A South East Asian Odyssey - Koh Lanta/Phuket - Thailand 4

Ko Lanta Yai is an island in the Andaman Sea off the west coast of Thailand. Together with neighboring Ko Lanta Noi, which forms Ko Lanta archipelago and several other islands it forms the amphoe of Ko Lanta District. The island has an area of 81 sq. km. and a small portion of it belongs to the Mu Ko Lanta National Park, which is the 62nd national park of Thailand since 1990. The island is relatively less developed with most of the accommodation being basic bamboo huts, as was the case with D'View1 Hotel, where I stayed. I took two efficiently operated ferries from the mainland to reach Koh Lanta Yai. In late 2015, a new bridge replaced the ferry connecting to the island of Ko Lanta Noi. There are very few paved roads on the island. The main beaches are on the western shores of the island, the largest being Klong Dao, Pra-Ae (Long Beach), and Klong Khong Beach. As I had just an evening in Koh Lanta Yai I could explore just the last named. While I was there I heard how Lanta escaped the worst of the 2004 tsunami. Krabi is characterized by craggy, sheer limestone cliffs, dense mangrove forests, and more than a hundred offshore islands. Some of its most popular beach destinations include the Phi Phi Islands, which jut from the sea like giant rain-forested boulders, are reached from here. Being subject to rains for almost ten months of the year, it is but natural that greenery of various hues feast your eyes. I took a brief drive through of the touristy place and was deterred by huge queues to spend more time there as I had a few more hours to get to Phuket. I stayed at the Phuket Airport Bed & Breakfast. The four room facility is located inside a rubber plantation with a narrow access road. As I parked in front of the B&B I saw a ‘white skin’, who I thought was a tourist staying in the property. As I approached the gate he said, “You must be Suresh and you have a booking today”. I was floored when I found my name written on a small white board near the gate. That was how I met Simon, the owner of the B&B. The room rent for two days, 2600 THB, was paid up front, so that he would not have to ‘chase me’, as I overheard him telling a couple of other guests. Simon turned out to be an absolutely fascinating person, with a lot of experience ranging from a family in Britain, where he hailed from, and three in Thailand, business interests in Phuket, teaching experience in Myanmar and a volunteer policeman. He suggested what I could see and experience in Phuket in just over a day. When I was leaving for Patong Beach he said, "BE GOOD", mischief and experience intertwined! This video is an account of the drive from Kuerla Perlis, Malaysia to Phuket, Thailand during my return leg of the South East Asian Odyssey.

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