Thailand
Thailand
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| Image 1: Phi Phi Islands, Krabi |
Krabi, Thailand
Now this trip was really a spontaneous out of the blue trip. Just a month prior to the trip, my sister asked me if I wanted to join her and her friend on a trip to Krabi for a very fun-filled island 3-days getaway. Me being me, I most definitely could not turn down a vacation invite - not only that, this was also my first visit to Thailand! (Yes, everyone always asks me why I have yet to make my way there when its just the neighbouring country of Malaysia - I have no idea why too). Well, at least I can finally say I've made it to Thailand now!
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| Image 2: Krabi River, Krabi |
So, our first stop was to our guesthouse once we landed in Krabi to check-in and rest for a bit. The guesthouse we lodged at for our 3 nights 4 days trip was The Tara River located right at the Krabi River and Krabi Town. A very conveniently located guesthouse and highly recommended for those who are looking for a budget-friendly place to stay or for those who intend on staying in Krabi for a longer period of time. The owner of the guesthouse was also a really friendly and welcoming lady (very informative and helpful as well). She helped us with our entire itinerary during the trip and bookings whenever we encountered any difficulties.
Not only that, she also made the best breakfast for us everything morning - eggs, toast and coffee. The Tara River is a family owned guesthouse which usually gets frequent visitors who are a looking for a long-term place to lodge. The cosy guesthouse also has a spectacular view of the Krabi River which is also a popular spot for many fishermen (that go fishing both day and night). Apparently, there were many types of fishes in the Krabi River.
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| Image 3: Breakfast @ The Tara River, Krabi |
On our first day itself we decided to go to the Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Sua) located in Krabi Noi - nearby Krabi Town. An archaeological and historical site in Krabi, the Tiger Cave Temple teaches a form of Buddhism called Vipassana (insight meditation) which are based on the teachings of the earliest Buddhist texts. Not only that, Tiger Cave Temple is also one of the most distinctive temples in Southern Thailand with its complex structure built in an overgrown jungle valley. In order see the "footprint of the Buddha", one must climb up 1,272 steps of its limestone tower. Definitely a challenge and not one for those who are physically unfit, I must say. But I can proudly say that I made it to the top after roughly an hour climbing up with several breaks in between.
A disclaimer to those who seek to climb up these steps; 1. Try to pace yourself according to your capability. Take deep breaths and drink lots of water to avoid dehydration 2. Wear the proper attire. It is highly recommended to wear sneakers to avoid any unwanted accidents as well light-weight clothing to avoid feeling too warm while you're trying to make your way up. However, once you reach the top, the view that you'll be blessed with is phenomenal and definitely worth the climb. Trust me. It is also highly recommended to visit the temple either during sunrise or sunset for a picturesque view and also very Instagram-worthy shots!
A disclaimer to those who seek to climb up these steps; 1. Try to pace yourself according to your capability. Take deep breaths and drink lots of water to avoid dehydration 2. Wear the proper attire. It is highly recommended to wear sneakers to avoid any unwanted accidents as well light-weight clothing to avoid feeling too warm while you're trying to make your way up. However, once you reach the top, the view that you'll be blessed with is phenomenal and definitely worth the climb. Trust me. It is also highly recommended to visit the temple either during sunrise or sunset for a picturesque view and also very Instagram-worthy shots!
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| Image 4: View from the top of Tiger Cave Temple, Krabi |
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| Image 5: Steps of Tiger Cave Temple, Krabi
What's the best thing about a trip to Thailand? It's food of course! To be honest, our whole trip was filled with constant food stops because we just wanted to try everything. The best thing about Krabi was definitely its vast range of street food, especially in Krabi Town. In Krabi, you'll be spoilt for choices - too many that choosing between dishes would be a huge dilemma!
One of my most favourite local delicacy would definitely be the famous Pad Thai. If you're Malaysian, you'd find that Pad Thai is actually very similar to a staple dish in Malaysia - the Char Kuey Teow. The only difference with Thailand's Pad Thai is the sweet and savoury sour sauce and the scattered peanuts on its rice noodles. Thailand is very famous for their "sweet and sour" tastes that most of their dishes adapt to.
If you're a big fan of street food (like me) then Krabi Town Night Market is the place for you! The night market opens from 5:00pm-10:00pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday but closes the rest of the week. So, if you're planning your trip to Krabi, it is highly suggested the you book your travels during the weekends so that you wouldn't miss out on this amazing night market. Krabi Town Night Market is not only the place for street food but also souvenirs, clothing apparels, handbags and also hand-made jewelries. Not only that, there are also musical performances throughout the evening with children from Krabi Music School playing thai tunes and thai dancing demonstrations.
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Image 9: Krabi Hot Springs, Klong Thom Nuea, Krabi
Moving onto Day 2 - we decided to explore Krabi's very own hot springs. Krabi Hot Springs is located about 70 kilometres from Krabi town. Krabi Hot Springs are basically a bunch if "hot tubs" that comprises of deep rooted thermal springs located in volcanic chambers. Here, we were able to soak ourselves in the warm water to soothe and relax our bodies from a tiring day we had the day before. The waters average about 35-40 degrees celsius, containing natural mineral salts that is said to be good for your health.
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| Image 10: Emerald Pool, Klong Thom Nuea, Krabi |
Not far from the hot springs located the Emerald Pool and the Blue Pool. The Emerald Pool can be seen in the Thung Teao Park which happens to be a rare lowland forest rich in bio-diversity - containing both a nature trail and a crystal pond. The forest is also home to many old-aged trees and unique plant species (including Pitta Gurney, which was once even considered to be extinct). The Emerald Pool is also opened to the public to swim, though may I remind you that the pool is usually packed with people - especially during peak seasons.
Just 600 meters in, after the Emerald Pool locates one of the most spectacular natural sightings I have ever seen - the very well-known Blue Pool! Honestly, I was afraid that it would be blown to proportion on the hype about it but when I actually got to see it with my own eyes, I knew why. The Blue Pool is actually supplied by a hot underground spring and if you look closely you can even discover the small air bubbles. Strictly not open to the public for swimming purposes, the Blue Pool as the water is said to be very deep in depth and that it contains quicksand (for those of you who don't quite know what that is its sand that can't support weight - resulting you to fall in deeper as you walk in)
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| Image 11: Blue Pool, Klong Thom Nuea, Krabi
Last but not least - Day 3. Now our next destination was the main highlight of my entire trip to Krabi and one that I was looking forward to for a long time now - The one and only Phi Phi Island! Phi Phi Island is basically the gem of Thailand. Phi Phi Island consists of a group of islands located between Phuket and the straits of Melaka coast of Thailand which are administratively under the Krabi Province.
We made our way via speedboat to the main 7 islands (7 Island Tour) that costs roughly RM200 including light snacks and drinks. The boat departed from Ao Nang Beach where 30 people were on board. May I remind you, traveling by speedboat is not ideal for those who get easily sea sick or are prone to motion sickness. The boat ride is very bumpy, especially when it hits late afternoon towards the evening. Hence, if you're planning to make a trip here, you should take a look at the weather forecast before proceeding to avoid any discomfort.
To summarise my trip overall, Krabi is the perfect destination to head on down to if you're looking to island hop and indulge in on its vast range of outdoor activities. For those who enjoy the beach, swimming and snorkelling - this is truly the ideal place for you!
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