Kool Krabi

On our approach to Krabi (CNB 2013)

The next 'port of call' on our Andaman Sea cruise was Krabi, landing at Klong Heang or Ao Pra Nang jetty by boat in the morning around 10.00 am. Krabi Province has scenic karst formations near the coast and in the middle of Mae Nam Krabi (Krabi River). Part of the Thai mainland, the province also incorporates more than 150 islands including Ko Phi-Phi Leh, made famous by the Hollywood movie, The Beach.

Boats for island hopping at Ao Pra Nang jetty area (CNB 2013) 

Again we toured some parts of Krabi Province on a colourful local bus. Our first stop was in the capital, Krabi town, which sits on the banks of the Krabi River. As tourists, a photo stop at the Khao Khanap Nam was quite compulsory. The town's most prominent landmark and symbolic of Krabi are the two limestone 'pillars' rising over 100 metres from the water and contain caves complete with stalactites and stalagmites.

Our colourful local bus (CNB 2013)

The quintessential tourist pic at Khao Khanap Nam (AB 2013)

At midday, lunch was at a local Muslim restaurant, Rabeab's Kitchen at Suksamran Road. Apart from delicious tom yum, I also loved the Thai laksa, complete with refreshing herbs and vegetables. Halal food is not hard to find in Krabi as half the provincial population are Muslims.

Refreshing herbs and veges for Thai laksa (CNB 2013)

Malaysians love shopping, so after lunch it was shopping at the Outlet Village Krabi at Petchkasem Road. We picked up some superhero tees there, compliments of a gift exchange game the previous night on the ship. Then we were supposed to visit the Marine Fish Rehabilitation Centre, but ... this was overruled and the bus headed back to Khao Khanap Nam because a dictatorial someone wanted to do more shopping there. Sheesh! So A and I just crossed the road to this interesting looking coffee shop/cafe/restaurant to have a cuppa while waiting for the others who bought (made in China) stuff to their hearts' content. The Doi Chaang coffee we had at the Koko Nest was really goood. (And no wonder, as I only discovered later, it is wild Thai civet coffee!)

A at the Koko Nest cafe/restaurant (CNB 2013)

After this we headed back to Ao Nang beach (the longest in Krabi) where we could at least walk on the almost white sand for a while. The beach had been popular with Swedish package tourists but now the Russians have 'invaded' the multitude of shops, restaurants and accomodations along the rather well developed strand. Then for us, it was back to the cruise ship around 6.00 pm to get ready for the gala show and dinner on our last night on board.

At Ao Nang beach (CNB 2013)

12 November 2013