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Concluding The Pattaya Otter’s holiday on Phuket Island
When deciding on a location for this short holiday, the name of Krabi came up. This part of Thailand just across Phangna Bay from Phuket is a relative newcomer on the tourist map and so apart from not having been there before offered the prospect of a less developed (i.e. less destroyed) place to visit.
However the deterrent was that in order to fly there it would have been necessary to travel to Bangkok airport first which is why Phuket was chosen in preference.
However when browsing the brochures available at our hotel we noticed a boat trip to Krabi being offered, going there and back again in a single day and so for our final outing decided to give this a try.
A very early start was required for what was going to be a long day out and we were duly collected from our hotel at 7:30.
This boat company did not boast the access to a marina to board their craft but instead moored at a nearby bay, thus requiring us to wade onto the boat laden carrying all our possessions.
However this was achieved without any great difficulty and we set off. The boat although slightly smaller than the previous craft was of a similar layout and we again seated ourselves under the rear canopy and again set off at speed on a clear, calm day.
Our guide explained that in order to break up the long journey to the beaches of Krabi (approx imately two hours direct) we would be pausing at some islands along the way for sightseeing and some swimming, i.e. similar to the previous outing.
First of these was Rang Nok Island which boasts a small lagoon with a narrow entrance through the rocks.
We didn’t stop there but simply drove around the lagoon taking photos before continuing our journey passing again a number of islands whose shapes had been crafted by the elements.
Eventually arriving at Railay Beach on the Krabi peninsula were we beached in order to swim and look around.
A number of swings and ropes had been set-up there and several of our party decided to give them a try.
After a  short time there we re-boarded our craft which took us round the next headland to Ao Phang Na Cave where we landed at another beach with a cave shrine at the far end.
Again another short stop there and then back on the boat and back round two headlands to the main tourist beach of Krabi, Ao Nang.
There we docked and walked up the sandy beach to a very attractive looking restaurant at the top where we were expected for lunch (again inclusive)
This time we were served a set meal of an assortment of Thai food dishes all most tasty and finished off with a plate of fresh fruit.
We then had some time to digest this whilst sitting outside and watching the congest ion along the narrow beach front road where Krabi style 3 wheeler motor cycle taxis tried to pass oncoming full size cars..
Our musings of these goings on were however interrupted when we felt a few drops of rain and looking up saw a very dark sky apparently heading our way.
Our boat crew had also spotted this and quickly hurried us back aboard just as the rain became quite heavy.
However the wind had already whipped up some quite sizeable waves and when we headed off, trying to outrun the storm to our next destination, Poda island just across the bay, we received a severe buffeting..
After several uncomfortable minutes we arrived there, beaching in quite a swell and disembarking with some difficulty made our way up the beach.
Fortu nately the storm passed us by but left quite a heavy sea in its wake which was to trouble us for the rest of the day.
Waiting just long enough for the waves to abate a little, we again climbed aboard and started the long journey back to Phuket.
All the way back the boat bounced and crashed through the waves and although clearly not actually in any danger, it was nevertheless not the most enjoyable ride with most of us clinging hard to the handrails in order not to be bounced off our seats.
When we were roughly halfway back we stopped at one final island, as it happened the same one as had been our final stop on the previous trip.
This time however we were to be there for some time as our boat had to be commandeered to take another party home and so complete with all our belongings we disembarked and stayed there for around an hour and a half.
The boat company did however at least provide a rest tent there complete with seats and refreshments and this proved a welcome refuge when it started to rain again.
But this soon passed, as did the time, and we were once again aboard and heading for home.
Docking back at a different beach due to the tides and then being taken by bus to our setting off point, we then clambered back into a mini-bus and thus back to our hotel arriving around 7 o’clock in the evening.
In hindsight perhaps a ‘journey too far’ trying to get to Krabi and back in a single day as we really didn’t get the chance to see much whilst actually there.
But still not an unpleasant day out – in spite of the waves.
For our last evening meal we selected a Thai food restaurant a short walk from our hotel and had another excellent and by Phuket standards, inexpensive meal.
And then it was another early night and an unearthly alarm call at 5:30 to ready us for the morning flight home.
Fortunately the hotel also started serving breakfast early so we had time to eat before exactly on time our pre-booked taxi arrived to take us back to Phuket Airport in time for our 9:20 am flight back to Pattaya.
Which was again exactly as promised, on time, pleasant, the same 30 minute stop-over on Samui and arriving back at U-Tapao (Pattaya) airport at 11:30.
A few minutes wait to collect our baggage and then the short walk back to our car and a journey of less than another hour brought us home to Otter Towers.
All in all a very worthwhile holiday – just what the doctor ordered (thank you, doctor, whoever you are).
To view any of the above photos in full size, just click on it.
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