#krabi #thailand #southeastasia #coastofthailand #beach #ocean #saltlife #solofemaletravel #meetinganewme #valueforsoul #travelblog #travelsmart #traveltips
My first destination out of Bangkok was Krabi. Located in the southern part of Thailand facing the Andaman Sea, it is the ideal starting point for island hopping. Getting to Krabi from Bangkok is quick and easy. I booked my flight through the local airline's website, ThaiAir, and headed out 5 hours later. While I awaited boarding I researched hotels in Krabi. Most tourist in Thailand rent scooters as their mode of transportation therefore location is may not be a primary concern for accommodation. As for myself, who does not know how to ride motorcycles/scooters, I opted for hotels that are within walking distance to eateries, beaches, and nightlife. One day I’ll learn how to ride a scooter so I can travel independently, big plus when traveling anywhere outside the city. I booked 2 nights at Kokotel Oasis Krabi in the area of Ao Nang. Surrounded by luscious palm trees and greenery, the walk to the "town" is a short 15 minutes. Modern earthy, and vibey interiors, the room featured 2 full size beds and a brand new waterfall shower. I was very happy with Kokotel Oasis Krabi and recommend it to those staying in the Ao Nang.
At first Krabi seemed dreary and boring. I met tourists ages 19 to 60+ years old and lots of families with young children. Tell me where I fit in this picture? I definitely don’t want to hang out with the drunk college students, been there, done that lol. I love little kids but not on holiday. So where are the cool people at ? You know the people who aren’t glued to their phones, enjoying the present moment, meeting and conversing with others. Well, it wasn’t too challenging to find my kind of tourists. I walked to main beach in Ao Nang where I purchased a ferry ticket to go Railay Beach. It was my first time on a “ferry” in Thailand and it was nothing like I ever experienced before. Actually, the ferry, native to Southeast Asia and locally known as a “long tail boat”, is a wooden canoe like boat with a motor engine. I was uncertain if we would make it across the waters because the boat was very flimsy and the waters were rocky, but nonetheless, we dock at Railay Beach. My jaw dropped the first second I hopped off the boat. The waters so warm and tropical, the enormous palm trees standing tall and beautiful, the soft golden sand underneath my feet. Wow, this place is magical! This is the moment when I fell in love with Thailand.
I walked around the beach until I found a place to settle my towel. The tourists I met on the 5 minute boat ride to the beach were friendly and a vibe I wanted to hang with. We set up shop together along the shoreline close to the "cafe" which is literally a boat with premade local snacks, coconut water, and fresh fruit. Behind us, somewhere between the dense forest, there were locals who set up their "massage parlor". A few sheets and towels with coconut oil and a wet rag to clean off the sand and that was all you needed for a massage on the beach. It was the most magical, grounding, and lively moment in my life. The simplicity of life in the eyes of the locals. These women work 12 hours a day, every single day, on their hands and knees in 45°C humid and muggy weather, just to make €6 euros an hour per massage. During my thai massage I couldn't help but think about how blessed I was to be able to travel, explore, express, and enjoy life. Witnessing how different and challenging life is for my fellow mankind felt grounding and awakening. This is reality, some people are less fortunate than others, some value their fortune differently, one man's hardship is another man's luxury.
I stayed on Railay beach all day, chatting, playing volleyball, swimming, relaxing, and connecting with amazing souls. Making sure the catch the last boat back to Ao Nang, I made it in time for sunset dinner at "The Last Fisherman Bar". Lovely place to enjoy a drink and sunset views, I would skip dining here if you're a foodie like myself.
Aimlessly strolling in the town of Ao Nang, I stumbled upon a stand where they were selling tours and organized activities. There were options ranging from spiritual temples to water sports. I wanted to experience something in between and therefore was recommended a kayak tour in the jungle. €15 for a group tour that included transportation, water, kayak, and lifevest. Yes please sign me up! A couple of hours later, a pickup truck came to my hotel and I jumped onto the back where I the rest of the group. There were 6 tourists in the my group and 1 tour guide. The 15 minute drive to the jungle was the most beautiful and bumpy ride I've ever been on. Kilometers of stunning luscious greenery. I tried to capture it on camera but of course it did no justice to its beauty in reality.
We arrive at the Mangrove swamp where our kayaks awaited us. Each of us were assigned a locker to store our personal belongings and off we go into the muddy waters. Of course I convinced the tour guide to partner up with me on the kayak, the only way to subside my anxiety in the wild.
Rowing through the waters in between these massive Mangrove trees, I couldn't believe how much life there is in this dense space. It was the first time I witnessed monkeys living in the wild and not behind a glass in the zoo. They were swinging, eating, jumping, and playing - everyday life in their natural habitat. The cutest and most surreal experience in my life thus far! Growing up in NYC, we do not get to live so close to animals, let alone in the wild like I was experiencing during my trip. From tiny insects, alligators, crocodiles, monkeys, eagles, limestone cliffs, and everything in between. I felt so small and powerless in this mighty swamp, a feeling sometimes necessary for the human species that takeover our planet.
I was lucky enough to learn from my tour guide who is a local to this region, he told me stories of how his family survived generations of extreme flooding and droughts living in the wild. Most kayak tours are done during the full moon when tides are high as it is the safest time to explore the waters. While there are kayak rentals in which you can rent on your own, I highly recommend joining a tour for optimal safety and experience.