Krabi

Our speedboat arrived in Ao Nang, Krabi after a 40-minute ride. Our hotel was not directly on the beach, but we had a very large pool in the middle of the resort. Ao Nang village has a 4 km long beach road with restaurants, fast food shops, souvenir shops, and massage salons. We took a longtail boat to the most beautiful beach in Krabi, Railay Beach. High limestone formations rise from the inland, wooden longtail boats adorned with colorful flower decorations swayed in the water. We were surprised by rain after a short time, so we hurriedly left the beach. The next day, we went on a 4 island tour. We think the trip wasn't worth the money. We paid 300 Bath for transportation and an additional 400 Bath for national park fees. Too many tourists crowded onto the longtail boats and were taken to overcrowded beaches. It's a shame that a natural experience turned into a place of mass tourism. We spent the next two days at a hotel in a quiet forest area right by hot springs. We relaxed in the hot springs and got massages. However, the prices in the resort were three times higher than usual, so we lived rather frugally. Krabi Town was our next destination. Our accommodation was right in the center and for 18 CHF per night, we got a nice, simply furnished room with breakfast. After our arrival, we rented a scooter and went to the Tiger Cave Temple, where a tiger is said to have lived many years ago. As it is a Buddhist temple, I had to cover my shoulders and legs as a woman. After equipping ourselves with water, we started climbing the first 1237 steps, which would take us to the 278-meter-high summit. The ascent caused us and many other visitors to break out into a sweat. After 30 minutes, we had conquered the many steps and were rewarded with a breathtaking view of Krabi's limestone landscape. There is a huge golden Buddha sitting on the large terrace, and several statues adorn the viewpoint. When we arrived back at our hotel, we realized that we would wake up with muscle soreness. In the evening, we visited a night market. Countless stalls sell a variety of culinary delights and freshly squeezed fruit juices at the night market, and various performances are offered on the stage. With many other tourists and locals, we squeezed past the stalls and enjoyed the delicious food. For the next day, we planned a visit to the Elephant House in Krabi. That had been a dream of mine for a long time. We were allowed to feed the animals, rub them with mud, and then bathe with them in the river. The experience was very fascinating, and I loved being close to the large animals. The six days in Krabi were a very varied time for us. Unfortunately, the weather didn't always cooperate, and we were surprised by heavy rain from time to time.

Stay: November 26th to December 2nd

Written: December 6th