Phang Nga Bay, Thailand

I’m going to be lazy and describe today's tour from the guide book.....

“Phang Nga Bay National Marine Park is located 87 kilometres by road from Phuket Town. This scenic bay was declared a national park in 1981.  It covers an area of 400 sq kilometres and is one of the most photographed spots in Thailand.  Famous for its emerald green water, limestone cliffs, rock formations and over 40 islands, the unique bay can only be visited by boat.  James Bond Island, originally known as Ko Tapu, is the most visited island in the bay.  The popular Bond film, The Man With The Golden Gun, was partly filmed here in 1974 and made the bay a major tourist attraction. Koh Panyee is another popular stop on most tours of the bay.  Built over 200 years ago, Koy Panyee is a Muslim fishing village constructed on stilts at the foot of a giant limestone cliff.”

Our tour bus departed from the cruise ship terminal at 8.30am and it took us about an hour and a half to reach Phang Nga Bay.  From here we boarded the long boat and wove in and out of the mangroves to reach open water.  The bay really is huge and although the day was hazy the scenery was spectacular.  Photographs really don’t do justice to the size of the soaring limestone cliffs.

 We sailed amongst the islands, through limestone caves with their magnificent stalagmites, for well over an hour with James Bond Island being the last.  We didn’t get off the boat to explore and I am slightly relieved because it was very crowded.

After James Bond Island we went to Koh Panyee where the locals await the tourists to sell their wares.  There was a lot of stalls selling pearl jewellery and others selling food.  The rest were selling clothes that probably came straight out of China....

The kids follow you around trying to sell you their trinkets and I have found the best thing is to give them a dollar and ask them to pose for a photo.  They are enthusiastic and we are both winners.

After our long boat trip we went back to the mainland for lunch at a local hotel where a delicious Thai smorgasbord was laid out for us.  It looked and tasted very appealing.

We have a day at sea tomorrow.  I have booked myself into a stretch and relaxation class tomorrow morning and intend spending the rest of the day listening to my audio book by the pool.  It was very hot today - I think about 39 degrees Celsius and humidity about 90%, so if it is the same tomorrow we won’t want to do much at all.
My next post will be from Rangoon, Myanmar.
xx