Paradise Found (again)....Bottle Beach, Koh Phangan

They say Bottle Beach- or Haad Khuat by its true name-is the most beautiful beach on Koh Phangan. They may be right. What makes it better than Haad Salad or the beach at Milky Bay for instance is the temperature of the water which is a quite a bit cooler, deeper from the get go, & there are no rocks to negotiate when going in for a swim. The beach itself is very quiet which is always a plus in Thailand, as popular spots tend to be crowded. Take a longtail boat ride (15 minutes) from Chaloklum beach for 100THB, or hire a jeep & ride along twisty, hilly roads & voila, you're in Paradise Found. Have a look & try not to envy me....

My 3 guys....

Long tail boat paraphernalia ...

That crystal clear water...

Moi....

Go visit....

 

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Milky Bay, Koh Phangan, how we love thee ....

We are back at Milky Bay, on the Gulf side of Thailand, having just left Krabi on the Andaman Sea. This side of the land of Thai is quite different geographically, with no limestone rocks but plenty of beauty I can assure you. Our favourite island - so far - is Koh Phangan, specifically Milky Bay. We are enjoying, for the second year running, the Milky Bay Resort, owned by the one and only Chris Zanasi, of Primi Piatti fame once upon a time. This resort has it all...it's stylish, quiet, has a stunning private beach, a pool overlooking the bay, amazing staff, a great team of masseuses, very good food & more. The town of Koh Phangan itself is a vibe ...it reminds me of a village in a bit of a time warp...quaint and very old buildings, some very interesting architecture that feels like it could be 1960's Vietnam. Hop on a a scooter & explore it & the beaches around the island...most gorgeous being Haad Salad & Bottle Beach. The latter is only reached via long tail & is well worth the visit & even a sleepover. Stunning....I'll prove it, as below...

Early morning on the beach at Milky Bay...

Beach dog, Milky Bay...

Thong Nai Pan Yai in the town ...

More of the beach resort, Milky Bay...

The BEST masseuses work from this little haven on Milky Bay Resort...

Haad Salad beach...

In the water, Haad Salad...gorgeous beach...

And a margarita to end a blissful day...

 

 

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Phra Nang Cave, Krabi

Ten minutes walk from Railay Beach- in your flip flops- is Phra Nang cave on the quiet beach of the same name. It is impressive, not so much for the peculiar shrine of carved wooden phallic symbols, but for the unbelievable rock formations, stalactites, stalagmites, small caves and troops of monkeys you meet along the pathway to the beach and that surround the main cave. It's almost like the Cango Caves (in Oudtshoorn South Africa) turned inside out. The limestone rocks and cliffs are massive on this side and popular with climbers the world over.
Phra Nang beach with its surreal stalactites ...

Monkeys traipsing along a fence on the path to Phra Nang beach...

A Karst rock rises up in the jungle..

You can access the caves & Phra Nang beach from East Railay, through a winding path - no sport shoes needed which is great...it's all on the level, perfect for lazy Travellers like me...

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Hong Island, Krabi Province, Thailand

Another breathtakingly beautiful discovery on our Thai adventure...Hong Island, about 20 minutes from Aonang Beach via speedboat (an hour by long tail). The island has one beach, Pelay, with pristine white sand that shows off the emerald green of the water of the bay that is enclosed by tall limestone formations protruding out of the sea. Just exquisite & relatively quiet compared to the madness of Koh Phi Phi as hundreds of tourists head there every day. The Hong Island tour also takes in a few other gorgeous islands like Daeng Island, Lading & Pakbia, each as stunning as the one before. Snorkeling was amazing on Daeng and Pelay...the brightly coloured fish come close - they brushed past my goggles & took bread from my hand....it's an incredible experience, especially for a first timer. Again, I recommend Barracuda Tours - all their info is online.

Daeng Island...

Pelay Beach, Hong Island ...

Snorkeling on Daeng Island...

Leaving the Hong Island lagoon...

 

 

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Railay Bay, Thailand

Around the corner from Aonang Beach is another piece of heaven called West Railay Beach. It's also very beautiful & when the long tail boat rounded the bend it made us sigh with pleasure. Again, emerald green waters & those magnificent tall rocks that close off the bay on either side are the welcoming features. Our resort, Railay Bay Resort & Spa is fabulous...right on the waters edge, with a pool that overlooks the sea...my best..take a look...

Railay Beach, arriving by long tail...

The view from the pool at the Railay Bay Resort & Spa...

Beach scenes...

 

 

Railay Bay is accessed via long tail boat only- the trip from Aonang Beach only takes about 15 minutes and costs 100 THB per person, one way. You can get long tail boat tickets at a kiosk opposite the L Resort on the main promenade. Info about the Railay Bay Resort & Spa is online- I highly recommend this resort, but aim to book a bungalow closer to the pool as the resort is vast & the walk to the pool can take a while... If you're lazy like me that is ....see you tomorrow for a blogpost about the Hong Islands, via speedboat. Happy days!

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Aonang Beach, Krabi

Aonang Beach is a fabulous place to stay in Krabi. It's busy without being frenetic, with a great vibe, shopping, bars & restaurants. We stayed at the L Luxury Lifestyle Resort, a chic boutique hotel that has been fairly recently renovated, & is perfectly situated right opposite the beach. If you can, book suite 051 (called the Large Suite)- it's divine & quiet (there are noisy bars next door) & stylishly decorated. Free Wifi is always such a bonus & makes my life so much easier. The beach itself is beautiful, wide & flanked by the famous Krabi rock formations at each end. It's really beautiful - go see for yourself!

Looking across the street from in front of the L Resort....

The street, quiet in the early morning, & the beach ...

The lounge pool & jacuzzi, L Resort...

Sunset on Aonang Beach....

The L Resort | www.thelresort.com | living@thelresort.com

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Thailand!

Holidays!! I'm screaming with delight as it's my annual break & the destination of choice is Thailand. Cape Town Diva, having succumbed to that perpetual wanderlust affliction, is, for the next few weeks, a Thai Diva. Our adventure began today in Krabi, on a speedboat tour of the Phi Phi Islands & surrounding bays. I now know the meaning of the description 'turquoise seas', 'azure & crystal clear waters' & 'pristine beaches'....what we experienced today is all those rolled into one. It truly must be one of the most beautiful parts of our planet. I'm going to be uploading daily so keep reading & I'll take you on a virtual tour of this amazing place: Thailand, the land of smiles ...come with...

Maya Bay...

 

Bamboo Island..

 

Maya Bay..

Koh Phi Phi- Tonsai Bay..

Koh Phi Phi

Key info: Recommended tour operator: Barracudas | www.barracudastourkrabi.com | Aonang Beach - the tour is a full day & the price includes hotel transfers, buffet lunch with water & snacks on the boat - be sure to take the speedboat as opposed to a long tail as the latter is a very bumpy ride.

 

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Oysters at the waters edge...

This is the view from the upper deck of Harbour House, in Cape Town's V&A Waterfront, one of the best of its kind in the world. The venue, famous for its seafood, hosted a SASSI (South African Sustainable Seafood Initiative) event this past week, promoting ethical fishing practices to chefs, restaurateurs & seafood lovers in general. My message: support restaurants that adhere to SASSI's rules... be eco conscious & when you're craving that bluefin tuna sashimi & it's on the RED list, abstain. Make a difference*

Oysters....

The man behind the success of the Harbour House Group, Michael Townsend

 

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