Candidate of the week: Krabi
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The southwestern province of Krabi has tourists eating out of its hand, so to speak! Boasting a host of beautiful islands and secluded beaches it’s a firm favourite with honeymooning couples and people in search of some peace and quiet.
Krabi town is a small but charming place with century-old buildings, an interesting market and riverside food stalls offering a good selection of local cuisine. And it certainly lives up to the catchy slogan - “lively town, lovely people” - coined to promote its attractions. For, in contrast to provinces further south, Muslims in Krabi live peacefully in close proximity to Buddhists and members of the small Christian community.
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While you’re here you might like to take a long-tail boat from Tha Chao Fa, a pier on the Krabi River, for a look at Khao Kanab Nam, an unusual pair of hills that face each other across the river.
Then there’s Ao Nang, the most developed strand in Krabi, a long stretch of white sand against a spectacular backdrop of limestone mountains. Here you can find most of the creature comforts you could ever desire: there’s a dedicated shopping street, accommodation to suit various budgets and a wide range of restaurants and bars which cater to the needs of an international crowd.
Also on the mainland is Railay Beach, separated from Krabi town and Ao Nang by enormous cliffs. Its eastern and western sections both boast fine white sand, crystal-clear water and views of oddly shaped rocky islets.
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Those seeking to sample the local culture could stop off at the Muslim community of Ban Natin, a settlement on the road from Ao Nang to Klong Muang. Skilled artisans in the village produce batik paintings, coconut-shell carvings and handmade pineapple-fibre paper. Also worth a visit is Wat Tham Seua (Tiger Cave Monastery), a Buddhist temple 9km from the provincial capital where the resident monks meditate in a series of caves surrounded by dense jungle.
Then it’s off for a spot of island-hopping, by far the most popular tourist activity in these parts. Both wooden fishing boats, with their prettily decorated prows, and speedboats can be hired to check out a string of small islands including Ko Poda, a serene place set in turquoise seas, and the chicken-shaped Ko Kai. At low tide one can walk from here across to tiny Ko Tub. En route one can get up close to some of the strange limestone outcrops which jut out of the sea, and go kayaking or snorkelling in picture-perfect lagoons.
Devastated by the tsunami, Ko Phi Phi Don, Krabi’s most famous attraction, has almost returned to normal and is once again attracting droves of young foreigners. It is part of a marine national park known worldwide for its fabulous bays, rich marine life, limestone cliffs, strange rock formations and spooky caves from which swiflet nests are harvested to make that expensive Chinese culinary delicacy.
And if it’s an unspoiled tropical hideaway you’re after, you need look no further than Ko Jum and Ko Siboya. Neither island has mains electricity nor cars but both do have little rustic guesthouses run by local people which are great place to unwind from the pressures of city life.
Much more developed for high-end tourism is Ko Lanta, at the southern end of the province, an island which is also home to several chao lay (“sea gypsy”) communities.
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Bron: Bangkok Post / www.bangkokpost.com