Pretty Beach on a Hotel Island in Phang Nga Bay in southern Thailand
Exploring Phang Nga Bay with the
Kayak
Our boat moves slowly away from Phuket's Ban Rong pier
-Phuket is bordering Phang Nga Bay on the westside-. The six
cylinder diesel which once drove a truck howls and we rush
quickly along the mangrove forests through the canal to
reach open water.
We are 3 on the Phang Nga trip, Roy from siamkayak.com, a
native of Kentucky who turned into an flora specialist after
some years in Thailand, Roy’s son Siva and me . The kayaks
are stowed on top of the cabin. Roy goes through the tides
table of Phang Nga Bay again, we have to be back at the pier
approximately by 3 pm otherwise, we will get stranded in the
channel.
From the hazy air the mighty bizarre-molded
Stalactites of the Phang Nga Bay
materialize, they somehow shape Phang Nga Bay, the area
southwards like Krabi, Trang and are visible from time to
time all the way down to the Malaysian border.
Somewhere left in the fog lays “James Bond” island, one of
the old James Bond films was partially made here. Further in
the


Phang Nga Bay James Bond Island Aerial Photo southern
Thailand
Phang Nga Bay James Bond Island
south,
Phi
Phi island lies where they did the exteriors
shooting for the film ‘The Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio,
some indications of the unique landscape, a permanent
playground for movie scouts.
We want to explore some of the islands with the kayak to
find wild orchids,
not to pick them, only to
have a look. Since the exotic flowers “nest” in Phang Nga
Bay's rock crannies usually far above or make it comfortably
on the mangrove plants as parasites, also touching is not
possible, however the colors and the graceful forms are
unique and worth the trip.
After a deafening ride over the flat waves
of Phang Nga
Bay's- the unmuffled diesel engine is fixed very loosely at
the stern of


Into Phang Nga Bay with the Kayak on top southern
Thailand
A deafening ride into Phang Nga Bay
the
boat - ,
Thai like it the more noise the better,..maybelai,
maybelai, we swing in a turn and come to a halt, easily
splashing in front of a mini atoll formed by a high rock
formation. We glide into the turquoise water of Phang Nga
Bay and wade through the small opening just over the water
surface into the rock formation. Phang Nga Bay is like an
adventure fairy-tale, the upward open grotto


Phang Nga Bay kayaking into the upward open grotto southern
Thailand Phang Nga Bay
penetrating the Island Jungle
opens oval of approximately 50 x 30 m. Crabs doze in the
sand, shrimps run under the water surface, I withdraw the
foot quickly as one of them comes to near, rainbow colored
fishes move slowly, one could catch them with the hand to
have a nice lunch.
Tom Hanks was obviously at the wrong
island at the wrong time in the stranded movie, or maybe
only the script writer was out of date. Above, a wild horde
of Fruit Bats screeches, huge, fat creatures, they have no
natural enemies. Roy’s son paddles the kayak through the
narrow opening above the water surface, a paradise setting.
We find some of Phang Nga Bay's....
|

Phang Nga Bay orchid glue on the Mangroves southern Thailand
orchid who
virtually glue on the
Mangroves. Pretty
small flowers, one probably wonders how they came to this
place, but we are in Thailand, a standard phrase in Thailand
is ..me luuu. meaning I don’t know, me neither.
We had a short swim in the
splendid water of Phang Nga Bay, its so inviting once you
are in you don’t want to get out, better than any wirle
pool. In the open grotto the water surface reflects the sky
of Phang Nga Bay with an emerald shade.
Some long tale macaques are
having fun jumping up and down on the mangroves they are not
shy coming near to say hello, actually probably expecting
some food |

Phang Nga Bay Orchid on the cliff southern Thailand |
We move back to the motor
boat and the boatmen bang the 2 seated kayak into the water.
I
take the front seat, cover the cameras with the shirt from
the sun and Roy take the paddle, Siva is following us in the
red kayak to function as messenger to the mother boat if
necessary, we better be a little organized.

Phang Nga Bay Panorama southern Thailand
Some diamond
club hanging down the rocky surface of
Phang Nga Bay's
karst formation,
looking like
cactus but are from a other family and a good indication if
you can expect orchids if they are there the orchids are not
far.
Uncountable schools of mini fishes swim along the
limestone - karst cliffs of
Phang Nga Bay,
moving quite orchestrated. We


Phang Nga Bay Limestone Cliff southern Thailand
Phang Nga Bay Karst Cliff southern Thailand
pass many green who found their niche of life on the stones,
orchid leaves are everywhere but naturally the blossoms are
not there all the time since the preferred blooming time is
February to May, they only bloom once per year. But there is
a elegant way to have them visible all the time, visit the
orchid nursery described later.
Consider the day trip as a prelude with a little intermezzo
in the restaurant at the evening to get some fresh seafood
into the stomach and to have a finale the next day at the
nursery, don’t forget the camera, the best time at the
“orchid farm” is around 5 pm since at that time the sunrays
have the right angle to illuminate the precious flowers to
bring the colors out.
Anyway we are in a very positive mood but we have to move on
since a hazy day at
Phang Nga Bay
means thunderstorm in the afternoon.
The long tail boat gains speed and we pass
Phang Nga Bay's
pristine beaches, some resorts; it’s a feast for the eyes.
When we enter one more karst atoll though a narrow V a white
bellow eagle materialized out from thick green jungle of
Phang Nga
Bay
foliage sailing
downwards from the top of the cliff. On the steep sloop many
orchid leaves bending downwards, but as yet displayed no
blooms. Within minutes the sky darkens into a dark blue
mélange and fat drops of heavy rain bang down on us. We
quickly get back to the boat and get the blinds down to
continuing another time, it’s worth it, its a unique
experience.
Exploring the
Hong
A hong - room in
Thai language - is somehow a atoll where the coral reef is
replaced by a circular karst formation which was a cave long
time ago, with the time the top eroded fell down and the sun
came in. Many time the hong can only be entered through a
cave, since this cave is usually quite small only with a
canoe or by swimming you can enter. Be careful, only go with
a experienced guide otherwise you might get locked when the
tide comes.


Phang Nga Bay enter the Hong with a canoe southern Thailand
Phang Nga Bay outside the Hong southern Thailand