Tere are times when you plan something but you end up doing something or nothing of it at all.. Something similar happened to us on our trip to Krabi :(
After an eventful stay in Bangkok for 4 days, our next eagerly awaited destination was Krabi. Thanks to the cyclone that had hit Philippines in September 2015, many countries around it very affected to some extent. Thailand was one of it. We were keeping a track of the weather forecasts and it showed light showers or thunderstorms during our stay. We still took a chance, hoping to get a day or 2 of clear weather.
We reached Krabi airport around 11.30 in the afternoon. Light showers welcomed us. Our plan was to stay 2 nights at Railay, 1 night in Phi Phi and 1 night in Ao Nang.
As planned we reached Railay around lunch time. We stayed at Sand and Sea resort, a beautiful hotel located on the west side of Railay. After settling in our room for a while we headed out for lunch and a quick walk by beach. Afternoon the weather got a little bad with thunderstorms that continued till around sunset. The next day’s plan was to go for an island tour either in the morning or afternoon depending on the weather. There is a small market in west Railay that sells beachwear, day tours, local eateries. Checking with a couple of agents, bargaining over the rates we finally booked our 7 island tour from one of the local agents.
It kept raining the entire night so with that our plan to go for the 7 island tour went down the drain. But we kept hopes of doing it in the afternoon. So we had the entire morning to ourselves..After a hearty breakfast we went to PhraNang caves located on the east side of Railay. The road to this cave is full of stalagmites. Walking for approximately 250 meters from the entry point we were greeted by curious spiritual space. Hand crafted, big, small, colored phallus. It is believed by the villagers that the spirit of PhraNang (The Princess Goddess) resides in the cave. I saw some locals with incense sticks and flowers paying homage to the shrine. Not sure of the spiritual angle to this site but was a unique experience. There is a beach just outside the cave called the PhraNang beach. This seemed to be the most unexploited beach we had visited till date. We spent almost an hour there and by then the rains had stopped and skies were clear again.
We checked with our agent who said the afternoon trip to the island is on. So we quickly got ready and went to the Ao Nam pier, which is the start point for all the day tours or transfer to other islands. This day trip is called “7 island tour” as they cover small 7 island around Railay/AoNang. My major attraction for this tour was snorkeling. On the 2nd island we stopped for a 30 minute snorkeling stop. I jumped from my boat into the sea and to my surprise my eye mask slipped. With a lot of struggle I fixed it back but since it had rained the currents were strong and balancing or floating in water was very difficult. Water went into my nose and I was choking ???? I immediately got near the boat and tried getting on it again. In this process I cut my left foot. The tour operators immediately helped me out in cleaning and dressing the wound. I was asked not to get my feet wet and stay away from water. However, we continued the entire tour limping around on the island. Not knowing how serious this accident was, we simply cleaned the wound and covered it well.
Next morning we planned to leave for PhiPhi and stay there for 2 days. But before leaving Ajit wanted to do the rock climbing happening at PhraNang cave beach. So I accompanied him till the cave and watched him climb the rocks like a pro.
While Ajit continued doing the next rounds of rock climbing I went to the hotel to pack bags. My foot had started hurting and gradually it was getting difficult for me to walk. So we thought of getting it checked with a doctor before leaving for PhiPhi. My wound had gone a little bad with a layer of sand in it. Doctors were trying to clean and I was yelling at the top of my voice. Not letting them touch the wound. All I wanted to do was run away from this God foresaken place. Since I couldn’t take the pain I was given local anesthesia and my wound was cleaned. I was advised not to indulge into any sports activities for the next 5 days ???? It was not the wound that pained but the thought that I will not be able to do anything.
But with this major change in the plan we still had a ball of a time. We cancelled the beach facing room at Beacha club in PhiPhi and continued one more night at Railay. Since every plan had some amount of water activity, we had to cancel all of it. Evening was spent lying on the beach chairs, sipping a drink and watching the sunset. Railay is like a dream personified.. I was awestruck by the beauty of this place. Every day hordes of tourist visit Railay during the day and return back by eveing. That is when the actual beauty of this place was experienced when the beach was silent and calm. The water was clean with shades of blue and green.
As scheduled, we went to AoNang and stayed a night at Alisea resort. We spent the evening at AoNang beach, shopping for souvenirs, followed by an hour session of Thai massage. I loved Railay over AoNang. AoNang seemed more touristy to me. More of shopping and city life.
Krabi trip was something I was looking forward to and had made a list of to-do things —>
Plan was:
- Snorkeling during the island tours
- Rock Climbing at Phra Nang cave
- Cliff Jumping
- Kayaking at Ao Thalane
- Phi Phi Island (Maya beach)
- Hot Spring and Emerald pool near Aonang
What I actually did:
- Snorkeling during the island tours
- Husband did Rock climbing
And Why ???
We had gone for 7 island tour from Railay were I met with an accident at the snorkeling spot. I had a deep cut on my left foot when getting on to the boat. The tour operators immediately helped us out in cleaning and dressing the wound. However, we continued the entire tour limping around on the island. The next day we got the wound cleaned from a local doctor and was advised not to indulge into any sports activities for the next 5 days.. This meant my entire trip had gone down the drain :( It was not the wound that pained but the thought that I will not be able to do anything.
But with this major change in the plan we still had a ball of a time. Husband did the rock climbing at Phra Nang cave.
Actual plan was to stay one night at Phi Phi island. We had booked a beach facing room at Beacha club but had to cancel that and continued one more night at Railay. Railay is like a dream personified.. I was awestruck by the beauty of this place. The water was clean with shades of blue and green.
We had booked hotel Sand and Sea in Railay West which is a beach facing resort. Definitely was like an icing on the cake.. Since every plan had some amount of water activity, we had to cancel all of it. Evening was spent lying on the beach chairs, sipping a drink and watching the sunset.
I just wanted to continue eating for a view like this !!
As scheduled, we went to Aonang and stayed a night at Alisea resort. We spent the evening at Aonang beach followed by an hour session of Thai massage.
I loved Railay over Aonang. Aonang seemed more touristy to me. More of shopping and city life.
Railay beach and Phi Phi island were the main highlights for Krabi. I had read blogs, seen pictures of Maya beach, the one where the movie "The Beach" was shot. Looks like Krabi is not yet off my bucket list. Hope to do it in the near future ;)
