Time for us to go on inspection for
John Gray's Hong by Starlight Tour which is good chance to check if
there are any changes on the itinerary or program. Get feedback for our
customers who worry about doing Phang Nga bay tour on a rainy day
since we are now in our monsoon season. Can check our weather update
here Easy Day Phuket Weather Reports
Today is 5th of June 2014 I had also two of my customers on the
trip a good opportunity to do inspection and take care of
our own customers at the same time.
The driver pick us up from the hotel in
Patong around 11.40, it was as scheduled. Then drive to the meeting point at Ao Por Marina where the tour guide take us to the boat and start briefing about the
boat and our day tour while cruising in to Phang Nga bay.
It was cloudy and according to the
forecast it will be wind and rain later in the afternoon.
Cruising into Phang Nga Bay |
Buffet Lunch |
Tour leader introducing us to our
guide/paddler which will be with us for the rest of the day. There
was about 25 customers on the boat and for every 2 customers got 1
guide/paddler and I really like that all the guides were taking good
care of customers, all of them speak good English, friendly and funny
so it was quite fun and relaxed atmosphere on boat, then a light buffet lunch was served
on board after the briefing.
Enter the Cave |
On the way out |
The boat cruises into Phang Nga bay and headed to the first stop for canoeing at Panak
island. We went into a pitch dark cave and it is more and more
narrow, our guide got flashlight so we still can see the sparkling
wall then our guide asked us to lay down so we can go through small
exit which lead us to the beautiful lagoon.
The rain start after we came back to
the boat from our first canoe then we've done the rest of the canoe sessions in rain which at one point inside Koh Hong lagoon we could
feel very strong wind came through the holes but the water still flat
since the area is very protected which make Phang Nga bay a
perfect trip in our monsoon season.
When the rain started |
Sarina - Inside the Lagoon |
I really enjoyed canoeing in the rain
especially when I was inside the lagoon surrounded by high limestone
cliff with perfect temperature not too cold and nice to escape from
Phuket heat for one day. Mangroves and other plans were covered with
rain drops make them look more green and alive than a normal sunny
day, I could imagine myself in Amazon Forest!
The guides are very knowledgeable
giving us so much information while paddling and also they are very
good at spot and show us some interesting wild life, we saw my
favorite “Mud-skipper”, big lizard on the wall, hunting sea
eagles, bats and beautiful hornbill.
Last canoe session was the highlight of
the day. We will get to do “Loy Krathong” which is one of the
most important festival for Thai people to pay respect to the Mother
River and we normally do it once a year on the fullmoon of the 12th
month in the traditional Thai Lunar Calendar. The guides prepared
banana trunk, leafs, flowers, fruits and vegetables for decoration and teach us how
to make Krathong then take us through the cave (full of sleeping
bats!) and into the lagoon to float the Krathong.
My Krathong |
"Loy Krathong" |
Delicious dinner was served when we
came back from Loy Krathong. There was very nice seafood dishes and
many other choices with chicken and also vegetarian.
We arrived back at the pier at around
9pm then the driver drive us back to the hotel.
It was a successful day for my trip
inspection and most of all I've learned how beautiful my country is
even in the rain ;)
Like to join this tour? Contact us!