Khao Nayak

Khao Nayak is the name of a rock and coral reef off the coast of Khao Lak. It is considered by dive companies as an alternative to diving at the Similian Islands. It is much closer to the coast and offers an easy dive with the guarantee of plenty to see.

There are two main advantages to diving or snorkelling in Khao Nayak. Firstly, the dive site is only 45 minutes away from Khao Lak by longtail boat (and of course just 25 minutes by speedboat). And secondly, that it is a shallow dive.

Many people would like to experience the colourful and diverse marine eco-system made up of corals and a vast array of fish but are put off by the commitment necessary in terms of time and money to sign up for a liveaboard trip to the Similan Islands.

Khao Nayak is in Thap Lamu Bay at the entrance to a river. It is close to the shoreline. It is a convenient spot to get to and will appeal to those who don’t like long boat journeys. Lots of dive shops and tour companies organise day trips to the coral reef. You can find both snorkelling trips as well as dive trips to the area.

For divers the main advantage of Khao Nayak is the shallow depth. It is only 12 meters deep. This is great for beginners still learning for their PADI qualifications as well as experienced divers who want more time under the water exploring.

The dive spot has plenty of colourful nudibranchs. It is also home to ghost pipefish, lion fish and lots of other colourful fish. If you are lucky you might see a ray or even a leopard shark.

Many tours will include a trip to Khao Nayak Beach. Because of the mountain behind this beach is only accessed by sea. It is a stunning white sand beach. The sea is great for swimming and the beach for relaxing. Due to its location this beach is completely undeveloped – there are no shops, restaurants or resorts here. Not even a beach vendor. Tours will usually provide refreshments and food but be sure to bring your towel and plenty of sun cream.

Exploring Khao Nayak makes a great day out and gives you the experience of visiting an area devoid of tourist development. This in itself can be a real treat in Thailand.

Koh Prathong - Golden Monk Island

Koh Prathong is one of the least visited islands in Thai waters. It is located just north of Koh Kho Khao, just off the Andaman coast at the northern end of the Khao Lak area. It is possible to travel independently to Koh Prathong or to take a tour. Either way, if you are in the area you should make time in your schedule to visit this island with unspoiled nature.

While plenty of tourists make the small trip over from the Andaman coast mainland to Koh Kho Khao, few make it on to the neighbouring island of Koh Prathong. It is reached by a 1.5 hour boat journey from Kuraburi. Alternatively, you can join a tour group that leaves from Baan Nam Kem Pier. If you are staying in Khao Lak it is easy to find a tour going to Koh Prathong. The price of these tours usually includes free transfers to and from your hotel.

Koh Prathong was granted National Park Status in 2001. As a result it is protected against development that encroaches on the natural environment. The west coast has a series of golden sand beaches. The interior contains ‘Thailand’s Savannah’ composed of grass land and forests containing Melaleuca trees. Tours divide the island into four zones: coastal, savannah, mangrove and marine jungle

The island has a rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are over 100 species of birds. Other animals include the Lesser Adjutant Stork, Sambar Deer, the nocturnal Fishing Cat and Red Muntjak.

The ocean off the coast has coral reefs that are home to lobsters and numerous types of fish. You can snorkel the reefs.

The main village is called Ta Pae Yoi. It is a small community of Thais and Moken (sea gypsies). They lead traditional lives of farming, fishing and boat building. Near the village is a turtle nursery. Koh Prathong is one of the best places in Thailand to witness the turtles laying their eggs and also the eggs hatching and the younglings attempting their epic journey to the sea for the first time.

For those who want to spend some time exploring Koh Prathong and enjoying its great beaches there are a few small bungalow resorts on the north-west coast. They are simple wooden bungalows made from local and sustainable materials. A bungalow for 2 people including breakfast for 2 costs 800 Thai Baht.

This is an island without any concrete roads. It is sparsely populated and easily one of the ‘wildest’ places in Thailand that is accessible to tourists. It is ideal for those with an interest in eco-tourism. There are no cars or trucks on the island. People get about in homemade tractors pulling a trailer for passengers. These charming vehicles are called Tak Tak Cars.

Koh Prathong translates as ‘Golden Monk Island’. It is believed to refer to a golden statue or deity that was once housed in a temple on the island. The golden statue has gone but the golden beaches remain as does the natural environment. It is a place worthy of reverence.

For more inoformartion go to  www.kohphrathong.com

Silk Spa

The best rated (at the moment) spa in Khao Lak according to Trip Advisor is Silk Spa. The spa offers a range of massages as well as beauty packages. The spa is well decorated and comfortable and does the basic things well; and, as a result it comes out top of the pile.

The Silk Spa is located in Khao Lak Village, very close to the JW Marriot Hotel.  It is an unassuming place. There is a small sign above sliding glass doors. The place is easy to miss as it doesn’t look like a spa from the outside.

Inside there are tiled and air-con therapy rooms. The place is clean and uncluttered, but it is best described as ‘practical’ rather than ‘luxurious’. The price list comprises of Thai massages, foot reflexology, scrubs, oil massage, coconut massage, manicures and pedicures. Here is a sample of the prices at Silk Spa for 1 hour:

Foot Reflexology 350 Thai Baht
Traditional Thai Massage 400 THB
Oil Massage 500 THB
Coconut Oil Massage 600 THB
Body Scrub 850 THB
Manicure 300 THB
Pedicure 350 THB

Reviews of the Silk Spa repeatedly say two things – one that the staff are really friendly, and two that the massages are really good. The masseuses clearly know what they are doing. Those who visit the spa more than once benefit in that the masseuse will remember the right spots to give extra attention to.

It goes to show that you don’t have to have the most spectacular ‘boutique’ ambience and facilities, you don’t need to offer unusual therapies and treatments in order to be voted the best. All you need is to get the basics right – namely giving a good traditional Thai massage.

Contact Details

41/48 Moo 3, Khuk Khak Beach | Khao Lak Village (next to the JW Marriot Resort)
Telephone: 0818402448

Best English Pub Grub in Khao Lak

If you are like me then you will find eating Thai food all the time difficult. I love Thai curries and other dishes like somtum, but my stomach won’t take 3 doses of chili a day. Especially in the morning I enjoy a Western style breakfast – either yoghurt, fruit and muesli or a cooked breakfast such as scrambled eggs. However, I am often disappointed with Western food: the bread is sweet, the eggs are greasy and the bacon is paper thin.

To avoid this type of disappointment I usually head to the Mars Bar for some great pub grub. Mars Bar Café is a popular bar on the main road next to Bang Niang beach. It is the orange place on the opposite side of the road from the 7-11.

The bar is the brainchild of Mars from the UK. He moved to Thailand in 2007 and soon fell in love with the country. He got married to a local girl and started his own bar. Unlike many other ex-pats who set up a bar in the land of smiles, this is a special place that draws a good crowd.

Mars takes a keen interest in his bar and is a great raconteur: always ready to share a travel story. He is also a keen music fan who puts on a great selection of rock music. You can find some of his playlists on the bar website: www.marsbarcafe.com

What I like most about Mars Bar Café is the pub grub. It is excellent. The menu offers, fish, chips, mushy peas, jacket potatoes and homemade bread. The Sunday roast is a massive plate of food and well worth the price.

The bar has a number of events on such as ladies night when drinks for the fairer sex are half price. Unlike the other bars in Khao Lak, Mars makes the effort to keep the bar website up-to-date. So it is worth checking out for promotions and events.

Khao Lak as the Middle Option

For people planning on visiting Thailand for the first time it can be difficult to choose a holiday destination. In a way Khao Lak is the ideal middle option for those not wanting to spend too much money, who don’t want somewhere too busy or too quiet.

It is often the case that people are put off by the high prices and the scams in Phuket. They are also put off by the obvious seedy nature of Pattaya. They might shy away from the mass package tourism of Koh Samui and the reputation of Koh Phangan as party central. Places like Phuket, Pattaya, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan do represent extremes for tourism in Thailand.

Phuket is the most developed beach area in the Kingdom. Not only are room rates high but so are taxi fees and even restaurant menu prices. There seems no end to the avaricious atmosphere of Phuket. For many items Phuket is now more expensive than the UK. As a result of the large sums of money pouring into the island Thai and foreign mafias have vested interests, and one suspects have greased the right palms. For many Karon, Kata and Kamala Beaches might be stunning but are not worth it.

Chaweng and Lamai beaches in Koh Samui have long been famous tourist destinations. However, these east coast beaches have become so developed it can be hard to actually find the beach. It is an overwhelming mass of commercialism with restaurants, nightclubs and seedy massage joints all rubbing shoulders. Koh Samui has at least 20% room vacancy rates because they have plainly overbuilt. It can be hard to get a good night’s sleep if you choose the wrong hotel in Koh Samui. The prices in Samui are cheaper than Phuket but the package tourist crowds are possibly worse.

Koh Phangan despite recent improvements to its infrastructure and its growing reputation as an up market destination with a pristine natural environment cannot shake off its image as a party island. Indeed for a week or so around the full moon time, the southern beaches of Haad Rin and Baan Tai become overrun with all night revellers, most of whom are high not just on life. Beaches like Haad Salad on the west coast and the small idyllic and remote beaches on the east coast are a million miles away from the hedonism of the party scene in Haad Rin. The type of holiday you get in Koh Phangan really depends on when you go and where you go.

It is a long trek down to the islands in the Gulf of Thailand. Due to the Bangkok Airways monopoly on flights to Koh Samui there are no cheap and convenient flights to the southern islands. You can fly to the Suratthani or Nakhon but then you are still faced with 2 or more hour journey time getting to an island.

Khao Lak in contrast is much closer to Bangkok and well served by plane and bus companies. Khao Lak doesn’t have a party reputation and so the all-night youngsters don’t go there. What it does have is an abundance of good quality mid-range hotels, lots of unspoiled beaches and the best diving in the Kingdom. Khao Lak represents the middle option in terms of cost; it also is the mid-point between being a party place and a deserted place.

Tourists Rescued by Elephants

Yesterday 16 German tourists were successfully rescued by 4 experienced elephants. The tourists had been trekking in Khuk Khak when they were trapped by rains.

The tourists were on an elephant trek in the hills behind Baan Thung Kamin. They were riding young elephants. There was a torrential downpour which caused damage to a river defence. The young elephants that the tourists were on were afraid to cross the fast flowing river.

The tour guide called in the problem and 4 older and more experienced elephants were dispatched to rescue the tourists. They managed to reach the stranded tourists and cross the fast flowing river, and then get them to safety. The mahouts of the younger elephants stayed out all night and crossed the river the following day.

It is a good story as it shows the ability of the elephant trekking companies to deal with problems. It also shows the hard lot of mahouts who must stay with their elephants come rain or shine.

Story from Phuket Gazette

Bang Niang Market

The main outdoor market in the Khao Lak is Bang Niang Market. It is not only a good place to get a snack and pick up useful items, but also a fun place to visit and experience Thai culture. I recommend going to Bang Niang Market at least once during your holiday in Khao Lak. The market is open every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 2pm to 6pm. You should time your visit to fit in with a meal time: either a late lunch or an early dinner. Not only will you have an interesting culinary experience, you will also get one of the cheapest meals of your holiday. There are three main sections to Bang Niang Market.

1) Fruit and vegetables, and other food

There are long rows of stalls selling all manner of fresh fruits and vegetables. Some of the food items you will recognize, others you won’t. Naturally, many of the fruit and vegetables are seasonal. The meat and fresh fish sections are similar all year round. Fruit to look out for include mangosteen, guava, banana, mango, dragon fruit, watermelon and rose apple. The latter is in the guava family – it is red and shaped like an elongated apple. It has a bitter sweet taste. There is the usual selection of vegetables you find in Thailand including a few you see less often such as asparagus and bitter cucumber. There are also a couple of stalls selling fresh herbs and spices in pots. These are excellent to take home as souvenirs and also for your own kitchen if you plan to try Thai cooking at home. The fish section includes mussels, squid, fish eggs, crabs and a variety of both sea and freshwater fish. For the brave self-caterer there are such delicacies as pig intestines, quail eggs and Thai sausages that contain rice and again pig intestines. If any of these products intrigue you then you can normally try a mouthful for free. The food section of the market also offers many of the meats cooked and ready for consumption.

2) Cooked Food

There are plenty of food stalls in the market. They are cooking all the time so you can always find something freshly cooked. Here is where it is fun to be adventurous. Remember that food that looks recognizable might not taste the same as back home. Dishes to look out for include sausage balls – a traditional delicacy from the north, chicken feet and pig brains. The fried prawns and mussels are delicious. For those with a sweet tooth, the pancakes are recommended. I often buy a bag of adzuki beans cooked in coconut cream.

3) Clothes, shoes, souvenirs and other items

There is a mixture of cheap clothes and shoes aimed more at the Thai market as well as some traditional material shawls, counterpanes, bags etc. for people looking for a souvenir of Thailand. You can also find sunglasses, belts, silk and printed T-shirts.

Pub

If the heat of the day gets too much for you there is a pub at the end of the market (Chay Bar) with shade where you can get a cold beer, coke or shake. You might even catch some live music. Sitting in the pub is a great way to pass an hour or so people watching.