Phang Nga - Bay & Province 

Phangnga, Phang Nga southern Thailand, Phang Nga bay, limestone, stalactite, James Bond island, pictures, photos, scuba diving

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.

Mighty bizarre-molded Stalactites Phang Nga Bay

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                       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 -see the video- and want to track down wild orchids, not to pick them but 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 the


Into Phang Nga Bay with the Kayak on top                                 A deafening ride into Phang Nga Bay

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             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....

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

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                                                       Phang Nga Bay Karst Cliff

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                               Phang Nga Bay outside the Hong

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