Koh Pannyi photo

From a long-tail boat in the bay of Koh Pannyi, Phuket Thailand I was able to swing the camera to get this picture.

Wonder if some travel agency would like this one ;)

Koh Pannyi (Sea Gypsie Island)

The village on Koh Pannyi is inhabited by Chao Nam or Sea Gypsies, who have given up their traditional way of life as sea nomads. The whole of the village (which is mostly Muslim) is built on stilts, with a giant rock monolith guarding its rear. It is the second destination for the tourists, packed on boats to see the James Bond Island, to come and take their lunch. Around midday, up to 3.000 visitors will flood into the small village via tour boats. But as soon as lunch is over and the tourists leave, the community closes up its restaurants and gif shops and returns to the quiet community of fishermen again.

Wat Suwannakhuha : Phang Nga Province

[photo credit to thai-tour ]

This temple is located in Mu 2, Tambon Krasom. Take Highway No. 4, (Phang-nga - Ban Khok Kloi route) for 7 kilometres and upon reaching the kilometre 31 marker at Amphoe Takua Thung, there is an asphalt road going to the right to the temple, one kilometre away. The locals call this temple Wat Tham.

This is an interesting temple of all in Phang-nga since it is of historical and archaeological importance. Within the boundary of the temple is a mountain with numerous caves. Tham Yai is located at the lowest level and, inside, the total length of the cave walls is decorated ceramic tiles, bowls as well as terra cotta ware and Benjarong ware.

It is also used as a temple and houses various manners of Buddha images, one of which is a splendid reclining Buddha image. You can also see many Royal Monograms inscriptions on the walls of the cave.

Travel to the Similans

Travel to the Similans is easy from either Phang-Nga or Phuket. Chartered boats leave from Lap Lamu Pier in Tai Meuang District of Phang-Nga and take about 3 hours to reach the islands. Here is also the office of National Park located. Alternatively, trips to the Similans can be arranged in Phuket. A boat trip from Patong Beach takes 4 hours. Divers, however, go to the islands on boats that leave from Patong Beach and also take 4 hours by diving companies. Moreover, visitors can leave from Chalong Bay on scuba diving excursions. These leave in the evenings and take about 7 hours. A typical dive trip lasts 4 nights and 3 days, and includes 10 dives. Prices range from 9,000 to 25,000 baht, depending on the level of luxury, and include food, and accommodations. The Similans are regarded as mainly "deep water" diving.

For those wishing to stay a shorttime on the Similans: basic accommodations are available at the National Park Office on Koh Miang and can be reserved by contacting: the Similan Islands National Park Office, Moo 1, Tambon Lam Kaen, Tai Meuang District, Phang-Nga. Tel. (076)411913-4.

The best time to visit the Similan islands is from December through April, March being the best month, when the winds are lowest and the water clearest.

Similan Islands (More info)

A group of 9 small islands 50 kms. off the west coast of Phang-Nga in the Andaman Sea. The National Park covers an area of 80,000 rai. Skin Diving Magazine rated them among the ten loveliest places on Earth, because of the great natural beauty found on the islands themselves and also because of the extensive surrounding coral gardens beneath the waves. The islands are undeveloped and unspoiled; numerous species of fish, crustaceans, and other forms of sea-life abound; water clarity and diving are excellent. Similan is corrupted from the Malay Sembilan and means nine. From north to south in order the islands are: Koh Bon, Koh Ba Ngu, Koh Similan, Koh Pahyoo, Koh Miang (two islands), Koh Pahyan, Koh Payahng andKoh Hu Yong.

Koh Ba Ngu is also called Hua Gah Lok or Skull Island. Beneath the waters, a field of grass and coral appear to be growing in a deep valley. Schools of fish are everywhere.

Koh Similan is the largest island. It has a long curving bay, and beneath the waters coral reefs remain pristine. The beach is composed of fine grain sand. Diving to look at the fishes and corals is strongly recommended. At the island's northend are bizarrely shaped big boulders; one looks like a soldier's boot, another is shaped like a sailboat. Here also is an excellent view.

Koh Miang is actually two islands connected and forms the second largest land mass in the group after Koh Similan. The National Park Office is here, and there is a fine beach where visitors can stay.

KohHu Yong has the Similans longest white sandy beach. From November till February sea turtles come up to lay eggs and their tracks may be seen in the sand.

Similan Islands

The Similan Islands, located approximately 100 km northwest of Phuket in the Andaman sea, form an area of great natural beauty and were declared a Marine National Park in 1982. Consisting of nine, densely wooded islands fringed with rocky outcrops and gorgeous beaches with fine talcum powder-like sand, the islands still remain the province of the locals and divers.

Diving is the main attraction of these islands. Huge granite boulders, caverns and swim-throughs produce a fascinating underwater landscape which attracts a huge variety of marine life, from tiny creatures to great Manta Rays. Water clarity is excellent and the scenery varies with each island. Ranked as one of the top 10 dive sites in the world, every trip to the Similans provides a new diving experience.

How does it look today in Khao Lak?

Every tourist who comes now to Khao Lak is totally surprised!

The region of Khao Lak, which was struck by the Tsunami so violently, has recovered incredibly fast. Not only international hotels are up and running, even the relatively small resorts of Bang Niang Beach and Nang Thong are back in business, and they look nicer than ever.

Along the main streets of Bang Niang and Nang Thong, shops catering for all needs can be found, banks (with ATM), restaurants, small bars, grocery stores, laundries, photo shops (with film developing service), all giving their customers a friendly welcome.

Here now in Khao Lak everybody finds that along with the beauty, peace and tranquillity of the area, there is the incredible hospitality, low prices and delightfully clean, deserted beaches. The Tsunami-warning system is now fully installed, tested and working.

The new situation regarding Khao Lak is still known only to regular visitors and residents. However, the word will soon get about!!

Khao Lak

Khao Lak, located just north of Phuket Island on the gorgeous Andaman seaboard, is one of Thailand's most peaceful resort destinations. No less than three national parks are embraced by the surrounding hills that sweep down to this lovely stretch of coastline with beaches that go on for miles.

Khao Lak offers a rare oasis for relaxation, with a superb combination of cool tropical forest, lovely beachfront accommodation and expansive white sand beaches. And those beaches are more beautiful than ever. Following the tsunami, Khao Lak has made a remarkable recovery with newly refurbished hotels providing a quantity and quality of accommodation never before seen in this area. Revitalised resorts have upgraded their facilities, created more stylish rooms and added ambient features like soothing lotus ponds, serene gardens and infinity pools.

Inland, the forested slopes beckon with nature tours including activities like rafting, elephant trekking and hiking to temple caves. Giant tropical trees and sparkling waterfalls provide a home to many species of wildlife and exotic birds in this surprising and beautiful place.

Khao Lak is more than just a holiday destination – it’s an inspiration. Travel here and see.

Phang Nga Bay

We boarded a boat on a river near Phang Nga, and although we had the limestone islands of the bay already in our mind, the boatman first took us through the backwaters of the bay. Small rivers with mangroves on both sides and an abundance of green was only to get us ready for the bay and its islands. Already here, as in Phang Nga town, we could see tall limestone rocks sticking out of the landscape. Suddenly, the landscape widened, the horizon disappeared in the distance, and we had entered Phang Nga bay itself.

With the constant drone of the longtail boat engine in our ears, we rapidly passed Ko Panyi and the panorama became truly amazing. High limestone rocks, covered with a green layer of trees and shrubbery, defined the horizon of Phang Nga National Bay all around us. Since the sea was quiet, the peaks of the islands were reflected in the water. We stayed fixed on the landscape unfolding before our eyes, when eventually the boatman guided us to the beach of an island where we explored a cave. After that, we sailed through Tam Lod Grotto and ended up having lunch at a beach with a gorgeous view over the bay.

The boatman disappeared, leaving us stranded on the island in the middle of Phang Nga National Bay, and when he finally returned, he took us directly to Ko Khao Ping Gan. Here, we disembarked and just around the corner, a strangely familiar sight came on our eyes as tiny Ko Tapu became visibile, sticking out of the little bay. This weird rock rose to fame because it starred in James Bond The Man With The Golden Gun. Actually, its more common name now is James Bond island. Unfortunately, this means that it has now turned into a major tourist trap with little stalls selling all kinds of souvenirs on the beach opposite the rock. Filter this out, and you can still appreciate the amazing beauty of the islands.

Ko Panyi

On our way to Phang Nga Bay National Park, we passed Ko Panyi, or Panyi island, and knew we would be back later. After half a day cruising the bay with its typical islands and rocks, we moored at one of the many piers of this fishing village. While most other visitors just stay for half an hour, we had decided to stay overnight. In fact, Ko Panyi, established in the 18th century by Indonesian fishermen, at first seems to be a tourist trap. The first streets you see are completely packed with tourist shops, with shopkeepers trying to sell, without even selling anything very special.

But it certainly is a good idea to walk on, and reach what could be called the outskirts of Ko Panyi. No more shops, no more people trying to sell, here is where you see the local fishermen preparing their boats, you see women repairing or cleaning the nets of their husbands, you see children cycling on the narrow strips of concrete that were laid on top of the stilts on which almost the entire village is built. It also brings you to the small mosque of the village (the Indonesian fishermen who moved here were, almost inevitably, moslim), and on to the border of the village. From here, you can have a great view of sunset, while you see the sun give its warm colours to the houses of the village.

Upon return, our guesthouse had prepared a surpringly sumptuous and delicious meal for us. While the village had been quite lively just a few hours before, activity died down rapidly and the village rapidly assumed a dark look. No wonder, most of the inhabitants are still fishermen, and early the next morning, we heard the longtail boats with their noisy engines leaving Ko Panyi in search of their nets. Thanks to them, we were in time to see the sun rise from a hazy landscape, see some fishermen return with full nets, and see the village come alive again before heading back to the mainland.

James Bond Island, Phang nga bay

What does it take to put a tourist destination on the international map? Great beaches, crystal clear water, clement weather? Not really… You are certainly best off trying to get it into a James Bond movie! The 1974 film ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ is remembered for three things; a gun (made up of gold jewellery), an arch villain (Scaramanga), and those odd shaped little islands where Scaramanga set up base.

Although on the tourist circuit they are collective know as James Bond Island, there were in fact two islands featured in the movie. Koh Khao Phing Kan in Phang-Nga Bay was the bad guy’s base and cone-shaped (broad at the top and narrow at the bottom) Koh Tapu where he hid what we would call today a ‘weapon of mass destruction’.

Although there is no doubt that James Bond Island is a ‘must see’ destination, you are probably aware of what you will get. Most people reach the island by tour and although there are some genuinely beautiful sights to be seen, the tours usually involve you being dropped of on a beach to be confronted by swarms of vendors trying to palm off tasteless souvenirs! Classic! The tours do often include a lunch at Koh Panyi which is a step in the right direction.

Our advice: Do it… despite everything, it’s an enjoyable trip!

How to get there: There is a bus boat that moves around the islands and ends up at James Bond Island but by far the largest number of people do this trip via a tour from Phuket that takes people through some of the major sites on the way. Alternatively, take a boat cruise from the north of Phuket Island – less crowds and a bit quieter.

James Bond Island

This is the reason why everyone goes on the "James Bond Island" tour. They want to stand on the beach in the same place as Christopher Lee and Roger Moore some 25 years ago.

The approach to Khao Phing Kan island is crowded with long-tailed boats. The tourists are only allowed seconds to get off the boat before it returns to the bay to wait.

Thousands of tourists arrive each year to have their picture taken in front of "James Bond Island". This island is known to the Thai people as Tapu Island or Nail Island.

The short stretch of beach facing "James Bond Island" is packed with souvenir stalls and at the far end there is a toilet block.

The 52 souvenir stalls sell cheap trinkets and take up every inch of space.

Ao Phang-Nga (Phang-Nga Bay) NationalPark

Ao Phang-Nga (Phang-Nga Bay) NationalPark was declared a national park on April 29, 1981. It lies in the districts of Phang-Nga Town and Takua Thung and the total area is 250,000 rai (1 rai = 1,600 sq. meters). Most visitors are intent on viewing Phang-Nga Bay's bizarre landscape, which includes more than 120 singularly strange looking islands. Therer are many places where boats can be rented to travel Phang-Nga Bay:

- Ta Dahn Soon Kahkorn Pier: near Phang-Nga Bay Resort. Boats from small to large including ones suitable for C tours may be rented.

- Surakoon (or Ka Sohm) Pier: lies in Takua Thung. Here you will find long-tail boats seating about 6 persons each.

- The pier in the area of National Park : has long-tails holding up to eight persons each. It takes about three hours to view Phang-Nga Bay. The best season is from December to April, but because of the calm seas that prevail year round in this waveless body of water, trips to Phang-Nga are an on-going activity. Many companies in Phuket offer sight-seeing tours, and various modes of travel are possible: from long-tail boats, to sea canoes, to Chinese junks. Virtually all of them include lunch in the price of the tour. Check with your travel agent for details. Those wishing to explore on their own can charter a boat and prices are negotiable: If the first boatman you ask quotes a price outside of your budget, don't hesitate to ask another.