The highlights of this Phang Nga Bay trip were Canoeing and Sightseeing. Initially, we bought one program which only include the canoeing and sightseeing around the Phang Nga Bay. While there was small error happened on that morning, our tour guide whose name is Pom changed our program to another program that gave us chance to explore islands other than the Phang Nga Bay.
Shops and stalls at the Phuket Jetty - before we departed to Phang Nga Islands
Our detailed programs
Our program as below:
1. Hong Island – Krabi
- this was the “bonus” after changed the program. It was about 30-35 minutes speedboat journey from Phuket mainland. We were given 1 hour to relax, sun bathing on the beach, as well as to snorkel in its crystal clear sea. This second snorkeling experience was definitely the best ever compared to the lousiest one in Phi Phi island yesterday. Although we can’t see any living carol, the fishes here were very pretty and colorful. I even touched a living sea urchin, lol, the feeling was quite “geli”. And of cause, some sea fishes and oyster shells which i can’t tell their names and species. =)
- Behind the beach is the national park which we didn’t have time to explore all around. After 1 hour of snorkeling, we moved to another corner of the Hong Island to do some sightseeing. The meaning of “Hong” in Thais means “room”, because there are so many “rooms” on this island created by the collapsed cave system which eventually turned out to be a secret lagoon spot for the local fishermen.
Our boat brought us entering a secret lagoon - where the water level only about 3m high, and when low tide - there is no water
This is the "entrance" which our boat entered just now
It is a place with no other "entrance" to go out after entering, fishermen cast the net during low tide. When high tide, the fishes swim into here, and the cast will catch all of them when low tide. That's why it called a secret lagoon for fishing.
2. Hong Island – Phang Nga
- This is another Hong Island but is situated at Phang Nga. Both is called as “Hong” island, surely because they shared similar geography structures. This Hong Island is ideal for canoeing and is much much bigger than the Hong Island in Krabi. It has more “rooms” compared to Krabi’s, and also an ideal place for fishing and for bird nest collection.
- From here, we observed the featured limestone and canoeing underneath the cave. Truly amazed how the God has created all these. Thumb up for the scenery!
The James Bond No. 2
Paddled on our canoe and across an underneath cave to another "room"
One of the canoe guide, basically their main jobs are take photo, canoeing, explain to you the beauty of islands.
A mysterious "door" to enter one of the caves there
3. Panyi island – Muslim village
- A water world where most inhabitants are Muslims who originally from Indonesia, but already transformed themselves to the Thais’ cultures, speak Thais but still practise Muslim teachings in their living. We had our lunch there, Malay mixed with Chinese food style, not much special actually.
A small village with about 1,500 population.
4. James Bond island
- This island is famous and called as “James Bond” island because of the movie: James Bond series – The Man with the Golden Gun. One part of the movie was filmed there and therefore it became famous. The Island also called as “Nail Island” and is featured its spectacular rocky pinnacle. It became a must-visit place for most tourists, surely what we shouldn't miss was to climb up to the hill to see the whole view of this island. Of cause, if you want to get some “pearl” souvenirs, there are some stalls offer a wide choice.
A "nail" structure, where the right wall is 45 degree bent towards another
Stalls selling souvenirs, which i believe most of them are Panyi villagers
5. Monkey island
- Our last stop and it is on the way back to Phuket island. It is a place surrounded with greenery forest which if we make some “weirdo” sound, the monkeys will appear and entertain us. In fact, we were not lucky that day, because can’t see any single monkey there. Apart from that, part of the island also surrounded with rocky cliffs.
Monkey's home
The specticular limestone islands
We ended our day with another fruitful experience. Paddled ourselves on our canoe through the cave while entering into a mysterious hidden area was the another unforgettable experience ever.
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