We arrived early evening into a very hot and humid Bangkok. Our wish to hop to a warmer climate was met, that instant heat you get when you go on holiday is something you cannot beat!
Normally we would work the train out to get into a city but it was getting late and since we’d been up since 5am we decided on a taxi, and it actually didn’t work out much more expensive than the train.
Don’t know if you’ve used sites like Booking.com but previously we’ve ended up miles away from where they say is the centre of an area — and this was the same.
However, it was cheap and pretty decent and not too far to walk to the underground so in the end not a bad option.
We were only going to stay a day in the city so decided to head to the royal palace complex for a visit.
Next morning we headed to the bus station for our first stop down the coast. We’d never really intended to complete a lot of distance while here. The idea would be to find a smaller town with a nice beach bar and possibly an apartment to rent and then settle for a couple of weeks.
First stop was Hua Hin which was billed as as a good option not far from Bangkok. As soon as we arrived we knew this wouldn’t be the place to stay, it was a busy mass-tourist type town, although the kiteboarding was pretty cool.
Second attempt was a smaller place called Khiri Khan about an hour on the train further South, and we got to leave Hua Hin from what was described as the prettiest train station in Thailand?!
The town seemed smaller and pleasant and had a nice feel. Our accommodation was right on the sea front and the bay looked very pretty with rocky islands dotted at each end and lots of fishing boats.
We had a wander around when it had cooled down, and after a beer!
We set off around the head and there was a temple complex on hill and the woman at the accommodation said there were hundreds of monkeys, so go up at our own risk. We decided not to!
The coast was really pretty, but the beach was more of a working beach than one for relaxing, so on we went!
We’d read about an area called Krabi so decided to head there.
We arrived in Krabi town expecting beautiful beaches but found it lacking. It was located on a sea inlet (so no beach at all), although it did have a floating restaurant which had a great setting on the river. So 2 very nice evenings watching the sun set, listen to jazz, and someone playing the saxophone.
Undeterred, we joined a tour the next day, exploring various islands and beaches along the coast, including those featured in “The Beach” and “The Man With The Golden Gun” films.
We also had time for swimming, snorkeling, and a bit of shark spotting.
During a conversation with an Australian couple, they mentioned they were heading to Ko Lanta, an island located two hours south of Krabi town. With numerous islands to choose from, making a decision had been a challenge!
However, considering the positive recommendations from fellow travelers previously, we opted to follow suit.
So, after a two-hour bus ride and a car ferry journey to the island, here we are, ready for a two-week break from packing and waiting for public transport, I know you’re probably feeling very sorry for us at this point 😂
The beach boasts a line of beach bars and has a backpacker vibe, precisely what we were seeking.
