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It's the 1st of May long week-end...most of my clients are off, same thing for my suppliers...only Leslie and Tiffany still have school in Bangkok, but they have a visitor for few days. You may start to know me...between more adventures, or a week-end of going out in Bangkok, I go for more discoveries.
Years back, when Leslie was just one year old, we visited Railay Beach for few days, staying in basic accommodation by the beach, and doing not much of our time. This time, it is a little different. First thing first, I dive...and there are only few days available. So I truly need to be cautious when it comes to planning...don't want to miss some diving because there is a plane to take!
So this time, it's the slow way...but rather fun one of taking the train all the way from Bangkok to Surat Thani. As always, first class is full when I try to buy the tickets a month ahead, but for once, on the return, there were still some beds available...cool, and not much more expensive! I confirm, second class is fine...first...is simply better, and way less of a fridge!
The base for this little trip, the Sheraton Krabi, which is actually a good 20km away from Krabi. It's a big "package" hotel...ok, I know, I'm not a fan of those. But 1st of May week-end is crazy in Asia...China, Hong Kong and Vietnam are on holidays...the room was cheap, the suite pretty nice...it's just a place to sleep at the end of the day and to enjoy few cocktails has never been that bad too! Some will find this paradise...but if you live in Thailand, it's just the day to day routine...not bad!
I rented a car from Surat Thani which is just around 200km north of Krabi. No proper map...and roads here are or are not on the map. This made it for a pretty fun ride. This area of Thailand is for me by far one of the nicest. Not only Krabi area, but the full drive was really cool. You will note that I do not consider Phuket island as a nice area, here in Krabi, it's a very different story.
My first afternoon was spent playing golf at the Pakasai golf course, 45 minutes out of
the hotel. Or should I maybe write, I spent the afternoon baking at the golf course. The green fee is pretty cheap, so I was not expecting much...wrong, this is a truly lovely place...and not crowded on top of this. To note, I'll be back with my golf bag.
Next morning, it's diving time. Ok, there is no proper quality diving out of Krabi...just forget about it...but this is actually nearly the same thing out of Phuket. The low season has also just started...meaning less trips...less choice...and good news, less divers! We went with Stingray divers...who join forces with the guys of The Dive in Ao Nang to get enough customers to run a boat. There were 7 of us...on a boat that can take over 40 people...not bad! Direction for the day, Phi Phi, a good 2 hours away...
Diving in Phi Phi...I did it, I even did my advanced open water here 10 years ago...alreday 10 years. I don't expect much from Phi Phi, how wrong was I today. Nice local DM...and I dive with a Japanese guy, which for once is a serious diver...so relieved...we all agree straight on to settle
for a 60 minutes dive. Done, with 70 bars left on the way up.
First dive...an octopus hunting, ghost pipe fish, turtle, few eels, few shrimps, juvenile sweetlip, few nudibranches and the list goes on...that's not that bad for a fun dive. Than we are on for the second dive...and it's whale shark time. There has been few sightings of young whale sharks in Phi Phi, Ko Ha as well as 8 Mile in Lipe over the last 6 weeks. That's something, as the last sighting in the region was back in April 2012...and I was under water that day!
There were already two boats on location...and something like 50 people in the water...shouting... whaleshark...whaleshark....Well, the little guy disappeared fast, I never saw him...We spent 15 minutes in the water, fully quitted awaiting his possible return...he never came back. We did another cool 60 minutes dive looking for him...no luck. But on the way back, the other group...a father and son from Victoria, Canada and their two DMs...saw the whaleshark...passing by for 30 seconds at the end of the dive seconds before their safety stop.
One DM had 800 dives, and
that was his second sighting...the second one, 1400 dives...and a first for her. Just those smiles made my day. You may wonder how I feeled...well, nearly 600 dives and I saw them 5 times underwater...for more than 20 minutes at a time in average...plus few sightings while snorkeling....I tend to be the lucky one on a dive, well, not today. Had I never seen a whaleshark, specially underwater while diving, I would have for sure a different feeling. But diving is also sharing, and seeing those faces was simply something! Honestly, a whaleshark in Phi Phi...well, after all, my friends in South Africa had another one, last week! Bizarre, still amazing!
Next day, next morning, more adventures! This time, it's kayaking in Thalane Bay, 30 minutes drive north of the Sheraton. I did my homework...because it's 1st of May and there is no way I would be surrounded by 30 chineses on kayaks.
We had our own guide, and just over 2 hours, kayaking most of the time just by ourselves through the mangrove and the canyons. That's a crazy cool place....to do again one day with Tiffany and Leslie...one day...
Last afternoon was spent enjoying the swimming pool, the beach and the cool suite before driving back to Surat Thani...ready to go home...
You may have read my last entry about Malapascua and the crazy story about the dive center. I sent an email to PADI complaining about the dive center. No answer. I sent a second one a week later, still no answer. PADI...you are just there to make money, never try to explain to me that you care about safety, it's a disgrace!
Next entry...in less than 3 weeks....more diving...you know, for the big stuffs...and some golfing with friends finishing the day with amazing wines...Africa, I'm on my way...very soon!
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denidax
Deni, Dax and Ella
Not too bad
It doesn't look that bad if you ask me, plus it's empty! I love the sea, but I also like big empty pools! and all those deck chairs on the grass... I could spend hours reading there!