Weekend Adventure to Krabi, Thailand

We made it out alive!  Klang Cave in Krabi Province, Thailand

I'm behind again on blogs, as usual, so here we go!  Don't forget, if you receive these by email, click the link, as there are slide shows embedded that don't show up unless you are on the blog site!  You can also visit www.sailgirldesign.com and take a trip down memory lane with us.  I do this occasionally.  It's one reason I'm sharing our fun, so I can remember it later.  Thanks for following our shenanigans!  If you are having fun,  please share our website and comment.

A few weeks ago I had some time in Thailand.  Corey and I rented a car for the weekend and ventured over to the seaside town of Krabi.  We really had a ball in Khao Lak (see previous blog) and the motorbike ride was definitely part of that adventure, but Krabi is a bit too far for a motorbike, especially in rainy season.  It took us around 3 hours to drive to the beach side of Krabi as we stopped along the way to check out what ever tickled our fancy.  One amazing detour took us into Klang Cave.  

Klang Cave is a significant cavern with a small river and huge stalactites and stalagmites.  The mountains in the Phang Nga and Krabi areas are limestone so there are quite a few caves.  We think we found the best one!  Happening upon a sign, we turned off and drove down a small dirt road surrounded by jungle and coconut palms.  There was a little welcome center, with no one there.  Actually a bit spooky. It has to be manned sometimes as there was a flashlight sitting on a bench and the batteries were ready to go.  Corey borrowed it and I used my phone flashlight app-- off we went.  The pictures below are some from Klang Cave.  Don't miss the ghost globes and the captions.  

We also explored a very beautiful temple on the way to Krabi.  It was actually between Phuket and Phang Nga.  An older lady selling temple goods told us that the monk the temple was dedicated to had a "good mouth and was very wise."  In other words he spoke good things!  The temple had multiple buildings and everything was perfectly maintained.  A beautiful place!

Another discovery on the trip was a temple near Krabi called the Tiger Cave Temple -Wat Tham Sua.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Cave_Temple 
It's actually a complex of temples plus a hike up 1237 stairs to the top of a cliff overlooking the region.  The view was well worth the climb!  

The story behind the name Tiger Cave Temple in summary is that many years ago a local priest was meditating in the area and would see a tigers living in, and around the cave.  There are no longer tigers in this part of SE Asia but the cave was named for them.  It is one of the most sacred areas in the Krabi province.  

The hike up those stairs was brutal as they were very steep.  Actually, it was worse coming down!  My legs were jelly!  I was lucky I've been exercising as we didn't stop there.  We went up and down some more stairs and then around the back of the next hill.  We followed a  trail through a canyon with thick trees that took us by more caves, plus a Buddhist monk village.  It was absolutely beautiful and felt like we'd gone back in time.  Their rust colored robes were hanging out to dry on the clothes lines outside petite, well-kept shacks.  This area was all arranged near the caves and a large outdoor worshipping area with a large Buddha statue.  It seemed most people don't do this extra hike, so once again we were pretty much the only ones there taking in the wonderful sights.  The air was thick with humidity but the rain stayed away.  

Our final destination was the beaches of Krabi.  We spent one night in the shopping, nightlife area on Ao Nang Beach, and the next night around the corner at Hat Noppharat Thara Beach.  We both enjoyed Krabi.  We imagined it is like Patong used to be.  It is also slow season so it was particularly quiet.  
We enjoyed the different scenery and some time at the beach.  Including some great massages.  If you visit on slow season expect cheaper prices but the water is rough and not a blue and clear.  

Well, that's it for this week's update.  Stay tuned for a write up about our jaunt over to Puerto Galera, Philippines for a weekend of diving!  I seem to run about 3 weeks behind but I'll try to get to it shortly before I forget any cool details.  Cheers!!!