind towards weight loss. Eating so many carrots that you feel like you’re going to start budding bunny ears; no way. We know firsthand how important and alluring it is for you to come to amazing Thailand. So we’ve encompassed your retreat to where you can reduce stress, shed weight, and eat fantastic food influenced by local Thai ingredients. Experience the sights, smells, sounds and feel of “all things Thailand”. And remember, “Smiling”. You’re going to do lots of smiling. What this will do for the soul and the whole of you is immeasurable.

Get signed up for a Wellness Retreat that is customized specifically for you.

It’s time to experience something uniquely YOU here in amazing Thailand.

Contact us at:

www.getjuicedforlife.com

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Lanta Old Town That sleepy side of Koh Lanta

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nce upon a time, before tourism arrived in full force to the beautiful Krabi province, Koh Lanta was a very different place. Imagine a small island in southern Thailand, bereft of commerce, inhabited only by local fisherman and small villages constructed out of locally-sourced materials. Acting as a safe harbour for Chinese and Arabic trading vessels en route to such well-known destinations as Phuket and Singapore, Lanta had its main port and commercial centre on the southeast end of the island in what is now known as Lanta Old Town. Somewhat out-shined by the quickly growing Baan Saladan in the north, Old Town remains a less visited part of the island, but don’t let that fool you - because its historical charm and traditional architecture hold a unique draw for visitors to the area, and the ever-expanding tourism in Krabi province means that Old Town itself is becoming more and more attractive to travelers seeking a glimpse of days gone by.

Traveling into the south of Koh Lanta, you will quickly notice the roads becoming more rugged, and the nature growing all around you, be it the forests and jungles inland, or the humbling sea that frames the island with its beaches and soaring cliffs. Depending on which route you take into Old Town, the route will lead you down twisting and turning roads, past incredible viewpoints, and up and down hills a number of times.

Roll into Old Town and you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped backward in time, with a single street of primarily wooden buildings artfully housing a variety of shops and businesses. Old Town does a very good job of maintaining its historical charisma, and although the rise of tourism has seen an influx of more modern buildings made out of concrete and other materials, most of what you’ll see in Old Town is natural wood, with an emphasis put on the traditional teak flooring that was once so common in the Kingdom of Thailand.

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Many sources will be quick to tell you that Old Town is a sleepy, quiet part of Koh Lanta that sees few visitors - but its beauty and culture is causing it to grow more popular every year. Options for dining, shopping and accommodation are consistently increasing with locals and expats alike opting to invest in this perfectly charming part of the island.

Here you’ll find a number of quaint and inviting guesthouses, many of them built right over the water in the style of the original buildings, but with clean, modern building materials. With the types of guests who are drawn to such whimsical places in mind, owners offer a boutique feel to their restaurants and bars, and a selection of souvenir shops display unique handicrafts, handmade clothing and accessories made from regional materials, and local teas and spices. Local markets provide fresh veggies, seafood and perhaps a few mysteries, and other local shops offer handmade ice cream and coconut oil, and a there’s a cowboy bar to wet your whistle when the day is through (or just hot). This part of Koh Lanta is distinctly missing the crowds and commerce of some other places you could visit, but for those seeking a friendly, quaint and quiet leg to their journey, a trip to Lanta’s Old Town is not to be missed.

Some of the adventures in Old Town include scenic kayak trips through the mangrove forests, hiring a longtail boat to take you to neighbouring islands and traditional fishing villages, swimming in the cave in Talabeng, or fishing trips in the time-honoured style of the locals.

Many tour boats leave the main pier at the south end of Old Town to visit islands south of Koh Lanta, and some of the best snorkeling around is to be had nearby. You might find yourself here as a jumping-off point to some water tours, and we suggest that you schedule in some time to stick around a while.

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Rope up.

Rock Climbing in Railay, a deeper look by. Francois De la tournee July I 2018

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Lets face it rock climbing has been around ever since there were rocks and people to climb them, and it’s going to be around until there are no more rocks and no more people to climb them (I think the people will probably go first). But until that happens lets get into what goes into the sport today in the world of rock climbing.

There are so many types of rock climbing today; free climbing, single pitch, multi pitch, deep water solo, ice climbing, (that last one just makes me terrified thinking about it). As there are so many various types of climbing, each has their own specific needs and requirements but there is one thing they all share and that is their adherence to safety. No matter how many walls you’re scaled how many hours you’re spent on the edge you always have to remember that if you fall, there is no getting up, because of this climbers follow a strict code of ethics when it comes to safety. This strict code of ethics is one of the main reasons that there are so few

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fatalities in the sport of rock climbing.

In Railay and Tonsai it is no different. There are a handful of schools that offer climbing lessons and guides which will take customers up a range of routes form beginner 5A routs up to to the more extreme routes with difficulties ranging up to 7C. These schools take safety seriously and so before they take a customer up on the walls they will take some primary safety precautions into consideration. “Have you ever climbed before, indoor or outdoor?

If yes, how many times or years have you spent climbing? Do you have any physical limitations or injuries we should know about?” These are all some of the basic questions you can expect to hear from the shop owners reviewing your current skill level. Once on the wall gear is always tightened down, harnesses are fitted snug

yet comfortable, and are typically replaced 6-12 months. The ropes are also tested and tried frequently and if needed replaced, more commonly than not . Climbing schools will replace ropes every year just to err on the side of caution.

Once on the face of the mountain your guide will take a visual assessment of your skill level and possibly recommend something easier or more difficult depending on your skill level, all the while keeping you in a place to safely challenging your abilities.

But thats not all the guides do to keep you safe on the mountain, The Railay rock climbing guides are also First Responders for the Railay National Parks team when tourists get lost trekking to Tonsai, or more frequently when hiking up to the viewpoint

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and/or lagoons. These rescue missions typically happen late at night once hotels notify authorities that guests may be in need of help. Most often the case is just that tourists lost track of the time and end up needing rescuing at night, when the paths are slippery and vision is limited.

The only way to safely rescue tourists from high vantage points is with ropes, mountaineering and cliff rescue knowledge, which is where the climbers come in.

The climbers, climbing school owners and regularly visiting climbers from all over the world work hard to maintain the routes and crags (walls) in Railay and Tonsai.

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Thaitanium Project is is a non-profit effort dedicated to providing and installing titanium climbing bolts throughout Thailand. These Thaitanium climbing bolts are the safest and strongest bolts tested to weather the climate. All the proceeds donated to the project support the purchase of these bolts. Since 2014 there have been nearly 2,000 routes rebolted.

Right now we are just starting to launch our Certified Courses Program under the direction of the Southeast Asian Climbing Federation with the aim to foster climbing and mountaineering activities in the region, through competitions, meetings, gatherings, and other innovative activities. (Exclusive at

Real Rocks Climbing.)

The climbing schools take the sport and the safety concerns of the sport seriously, when you choose to get onto the face of a mountain you do so in good hands. Most of the guides have more than a decade of experience guiding, and pride themselves on their noaccident records.

Deep Water Soloing (climbing without ropes and free falling into the sea) has become the prime attraction for adventure seekers in the South of Thailand since 2005.

These DWS trips have remained accidentfree since their start as they were run

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exclusively by the rock climbing schools in Tonsai and Railay Beach.

Over time, since the sites were located throughout the National Parks, they soon became a popular stopping point for snorkeling and boat tours. Boats would often crowd the the cliffs making it unsafe for people to safely fall into the water; and the snorkeling guides (who were not professional climbers) didn’t know how to properly give safety briefs to their clients. Earlier this year the National Parks decided to ban all rock climbing and tour operators from climbing at Poda Island or selling DWS tours since they deemed the activity unsafe, when in fact there has never been a case of tourist injury due to the sport. This has been huge blow to the local climbing industry, on top of the rock climbing school closures at Koh Yao Noi and Phi Phi in late 2015.

It’s one of the age old situations, ‘a few bad apples have spoiled the whole bunch.

So how do we fix this? One simple way is to support the climbing schools here in Railay as they are leading the way petitioning the national park to reopen the sport, but regulate who is allowed to take people on these trips.

Don’t go on your own, hire a licensed professional guide. visit forums on www.Thaivisa.com and write about your experience in Railay.

If you’re looking for a school to learn with or to improve your skills or just someone who knows

the route get in touch with Real Rocks Climbing school, their office is in Ao Nam Mao so you can drop by for more information or visit their website at:

www.realrocksclimbing.com for more information Or call directly at: +66 80 718 1351 52

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WHAT IS SHARK FINNING? ENDANGERED RATE

WHATS HAPPENING?

SOME SHARK POPULATIONS HAVE DECREASED

AN ESTIMATED

32%

AN ESTIMATED

100 73

BY

99%

MILLION

OVER THE LAST

50YEARS

OF OPEN OCEAN SHARKS

ARE THREATENED WITH EXTINCTION

MILLION ARE FOR KILLED FOR

SHARKS ARE KILLED EVERY YEAR

WHAT IS SHARK FINNING?

SHARK FIN SOUP

MOST SHARKES ARE STILL ALIVE WHEN THEIR FINS ARE

SLICED OFF 98%

SHARKS ARE CAPTURED AT SEA

OF THE KILLED ANIMALS’ BODIES IS NOT USED AND

AND HAULDED ON DECK

THE MAIMED ANIMALS ARE USUALLY TOSSED OVERBOARD TO DROWN OR BLEED TO DEATH

THE BUSINESS OF SHARK FINNING

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$100

FINS CAN SELL FOR AS MUCH AS.... $800USD Per Pound

COUNTRIES ENGAGE IN THE TRADE OF SHARK PRODUCTS UNITED ARAB SPAIN EMIRATES BIGGEST SINGAPORE CATCHERS TAIWAN UNITED INDONESIA STATES

MAKING IT ONE OF THE MOST EXPENSIVE A SINGLE BOWL OF SHARKFIN SOUP CAN SELL FOR AS MUCH AS $100USD PER BOWLA SEAFOOD PRODUCTS IN THE WORLD

THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARKS

2

$

SHARKS ARE AT THE TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN, THEIR DEPLETION CAN DRASTICALLY AFFECT THE MARINE April 2018 July II ENTINRE 2018 ECOSYSTEM

SHARKS ARE SLOW GROWING, LATE MATURING, LONG-LIVED AND GIVE BIRTH TO ONLY A FEW YOUNG, MAKING THEM EXTRA VULNURABLE TO OVERFISHING

THROWN OVERBOARD

50% OFFINSCOME − THROUGH 80% HONGKONG

MILLION DOLLARS THE TOURISM VALUE ON EACH INDIVIDUAL REEF SHARK CAN CONTRIBUTE TO A COASTAL COMMUNITY OVER IT’S LIFETIME

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$

DOLLARS

THE VALUE OF A SHARK KILLED FOR CONSUMPTION

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The capital of Koh Lanta

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It’s impossible to visit Koh Lanta without passing through the island’s primary commercial district, Baan Saladan. As the main port of entry for passenger ferries arriving from neighbouring islands, the scenic docks of Saladan will likely be your first taste of Lanta. Access to Saladan is gained either directly from the Saladan Pier or by an impressive, recently completed bridge that connects Koh Lanta Yai with its more local neighbour, Lanta Noi. Whether you’re arriving by express transfer or the car ferry from Lanta Noi, your route will take you through Saladan, and you’ll have your debut into what bustling commerce looks like on this small Thai island. Originally a sleepy fishing village, Saladan has been transformed by the growth of tourism in the area, quickly taking over the traditional administrative centre, Old Town. Located on the northernmost tip of the island, Saladan overlooks the watery divide between Koh Lanta Yai and Lanta Noi, and marks an outstanding sunset viewpoint.

Though you’ll find many restaurants and hotels all over the island, Saladan is the place to be if you’re looking for all of the amenities in one place. Many eateries and watering holes, pharmacies, dive shops, banks, shops and massage centres line the few streets of this scenic town. Here you’ll also find the post office, police station, travel agencies and tailors. Night markets ignite the streets in the evening with lights, sounds and smells, and you can experiment with all kinds of new flavours and textures when it comes to the tasty food - most of it offered at ridiculously low prices and often served on a skewer. A small beach lies on the west side of town, and though not as scenic as many of Koh Lanta’s other beaches, it is still beautiful for beach walks, paddling and sunbathing, and has prompted the opening up of many lovely hotels and guesthouses catering to travelers with a taste for beachside convenience.

Arriving from the Saladan Pier, you’ll pass by the arched entrance gates to a small fishing community who have built their homes out of reclaimed materials on stilts right over the water, and as you explore the area by foot, you’ll see the same theme in the waterfront bars and restaurants that line the north shore of the island - the same ones that you saw as you were approaching the island. Dining in these establishments will lend you the chance to watch the sun set on the horizon over Koh Lanta Noi. You can enjoy the fresh catch of the day while seated on wooden decks jutting into the sea, with each eatery adding its own personal touch of style and character. On adjoining streets, many local artisans have set up shop, meaning that there will be plenty of pretty things to see, or maybe even get a traditional bamboo tattoo! Most of the diving and snorkeling boats leave from this pier, and with so many things to do here, you’re likely to see Saladan more than once during your stay on Koh Lanta.

During the high season, the streets of Saladan are closed to vehicle traffic, making it a fantastic place to explore on foot, investigating anything that catches your eye, and there is a lot. Clothes and beach gear, local handicrafts and souvenirs, twinkling lights and all the charm of a seaside town will grab your attention everywhere you look. You can enjoy the warm air as you pop in and out of the many businesses, stopping for a coffee, a cocktail, a burger or a fullfledged seafood feast. When you’ve had your fill of the sunset and moonrise, food, shopping and sightseeing, tuk tuks are lined up, on hand to take you back to your hotel or nightlife destination.

A vacation on Koh Lanta just isn’t complete without a visit to Saladan, and while you’ll find most modern conveniences here, the town hasn’t lost any of its traditional charm, and we’re sure you’ll enjoy your time here. Make sure to schedule a visit to Saladan while you’re on the island, you won’t regret it!

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Tide tables for the month of

July

Krabi boasts over Longtail boats can 150 islands to explore be chartered easily above sea or the at any of the major underwater world, beaches in krabi, the they are scattered prics vary you can throughout the always try yout best province and offer at haggling depending many new places to on the season. explore

Sunscreen is a mush when visiting any island or just spending a day out on the water. Don’t let the lack of clouds fool you, UV rays go straight throught them.

Looking to go out for a day in the sun and wondering what time high or low tide is? Well for the month of October we’ve got you covered.

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SCUBA Diving Sites in Krabi

Krabi offers a diverse range of dive sites for divers of all abilities, from cave and wreck diving to deep technical diving to the quiet peaceful recreational dives, there is something for everyone. We just ask you to please not touch the corals as they are extremely delicate and some species grow at the painfully slow rate of 2mm/ year Maning many of the large corals you can see are often thousands of years old.

Listed below are the dive sites of Krabi, read on and see what dive sites fits your needs/skills.

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CUBA Diving in Thailand can be a wonderful activity for people of all ages.

Once you descend below the depths you can get a glimpse into the vast and

diverse array of underwater live. Krabi is home to over 100 islands offering many diverse dive sites to explore and adventure. The limestone geology of Krabi allows for the salt rich water of the Andaman bay to slowly eat away at the rocks and create thousands nooks and crannies perfect for moral eels, giant clams and other damsel fish to seek refuge. We highly encourage you to get out into the waters of Krabi and explore this fascinating life under the seas. There are a number of dive schools in Ao Nang to choose from but they all have a great record taking out students to SCUBA dive in Krabi.

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Local islands:

The locals islands get their name aptly named due to their proximity to Ao Nang beach. You can see most of the dive sites from either Ao Nang or Railay beaches, the islands you can see from the shares of the beach provide great dive opportunities as the waters are typically less then 20 meters meaning there is good light penetration and corals can thrive.

3,000thb for a day of diving at the local islands (2 separate dives).

Koh Phi Phi:

Koh Phi Phi is one of the most popular places for diving in Krabi due to it’s ease of access and range of dive sites around it’s2 main islands (Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Lae) such as viking cave, Phi Lae Wall, Losama bay, Ao Nui bay and much more. The depths of water around Koh Phi Phi vary but they typically are not over 30 meters in depth, with the vast majority of dives will keep you around 12-20 meters.

Phi Lae Wall is famous for having small schools of black tipped reef sharks, green turtles and large damsel fish swimming around numerous stick and fan corals. There is also the occasional large

The local islands are a great place to dive at if you don’t want to spend a whole day out on the waters as most local islands trips will come return to the dock by 1-2pm. They are also. Great choice for beginning divers as most of the dive sites will be available to divers of all levels due to their shallow depth.

Around local islands there many blue spotted stingrays, leopard sharks, schools of travels and parrot fish bubbling on the rocky corals underfoot, plus this is a nudibranch rich territory, so keep your eyes peeled for that tiny treasure.

Trips to the locals island leave daily year round and are a great place to start your diving in Krabi experience. Prepare to spend between 2,000 -

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Koh Bida Nok/Bida Noi: Located about 2 kilometers south of Koh Phi Phi Lae. These 2 dive sites are great for divers of all abilities as the depth is mostly a maximum of 20 meters and there is a number of swimthroughs and actually a small cave to dive and explore (cave diving certificate required).

Grouper that swims by so keep your eyes out to the open seas.

Dive sites around Koh Phi Phi are rich in coral life, plenty of large rocks which have fallen from the cliffs to create small holes and bridges to swim under also prefect places for smaller fish to seek refuge so make sure you look everywhere on your dive you never know what you’ll see.

One fish which has been seen time to time around Koh Phi Phi is the stone fish, a highly poisonous fish which displays near perfect camouflage with it’s surroundings so keep your eyes peeled when your swimming through tight areas or need to grab hold of a rock or ledge. They are rather ugly but amazing when seen up close so if you’ve got a camera and find one make sure you get close and get a shot.

Diving around Koh Phi Phi usually costs between 2,500-4,000 (for 2 or 3 separate dives) and can be organized from a number of dives companies in Krabi, they can be in Ao nang, Koh Lanta or Koh Phi Phi. If you only have 1 day to dedicate to diving and are an experienced diver we recommend diving around Koh Phi Phi or on Hin Daeng/Hin Muang.

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The dive sites are regarded as some of the better places to dive around Koh Phi Phi as there are numerous schools of black tip reef sharks travellies, green sea turtles, cuttlefish and much more sightly nearly every dive. If you have the chance you should make a trip out to the pair.

to at least the Advanced Open Water Level we recommend this as you’re got-to dive spot.

Starting out you will get the chance to do some wreck diving at the passenger ferry the King Cruiser, which sunk some 30 years ago in 1997 on one of it’s many ferry crossings from Phuket to Krabi when it ran aground on Anemone reef and sinking to the bottom of the bay. The wreck has been secured and supported by many committed divers making sure certain rusting parts to the boat are either removed or reinforced so as to avoid any falling bars or pieces of metal.

The ship sank near perfectly to rest at the bottom of the bay with depths at 35 meters (deepest) and 15 meters (shallowest) and with all the boxes, windows, open decking area and general array of varied surfaces the king cruiser is a great start out on your day of diving in the area. The bow of the boat is some to a vast array of soft corals of varied color. Also around the ship you can often see a number of lion fish swimming in and out of the ships many window holes.

Anemone reef: Shark Point/ King Cruiser/ Anemone Reef: Diving these sites is often referred by dive companies as ‘super day’ as the diving is stunning, diverse and takes a full day (9am - 4pm) with wait times in-between dives and travel time, but if you’ve got the time and are certified

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As this dive site has points which are below 30 meters we can only recommend Advanced Open Water divers to dive the King Cruiser.

After the king cruiser dive you will most likely dive the anemone roof, this is one of the most amazing and stunning dive sites the region has to offer. Anemone reef is basically one large pyramid shape of rock under water which has as you can guess it been completely and utterly covered in soft and hard corals providing numerous refuges for all kinds of fish of all shapes and sizes.

Keep your eyes peeled inside of each anemone as you can often see one or more clownfish swimming around and protecting their territory.

Anemone reef has been a popular hang out for moral eels, large batfish, banded seakrates and lark sharks cruising past on their way to shark point.

Just remember don’t breathe fast in your excitement when seeing Anemone reef for the first time, conserve your air and enjoy your dive longer.

Shark Point:

Shark point is the last and final dive site for the super day of SCUBA diving in krabi. It’s a chain of 3 different rock pinnacles ranging in depth from 12 meters to 25 meters in depth and has been known to be the home of some strong currents so you might get lucky and get to enjoy some current diving here, soaring from pinnacle to pinnacle.

The first is the largest pinnacle and they get smaller as you push on to the second and third.

“The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever” Jacques Cousteau

There are almost always a number of leopard and black ripped reef sharks spotted here, but many of them are resting on the ocean floor so don’t forget to check the sandy bottom to make sure you don’t miss any of them.

Superday trips usually cost 3,5004,500thb fora. Long 3 day trip

Koh Haa:

One of the top dive sites of Krabi without a doubt. Koh Has is divided into 3 different dive sites, Koh Haa lagoon, Koh Haa Yai and Koh Haa Nuoang, each offerings it’s own treats and ventures.

Koh Haa Nuoang:

Perfect for beginner divers who are just starting out their live in the waters as

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it’s not a particularly deep dive and there are so much to se and explore. There are swimthroughs, chimneys long stretched of soft corals covered in schools of damselfish. There are also schools of tuna which pass by Koh has Nuoang, rainbow runners and well as the occasional whale shark have been spotted here as well.

Koh Haa Lagoon:

famous for it’s crystal clear waters sporting sometimes 40 meters of good visibility, lets you spot the black tipped reef sharks, leopard sharks and cuttlefish swimming off in the distance early.

The lagoon is also a popular site to catch a shot of ink from one of the many octopuses which call the lagoon home.

Koh haa Yai:

Our favorite part of the Koh Haa chain as a number of caves and caverns to explore, perfect for photography and to explore some darker areas of diving. There is multi colored soft corals found here all along entrances to the caves and caverns.

Koh Haa Yai has a pinnacle like shape to it with

caves and caverns connecting it’s many sides.

Perfect for more advances divers

barracuda, triggerfish ghost pipefish and much more.

Trips to Koh haa from Ao nang leave only once a week from operator: Aqua Vision

Hin Muang is also a very deep dive site but the best dive site for the large marine life Krabi is home to. Whale sharks, manta and eagle rays are common sights at Hin Muang, there have also been oceanic white tipped sharks spotted at Hin Muang, so if’ you’ve got some serious underwater photography gear, this is a great place to get some stunning shots.

If you are based on Koh Lanta you can book this dive trip easily as trips are organized daily.

Hin Daeng/Hin Muang:

These 2 dive sites are usually dived together (each one 1 dive) as they are only a short 500 meters apart. They are the deepest dive sites Krabi has to offer at a staggering 70 meters, so reaching the bottom is restricted to trimex technical divers. If your interested in doing some technical diving courses we recommend you et in touch with: Aqua Vision (www.aqua-vision.net) In Thai ‘Daeng’ means ‘Red’ and therefore Hin Daeng gets it’s name from the huge amount of red soft coral formations all around it’s rocky formations. Hin Daeng is home to a large amount of marine life, it’s not uncommon to see giant

Trips to Hin Daeng and Hin Muang from Ao nang leave only once a week from operator: Aqua Vision

Aqua Vision www.aqua-vision.net +66 (0) 86 944 4068

Sharks are beautiful animals, and if you’re lucky enough to see lots of them, that means that you’re in a healthy ocean. You should be afraid if you are in the ocean and don’t see sharks Sylvia Earle

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THE SUNSET ISLAND

Koh Lanta is made up of 2 main islands, Koh Lanta Noi and Koh Lanta Yai, Koh Lanta Noi is the smaller and less developed of the two but offers some special adventures for a certain traveler. Koh Lanta Yai is fully loaded with resorts, restaurats, activites such as kayaking, islands hoping, scuba diving companies and more.

Welcome to Koh Lanta

Saladin is the main township located in the north of Koh Lanta Yai, it is home to the majority of the islands banks, restaurants, cafes and general shopping areas. Saladan is also home to a number of stilted houses and businesses which extend out into the ocean on the Northern most edges of town. Each shop is different in it’s

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own right but they all have the same relaxed feeling much of the island is famous for. There are a number of other regions all over the island though and each has it’s one little charm to offer, and truth be told a great way to see the island is to rent a motorbike or car and just go North to South, it’s cheap, fun and offers

numerous opportunities to stop and explore at your own leisure. To the South of Koh Lanta is the famous Lighthouse which features a nature walking trail, 2 beaches and one of the best vantage points for dramatic cliff photography on the island. So what are you waiting for, get going and explore this not so small island.

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L A N T A Thai cooking classes at Time for Lime

Scuba diving at OK Club Diving Center

Help local animals at Lanta Animal Welfare

If you are looking to learn how to cook authentic

If you want to discover scuba diving and the amazing

Rated on Tripadvisor as the No 1. Thing to do on Koh

Thai food then you must stop by Time For Lime,

underwater world of Koh Lanta with all its great dive

Lanta, Lanta Animal Welfare (LAW) is a non-profit

where cooking classes are conducted in an open-air

sites and marine life, Ok Club Diving Center will make

organisation working to relieve the suffering of local

beachfront cookery school kitchen.

your dream comes true.

animals through sterilization, vaccination and medical

This year they will also offer a fun “Cooking &

Ok Club Diving Center is the opportunity to dive with

care.

Cocktail Experience”. Designed for partners or friends.

highly qualified instructors in a very well organised

The rescue center is open daily to visitors who can

The pairs will get equal time in the kitchen as well as in

establishment and learn through a friendly and

tour the facilities and meet the animals. Whether you

the bar learning how to make some of Time for Lime’s

professional approach. The courses and programs are

are interested in taking a dog for a stroll on the beach

best cocktails, tips and tricks in wine pairing.

available in english, german, italian, polish, french and

(some of the dogs love to swim) or are happier cudling

Kiddos and adults can cook together in their Family

russian. The Center offers unique sessions of cave

one of the many affectionate cats, LAW is the place

daytime classes too!

diving, an extreme activity demanding high requirements

where you can get your furry fix while contributing to

Junie started Time for Lime out of a love of food. She

for equipment configuration and reliability, as well as

a worthwile cause.

wanted to give people amazing food experiences on a

divers skills, physical condition and mental strength.

full-time basis. Her passion for food led her to create a well designed and laid-back atmosphere for people. Her

If your wish is to explore some underwater treasures

work is known for its cross-cultural and disciplinary

then opt for safari diving tours and choose between

surprises.

exotic Myanmar, the famous Similan Islands or Komodo

She also founded Lanta Animal Welfare out of a love

Park in Indonesia.

of animals and the profits from Time For Lime goes to LAW.

Phone number : +66 (0) 75 68 4590 / +66 (0) 89 967 5017 www.timeforlime.net

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Phone number : +66 (0) 84 304 4331 www.lantaanimalwelfare.com

Phone number : +66 (0) 88 019 5640 www.okclubthai.com

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AC T I V I T I E S Namaste at Oasis Yoga

Enjoy fire shows at Why Not Bar

Snorkeling and fishing at Lanta Dream & Paradise

Yoga is a great way to take back control over your

Located right on the beach at Kantiang Bay View

Looking to discover the beauty of the Andaman Sea

holistic, mental and emotional health and Oasis Yoga is

Resort, the Why Not Bar host live appearances from

in a friendly and easy going atmosphere then look no

an exceptional place to do so.

popular bands in Thailand and hold beach parties about

further than Lanta Dream & Paradise, a company

once a month. With a live band every night, fireshows

specialized in private snorkeling and fishing trips.

Situated at Klong Dao Beach, Oasis Yoga welcomes

on the beach and great cocktails, there’s a buzz going

Aboard authentic longtail boats with a professional

you to discover restorative health with laid back island

on there every night.

team, Lanta Dream & Paradise offers you unique trips

relaxation and a chill seaside attitude. Whether you

with exclusive itineraries by discovering and exploring

are a seasoned yoga practioner or want to try your

Fire shows at Why Not Bar are some of the best you

the heart of Marine National Parks of Koh Phi Phi,

first practice in a unique atmosphere, Farra Williams, a

will see on the island and are a must see during your

Koh Bamboo and so many more. If you want to cut

certified yoga instructor, is here to help you develop

stay in Koh Lanta. They normally start after 10pm but

off of the world for a short time you can choose a

the tools to take the peace of holistic health home

if you want a good seat in the bar you will need to

camping trip program in Koh Rok and Koh Kradan or

with you.

get there a little earlier. Just sit, relax and enjoy a laid

pass a fishing day on the sea in Koh Haa with Captain

back atmosphere, great vibe and a very entertaining and

Boo.

Phone number : +66 (0) 85 115 4067 www.oasisyoga-lanta.com

welcoming staff.

Phone number : +66 (0) 83 644 1333 www.facebook.com/ WhyNotBarKohLanta

All tours include transfers go and back from your hotel to the boat, Marine National Park entrance fees, snorkeling equipment, Thai buffet, fresh water, fruits, fishing equipment (for the Fishing Trip), camping tents 2/3 people (for the Camping package), life jackets and insurance for passengers.

Phone number : +66 (0) 890 999 423/ +66 (0) 861 114 054 / +66 (0) 855 790 178 www.lantalongtailboat.sitew.org July I 2018

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Boat

s to K Ao N oh Jum ,K ang, Raila rabi, Ph iP y, Ph uket hi

Ferry to Mainland

BAN SALADAN

SK optic

Cha-Ba Bungalows

Klong Dao Beach

Koh Lanta Noi

Ferry to Mainland

Khaw Kwang Beach

Thanee Law

Time for Lime Mangrove Forest

Layana Resort & Spa

Agrotourism Center longtail boat trips

Lanta Castaway Resort

Phra Ae

Thung Yee Pheng village

Long Beach Lanta Animal Welfare

Klong Khong Beach Koh Bubu

Jee Lee village

Klong Tob Beach Rawi Warin Resort

Mai Kaew Cave

Klong Nin Beach

Lanta Old Town Pier

Srilanta Resort

Koh Por Tham Seua Cave

Lanta Hospital

Klong Nui Beach

Koh Lanta Yai Klong Hin Beach The Houben Waterfall Pimalai Resort

Ba Kantiang Bay

Map of Koh Lanta

Koh Klang Koh Lek

Ao Nui Bay

Sang Ka U sea gypsy village

Klong Jark Bay

July I 2018

May Pai Bay

National Park Headquarters

Lighthouse

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UNPLUG ON K

oh Jum Island is still the quintessential destination in Krabi province if you are looking for authentic Thai village life and development that is still a small footprint.

Geography brought electricity to Koh Jum late in 2009 as the island was in the direct path of the new underwater electric cable connecting Koh Phi Phi to the mainland. So now that Koh Jum is plugged-in, has it lost its reputable character that has attracted intrepid travelers over the past couple of decades?

KOH JUM

We are pleased to report that Koh Jum is still as tranquil and laid back as it always has been. In fact, what is most noticeable are the lack of noisy generators at most of the islands resorts.

Folks come to Koh Jum to tune out; the island’s nature and culture dominate the minimal tourist infrastructure.

The existing resorts on Koh Jum all have their own family-run character, ranging from the backpackers paradise to luxurious beach villas.....

Koh Pu Mountain is the dominant geological feature on the island at over 400 meters. It’s a great hike for the adventurous and a vital refuge of native habitat still harboring Asian Pied Hornbills and Burmese pythons.

The three villages; Koh Pu, Ting Rai and Koh Jum are situated on the back side of the island, amongst the mangroves while the resorts are located opposite, facing the open Andaman Sea. This division allows the villagers to remain authentic without a significant tourist infrastructure while the resorts are all located on the beaches.

Koh Jum is predominately a large Muslim populated subdistrict of Krabi, home to over 1,500 inhabitants. The locals of these villages engage mostly in fishing, rubber cultivation and the local crafts of cloth weaving and painting or ‘batik’ as it is known as here. While the north is mountainous, the south is comprised of dense jungle, cashew nut trees, rubber plantations, casuarinas and nipa-palms.

Since all the resorts face West, there are epic sunsets to be had all along the island. The renowned Koh Jum Lodge is an excellent place to stay for a few days, and has superb views to boot.

Access to the island is by longtail taxi boats which leave from the mainland at the port town of Laem Kruat. There is now a songthaew you can take direct from Krabi Town to Laem Kruat.

During the high season most visitors come to Koh Jum using the Krabi-Koh Lanta ferry which stops at two locations on Koh Jum, both of which are offshore so local longtail boats will come from the island to pick up passengers.

The lack of any deep ports on the island keep the ferry boats out at sea and almost prevent large masses of tourists from overcrowding the island. Getting here is an adventure and this ends up defining the interesting community of resorts and visitors that have made this island their home and the place they return to year after year.

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Getting to Koh Jum can be very simple or a bit of a nightmare, it all depends on how much you know about it. This is where Krabi magazine can help, we recently took the trip to Koh Jum ourselves and have decided to share the adventure with all of our readers.

There are 2 ways to get to Koh Jum- by passing ferry or longtail boat. There are ferries that leave from Koh Lanta at 8am and from Krabi at 11am, both ferries stop as they pass alongside Koh Jum and signal to longtail boats to come and pick up visitors to land ashore Koh Jum. Koh Phi Phi also has ferries which leave at 2pm and operate on the same principle as above.

The second way to get to Koh Jum is to go to the port town of Laem Kruat, from where you can catch a longtail boat directly to Koh Jum- this was our favorite of the 2 methods of travel.

If you are driving, it takes about one hour to get from Ao Nang to Laem Kruat.

You just head to Tesco Lotus and then continue until you see the large overhead signs which tell you to turn right for “Koh Jam”. This road will lead to the small locality of Laem Kruat, where you will find a large pier with boats going to Koh Jum. If you don’t have transport of your own, you can always catch a blue and yellow “songthaew” - the local buses that have benches in the back. On the side of the “songthaew” will be written – Krabi, Bus Station, Tesco, Big C, Laem Kruat, they are frequent and easy to spot.

These buses will leave from all of these locations at intervals throughout the day and will take you directly to the Laem Kruat pier.

WELL WORTH THE EXPERIENCE

Now, the pier is a bit misleading. We waited at the end of the pier before realizing the longtail taxis were passing us by and docking at the mainland.

Then we went back and followed our noses along past the shops until we saw a slipway with goods and people being unloaded. It was the second slipway we needed to get to “Moo Too”, the place on Koh Jum we were being collected from.

If you know the name of the pier on Koh Jum you need to get to, just ask anyone in this area and they will direct you to the correct boat.

We got on and soon were chugging along through the mangroves with a boat full of happy local Muslim women that looked as they hadn’t changed a bit since 1925.

We arrived at Koh Jum just 45 minutes later, paid our 70thb fare and were taken by “taxi” (a battered old pickup truck) through the winding dirt track until we reached our destination resort.

Give it a go and you will see a different side of Thailand from years gone by.

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want to learn some

Welcome to Thailand!

HELLO (M) / (F)

THAI?

SAWADEE KRAP / SAWADEE KAA

THANK YOU (M) / (F)

KHOPUN KRAP / KHOPUN KAA

HOW ARE YOU?

SABAI DEE MAI

I’M FINE HOW MUCH IS THIS?

SABAI DEE KNEE KUR TAO RAI

WHAT IS THIS?

NEE A RAI?

YES

CHAI

NO

MAI CHAI

I CAN’T SPEAK THAI

POOT PASSA THAI MAI DAI

SORRY / EXCUSE ME

KOR TOHT

CAN YOU SPEAK ENGLISH

KHUN POOT PASSA ANGRIT DAI MAI?

I DON’T UNDERSTAND

MAI KHAO CHAI

DO YOU UNDERSTAND?

KHAO JAI MAI?

HELP!

CHOOEY DOOEY

SPICY

PET

NOT SPICY

MAI PET

IS THIS TASTY?

A ROY MAI?

HOT (TEMPERATURE)

RAWN

COLD (TEMPERATURE)

YEN

WATER

NAAM

WHERE IS THE RESTROOM / TOILET? 75 July I 2018

HONG NAAM YOU NAI?

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