Blogs from Ao Nang, South-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia

“The Andaman is Thailand’s dream coast………Flashy resorts are pushing out the bamboo shacks and Thai-Rasta bars and authenticity hides largely in the backwaters now. But if you’re willing to search hard, your postcard dream is still there” Islands and Beaches - Lonely Thailand’s Planet Wednesday 5th February 2020 Yesterday, we returned to such a dream place, Pan Beach on Noppharat Thara Bay, Ao Nang. We rarely re-visit (it is a big world out there) but since we were so close, we just had to find out if this little Paradise remained unspoilt. It has! We booked in for three nights and leave tomorrow. Thailand has confirmed six new cases of Coronavirus, four of whom are Thais. It is not spreading too fast it seems, at the moment, outside of China and we have been impressed with ... read more

So after a terrible night’s sleep, counting the hours until the first dentist opened and making plans B, C and D, possibly involving superglue, I was all packed up and in the foyer of Central 2 10 minutes before 9am. It was unanticipatedly raining when I left the hotel, so I opened my bag in reception and put my poncho on over my rucksack and shoulder bag. I looked RIDICULOUS and felt it, so stopped at 7-11 and bought a cheapo umbrella. 2 minutes later the rain stopped. Dead on 9 I tried the intercom and got a guy on the other end. Couldn’t make out what he was saying so asked if I could come up and talk face to face, he said to try 10-15 minutes later as nobody was there. But you are ... read more

Today my buddies and I were booked in for a cookery class, with the lady who featured in Gordon Ramsay’s Thailand cookery programme (YouTube, 33m49s) and taught him how to make fish soup. I wondered if it will be al fresco, in the house on stilts, or whether that was not her house and a location chosen for filming reasons of authenticity. Martin ably negotiated the price down to 1000b each, including transport there and back. It’s a way out of Ao Nang. There would be 5 of us, what fun! I was told to come hungry as you get to eat it all afterwards. I’d had my usual lunch of corn, being completely unable to say no to the corn guy, bless his deaf little heart. He’s always so cheerful. I was picked up first ... read more

Well not exactly woes, but it could have been! Last night I had to try a few exchange places as most only wanted to give me 1000b notes, and they are very annoying to a solo traveler. I ended up at the place just before the corner where the taxi boat ticket office is, and this time there was a young guy in there as well as the usual lady. The rate was below 40b for the first time, and so for £100 I was getting 3970b. i asked for some 500s and he handed over the cash. Luckily I didn’t pick it up or take it off the counter. The receipt had the right amount but I was 400b short. I said it wasn’t right and he straight away handed over the extra. He didn’t ... read more

So 2 days on the beach has had positives (mainly) and a few negatives. There is a lot of development in the area, more than is immediately apparent. The main street ‘pink’ travel agency is now half the size, the other half being made into another Burger King, when there is already one just round the corner. Really??? And on the way to the beach, behind the Last Fisherman Bar there is a lot of construction. Not high rise, but when finished I don’t know how the beach will cope. There are so few places to be out of the sun. Téoo (not Nai, as I’d thought) said that next year it is planned to replace all the bamboo massage huts with proper buildings, no doubt much more expensive rent wise for the local people who ... read more