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