Khao Phanom Bencha National Park

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Another awesome national park down south. The pix of the langur monkeys were taken at Ao Ton Sai beach in Krabi. Found a great place to stay in the hills of Krabi called Phanom Bencha Mountain Resort , 075-660501) that had wonderful wooden fan bungalows for 800 baht a night with grand views of an epic pink/white/black limestone crag. The bungalows are set in a lush garden. The manager had to drag an 8-foot python away from the resort. He grabbed it with his hands, put it in a burlap bag, and walked away with it over his shoulder. The thing was thrashing for its life in his sack.

For more info on the national park and the 3-day hike to its summit (where a leopard was photographed recently by a French photographer), check out Thom Henley's book: "Krabi: Caught in the Spell".

Ao Ton Sai beach is OK at high tide, but still a bit rocky. The place I stayed at -Mountain View Resort (not be confused with the abovementioned place) is a monstrosity and I do not recommend it at all. The only good things about Ao Ton Sai are rock-climbing, which I do not partake in, and primate watching. Heard gibbons singing loud and long one morning, and I set off to find them, but couldn't. Plenty of langurs and macaques, though.

I wrote up a more detailed trip report on Tales of Asia

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