I would love to share my first long-travel in Thailand way back November 2012, my trip to Phang Nga with my cousin. Travel time from Bangkok City to Pha Nga province takes 12-14hrs by bus. Some people prefer trains, but it takes longer.
It was an unplanned travel since a colleague of mine who was in Singapore wasn't allowed to travel that time so, lucky me she gave me her beach resort reservation. 😊
We stayed at Takolaburi Cultural Resort exactly located at Pakarang Cape, Takua Pa, Phang Nga. It has an outdoor pool, fitness center and an outdoor tennis court. Its Jedi Restaurant serves international cuisine, and I must say their food tasted good. My cousin and I enjoyed their food a lot.
The day we arrived, we walked around the area and we were so dumbfounded by the remnants of the deadliest-tsunami-recorded-in-history way back in 2004. Some hotels even the one beside Takolaburi Resort were very wrecked. (I can't find the photos of those.😕) In fact, the Takolaburi Resort was also very ruined by the tsunami, but it was rebuilt, unlike the other resorts in the area that were just abandoned. That was why we never talked about it at night especially on our first night because we had goosebumps thinking there were so many people who died there during the disaster. Naki "marites" po kasi kami😁 with the staff if how was the resort and the people in the area during that time since it mainly hit the coastal areas of Phang Nga and other nearby coastal provinces of Phuket and some coastal areas of Krabi.
To make our stay in the province more memorable, we booked for a Phang Nga Bay tour. 🏝️❤️
It took about an hour by van from Takua Pa to Khaolak City. Good thing the tour included the hotel pick-up and drop-off.
1st stop: Koh Panyee
This floating village is notable for its structure being built on stilts by Malay fishermen. It is a pretty small community; with a small school and a clinic. You may also tour the area and shop a little since they have souvenir shops.
2nd stop: Koh Tapu
This is popularly known as James Bond Island after the movie, James Bond: The Golden Gun, was filmed at the site.
3rd stop: Sea Caves
We had our kayaking, and I was surprised that our guide told us it was off season because actually, there were many people especially Chinese tourists. I can't imagine the place then during peak season! Hahaha
4th stop: Monkey Temple
It was one of the biggest caves I've ever seen! And the Buddha inside the cave was one of the biggest leaning Buddha I've ever seen as well.
As we went further inside, we could see huge stalagmites and stalactites.
Oh, yes! There were monkeys at the temple, but I just managed to take one shot of one of them.🙊😀
After heading back to our resort, we stopped by for a while at the waterfall, which unfortunately, i forgot its name and i can't find my photos of the waterfalls anymore😑.
That year, the tour cost Baht2,500/pax, inclusion of transpo,lunch, and island hopping tour. 👌 The stopover at the waterfall was actually not included in the tour. The agency was just kind enough to add that destination in our tour. ❤️
