KRABI – PHI PHI PHENOMENAL

Imagine crystal clear blue waters. Now make it turquoise. Now imagine green. Now put them all together and see how magical it becomes. Krabi seems to be born out of a little girl’s imagination. It’s like she imagined it, and God brought it to life. It’s jaw-dropping beautiful. So, when we were planning a trip to Thailand, Krabi was a calling and we had to answer. Now, Krabi is known for many things. A few come to escape the bustle of Bangkok or even Phuket, some come to just laze on the beach and kickback with a drink, which all are excellent reasons to visit this haven. But most of the people seem to flock towards this majestic island for its tours. If you don’t know already, Krabi is dotted with these mini islands. Each offering a different shade of blue, a different shaped mountain emerging from the sea, and some of the most excellent snorkelling spots on this beautiful earth of ours. These islands have been made more famous by the movies that were shot here, and hence have been named after them. James Bond island for instance, or even the most popular one (the one that we opted for), the Phi Phi Island tour with Maya Beach (the one featured in the movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo Di Caprio).

We were based at Aao Nang beach inside the glorious Krabi Resort. Our tour began with a bumpy ride to the dock, where our boat and our peculiarly named guide ‘Ek’ (Meaning ‘One’ in Hindi) welcomed us with great hospitality. He must be in his late teens, but his enthusiasm and impeccable comic timing were definitely infectious, and we knew we were in for a good time.

CAPTAIN’S LOG

Our first stop was just to relax and take in the beach, the waters and stroll around. The place was blazing hot, with only the blue-green water providing relief. Oh, it was a treat for the eyes, and our tired legs as well. We soaked our feet in what seemed like hand-painted water, and took in the scenery. There were a couple of stalls with a witty sign or two, and old logs of wood had turned themselves into benches for us to sit. This was the start of something beautiful.

SPIKING VIKING

After a quick snorkelling stop, we headed to circle around the Viking Caves. This on first sight seemed like a mountain under construction. Peculiar, almost like a treasure cove. Prying eyes tried to look for hidden treasures inside, but to no avail. This abstract, curious structure was a natural phenomenon. Now only if there was real treasure inside. Like disappointed pirates, we decided to move on and look for treasures that lay ahead.

MEET THE DON

The proposed ‘local lunch’ was to be had here. And as the tide may have it, we couldn’t park near the shore, so we had to get off mid-way, and walk in knee deep waters to reach the beach. Now unlike the previous stop, this one’s a popular destination to stay as well. There were a sea of beach beds and lazy foreigners sunbathing. To add to this pristine view, Ko Phi Phi Don was surrounded by gorgeous mountains. Fun fact: My flip-flops gave way and I had to buy one at the local market behind the beach. So, sporting my new bright green ‘PAPITO’ flip-flops, we once again made our way through the waters to get on our boat.

THE BEACH. AND HER MAYA.

Maya in the Hindi means ‘Temptation’. And in the movie ‘The Beach’, this world’s best kept secret island was a temptation itself. So, after another mini snorkelling trip, we headed to the ‘star attraction’ of the tour, the Maya Island. Now as you know, hype never comes alone. She normally brings along her friends – huge crowds and a thousand cameras. We suggest, find a secluded corner, and make it your own. The views from wherever you stand are majestic. And they’re totally worth it. An hour of ogling at Mother Nature later, we headed back to our boats, to find watermelon and cake waiting for us. It was around 5 pm now. And time had just whizzed past on these magical islands.

Krabi deserved more than the 2 days we gave her. She deserved a week. And sometime in the near future we’re going to come back. Maybe even pay James Bond a visit. And even if our boats would be slightly shaken, our souls would definitely be stirred.