Entries about outdoor

Every now and again I get the chance to experience some real calm in my life. Like in this slideshow of a warm sunny afternoon in Rawai Beach , a working beach, sadly quiet with all the boats tied up with no visitors to the out lying Islands.
Local people and some of us that live here seek calm and freedom in the sea air and the views. Boats sail, pick up trucks drive across the sand banks to load their owners boats up with kit for Sunday afternoon fishing trips.
Families with their children comb the sands for crabs and other small shell edibles.

I can almost hear the sound of the sea, and feel the warmth of the sun, and the smell of the salty water....

So during Chinese New Year we managed a short four day break to Kho Phi Phi, one of the few Islands still running boat services. This is one of the two main beaches we visited during our stay.

The arrival point and central area of Koh Phi Phi, Tonsai Bay is a crowded busy area overlooked by Tonsai Village.
Tonsai Bay is the main arrival and departure hub for Koh Phi Phi as it is deep water. The bay is stretched out along a 2km long cliff which, as it heads to the east, is punctuated with promontories and smaller beaches.

Tonsai Bay is unsurprisingly flanked by the beaches of Tonsai East and Tonsai West.
While it initially appears a scenic spot on arriving at Koh Phi Phi, the water at Tonsai Bay tends to have a fair bit of boat traffic continually coming in and out of the bay. As this is where the main Pier is for drop of and embarking on other Island Journeys.

In February this year (2021) I was able to take a short break to the beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi, not that I would say that hoards of tourists packed over every inch of sand is beautiful, BUT there are no tourists at this present time, except for local Thais from the mainland and those of us who are expats here from working or in my case retirement.

So back to the beautiful Phi Phi, one of the few Islands still running ferries. This video is from the day I took one of my obligatory, walkabouts, and I was struck by two things, the intense colour and beauty of the sea around this area, and the sadness of so many boats tied up and not working. The streets empty and most businesses closed and shuttered up. There were a few places open and serving food and taking guests, but at this present time it is a shadow of it's former self. Still a Jewel of an Island and even more stunning with less crowds.

One thing we did love seeing were all the cats, no dogs are allowed on the Island, but there were many cats, and friendly ones. The locals feed them as do the few tourists that come to visit, bags of kitty cookies are available in most stores.

Tonsai Bay is the bustling heart of Phi Phi. The bay hosts Phi Phi Island's main village, and it is the main arrival port in Phi Phi. Here, there are no cars or roads, only footpaths. The village is located on an isthmus, for which Phi Phi is famous, with Tonsai Bay on the south side and Loh Dalum (Dalum Bay) on the north.

Before 14:30, when the last ferry leaves, the streets are busier with day-trippers and people arriving/departing. After that, the island is more relaxed and the difference is tangible. In the evening the streets fill again with diners looking for a place to eat. Additionally, as most business is done at night, the tour shops, dive shops and every other kinds of shop come to life. Later on, some isolated nightlife areas heat up; especially on the east side of the village and of the bay.

Phi Phi is a very bohemian type of place; after all, bicycles and long-tail boats are the only alternatives to walking.

Music credit to :The Future Ancient Now by Nathan Moore
Free under creative commons licence from You Tube music library

Coral Island is the most popular of the group of small islands just south of Phuket. As its name suggests, it is well known for its shallow coral reefs and excellent snorkeling.

During my recent Catamaran experience, along with visiting Racha Island, the afternoon was spent getting to and relaxing on Koh Hey. It was a welcome respite to sit under the shade of the trees and take a cool drink. With some energy to explore the crystal clear water of Long Beach. Where amongst other things I spotted a great hornbill flitting from tree to tree that lined the beach.

The island's Thai name is Koh Hay (sometimes written Koh He, Koh Hae, or other variations). This does not actually translate to Coral Island. It means crowded island and the name is not totally inaccurate. The island does receive plenty of day-trip visitors throughout the high season.

However, it is not always crowded and there are quieter spots.

Coral Island is a 2.5km long, jungle covered, granite island. There are two nice beaches on the north side of the island facing Phuket and there is also a small but pleasant little beach on the south side of the island. There is nothing inland where the vegetation is too dense and the gradients are too steep to be suited for development or agriculture.
Long Beach
This 800-meter beach is the most popular on the island. It is where the majority of day-trip boats arrive. There are plenty of deckchairs for rent on the beach. There is beach volleyball and through the high-season, there are often jet-skis and parasails. There are several restaurants and bars. The only overnight accommodation on the island is nestled into the palm trees at the east end of this beach. The Coral Island Resort has nice little bungalows close to the beach and its own swimming pool.

The snorkeling at this beach is not actually the best around the island. Most of the coral close to shore has been damaged by the constant activity. However, if you are happy to swim out around 100-meters then you will still see plenty of coral and colourful fish. As you will see from my pictures.

Music free under creative commons licence from You tube music library
Friendly Dance by Nico Staf

Promthep Cape is the most South point of Phuket. The point is one of the most popular areas of Phuket and for this matter has an iconic status. Due to its location and southern facing views, it offers a picturesque view of the Andaman Sea.

Promthep Cape is also known as the ‘God’s Cape’ and ‘Laem Promthep’.
It is a rocky piece of land that sticks out into the Andaman sea. It has tall cliffs that shape the point of the most southern part of Phuket Island.

Tourist flock here year in and year out to capture some of the finest pictures of sunsets seen in Phuket. Not only do happy snappers come to Promthep Cape for the views, but you will find artists and nature lovers. All of them head to this spot just to soak in the presence of being at the end point of Phuket – the Pearl of the Andaman Sea. Many people believe that Promthep Cape is the best spot in the whole of Thailand for spectacular sunsets.

When the stars are out on a clear evening, Promthep Cape can be the perfect spot to star gaze and catch shooting stars.

During the monsoon season, the Cape and surround sea can be very rough. It is great to head out to watch the large waves crashing into the side cliff walls of the Cape. The ocean can be very powerful here. The waves will give you an idea of how the Cape itself came to its shape after so many years.

Promthep Shrine and Lighthouse
From the car park, you will walk up a set of stairs to the actual viewpoint. Here you will find the main attraction, the Buddhist shrine and a lighthouse. The shrine, which is the Buddhists Altar, is surrounded by brass elephant statues and carvings which give the area a somewhat traditional atmosphere. Occasionally groups of monks can be spotted around the area although this isn’t too often.

There is a small concrete wall that separates the pathway to the actual dirt path leading down to the Cape itself. If you are daring enough to venture to the end of the Cape, it is a rocky, somewhat slippy downhill walk and can be quite dangerous in certain weather conditions so just concentrate on your footing. It is not a very hard walk, only a few hundred metres to the very edge of the Cape. The walk is simply a declined dirt path, that can get slippery in the wet. Caution is always advised, especially on the cliff edges. At the lower part of the Cape, you can look back on the Island, or turn around and have the mass ocean beneath your feet. The walk back from the Cape to the concrete footpath can be fairly exhausting due to the nature of how the dirt path inclines and gradients. It’s downhill on the way to the end, and uphill on the way back. Guess it depends on your fitness level, but it is not too demanding for an average person, just not me!