Phang Nga

keep your shoes on or use dive boots, sometimes there are quite sharp coral pieces and other stuff around you wont see and after you have a cut you might have a problem.

Phang Nga Bay is full of breathtaking

Phang Nga Bay Panorama during Monsoon

panoramas, full of excitement which makes you -gasp- oh - ah and I cant believe.

Phang Nga Bay Beaches are so many, nobody actually know how many, but for sure enough. In the emerald sea you will find your own private island with a beautiful white stretch of sand.

There are several secluded Phang Nga hotels and beach resorts on private islands.

Our boat moves slowly away from the Ban Rong pier. The six cylinder diesel which once drove a truck howls

and we rush quickly along the mangrove forests through the canal to reach open water.

We are 3, Roy from siamkayak.com, a native of Kentucky who turned into an flora specialist after some years in Thailand, Roy’s son Siva and me . The kayaks are stowed on top of the cabin. Roy goes through the tides table again we have to be back at the pier approximately by 3 pm otherwise, we will get stranded in the channel.

From the hazy air the mighty bizarre-molded Stalactites materialize, they somehow shape Phang Nga Bay. Somewhere left in the fog lays “James Bond” island, one of the old James Bond films - the man with

Phang Nga mighty bizarre molded Stalactites

Phang Nga Bay Beach

the golden colt- was partially made here.

Further in the 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 Phang Nga Bay islands with the kayak and want to track down wild orchids, not to pick them but to have a look. Since the exotic flowers “nest” in the 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.

Phang Nga wild orchid

After a deafening ride over the flat waves of Phang Nga Bay - the unmuffled diesel engine is fixed very loosely at the stern of the boot - , 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 emerald water of the Phang Nga Bay and wade through the small opening just over the water surface into the rock formation. It is like an adventure fairy-tale, the upward  open

Emerald waters of Phang Nga Bay

grotto 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....orchid who virtually glue on the Mangroves.

Phang Nga Bay Orchid virtually glue on the Mangroves

Pretty small flowers, one probably wonders how they came to this place, but we are in Thailand, a standard phrase in Thailand is ..me luuu. meaning I don’t know, me neither.

We had a short swim in the splendid water, its so inviting once you are in you don’t want to get out, better than any wirle pool. In the open grotto the water surface reflects the sky with an emerald shade. Some long tale macaques are having fun jumping up and down on the mangroves they are not shy coming near to say hello, actually probably expecting some food.

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.

Some diamond club hanging down from the steep cliffs of Phang Nga Bay limestone formations 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 cliffs, moving quite orchestrated.

We 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.

Consider the day trip as a prelude with a little intermezzo in the restaurant at the evening on Phuket 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 means thunderstorm in the afternoon.

The long tail boat gains speed and we pass pristine beaches  

When we enter one more limestone atoll though a narrow V a white bellow eagle materialized out from thick green jungle 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.

A hong is an atoll of ancient limestone rocks. The original cave centre becomes a hollow cave  formation, where the sun streams in. Usually, the hong can only be entered through a sea cave entrance. Since this cave is usually quite small, entry is by a canoe or by swimming. Be careful, only go with an experienced guide otherwise you might be trapped when the tide rises.