Krabi Town

The limestone pinnacles of Khao Khanap Nam are iconic landmarks of Krabi Town.

My favorite place to experience the essence of Krabi Town is on the terrace of my hotel, looking over the estuary at sunrise. The sun is barely creeping over the mangrove trees, casting an orange hue onto the water. The long-tail boats and boatmen that guide the props are still silhouettes.

Boat traffic is already at a buzz at this early hour, mostly workers crossing the river from Ko Klang. I can see the shanty houses on stilts and business at the pier. A small crowd of Muslims in along-tail boat are coming across to Krabi.

Beyond Ko Klang I can see bulky mountains. Upriver are the mangrove forests and the limestone outcrops of Khao Khanap Nam.

Below is a walkway that hugs the river and is a pleasant place to walk in the morning. It is a place to see families having picnics on the grass, or young boys with their fishing lines cast into the water. Sometimes there are monkeys climbing in trees.

Krabi Town is located some 450 miles south of Bangkok on the Malay Peninsula, at the edge of the Krabi River estuary, and just around the corner from the Andaman Sea. There is a different feel here, a more laid-back feel, and the people (in my opinion) have a different look to them: darker-skinned, less Chinese-Asian, and more Malaysian. There is certainly a larger Muslim population here, but not all are Muslim.

Often, Krabi Town is used as a base, or place to stay while visiting nearby sites such as Railay Beach or Ao Nang in the Krabi Provence. Yet the town has a mood of its own that is refreshing.

Gliding through the mangrove forest.

During our stay, we choose a tour that includes a visit to the mangrove forests. We board a long-tail boat with six other tourists, a boatman, and a guide with long black wavy hair that makes him look like an islander.

With great balance and dexterity, the boatman guides us upriver and into one of the many branches and soon we are surrounded by a canopy of mangrove trees. We are at low-tide, so the roots are exposed and it appears as if the trees are standing tip-toed. The boatman turns off the engine and we glide through an eerie, yet beautiful scene. At the top of the trees a trio of monkeys play Tarzan from one tree to the next.

Navigating further upriver, we arrive near the two limestone outcrops of Khao Khanap Nam that flank each side of the river. The only way to get here is by boat. We walk a short distance along a sandy trail and then up a staircase and enter into a large cave of stalagmites. The air becomes damp and we can hear our echoes when we speak.

Replica of a 43,000 year old skeleton at Khao Khanap Nam.

Display boards tell some of the history of this cave, as well as other caves along the shoreline. Evidence such as skeletons, shells, seeds, and stone tools have been found in this and nearby caves, showing that 27,000 to 43,000 years ago, prehistoric man was living here. These are some of the oldest objects found in southeast Asia.

More recently, during World War II, the Japanese forces entered Krabi Province, and many boats were anchored at Krabi Town. These caves were used as shelters or residence for some of the soldiers.

These weren't the only ancient finds in the area. A fossil, consisting of the right upper jaw with five teeth and the right lower jaw with two teeth, was found at a lignite mine in Krabi Provence. It is believed that the fossil is nearly forty million years old and one of the oldest ancestors of human beings.

One can't help but to notice that Krabi Town is proud of this discovery. A couple of major intersections in town have four hulking sculptures of anthropoid apes above the the traffic lights.

Krabi Town is very laid back. There is no sense of urgency. Sunday morning comes and we find ourselves loitering around town while waiting for our seven island snorkeling tour.

We are hungry and come upon a store-front that has a sign with a breakfast menu. It also advertises fruit shakes and drinks. A small table with chairs is set up in front. Most of the store sells merchandise such as wooden elephants, Buddha statues and the like.

A lady comes and we order our meal using clear and articulated English. I've come to learn that although it seems that everyone in Thailand speaks some English, no one seems to speak it fluently; and especially not the older generation.

I order two fried eggs with toast, and a banana pancake with chocolate syrup. I haven't decided yet if this is what Thai's really eat for breakfast, or if they are just catering to the tourists. Jenelle and I both order a pineapple-mango shake (which is made from 100% fruit; no ice cream, and very delicious).

After ten minutes, she brings out my eggs and toast, Jenelle's breakfast, and one pineapple-mango shake. We finish our entire meal and are still waiting for the rest.  The lady has returned to the back and we can hear clanging metal from the stove, and we linger, hoping that she is finishing our meal. It is not until her son comes out, who speaks slightly better English, that we are able reorder our food to complete our meal.

Five minutes later, one pineapple-mango shake and one large banana pancake with chocolate syrup are brought to our table. We enjoy, but realize that we probably ordered too much!

Southern Thailand's version of the tuk-tuk.  It is a common mode of transportation.

Later on another day, I decide to take a long walk to see how Krabi appears on foot. Jenelle decides to stay in the hotel because it is about a hundred degrees outside and the humidity has us sweating like dogs. (Keep in mind that it is only the month of March!)

I mosey along the walkway that parallels the river, past the boat dock for Railay Beach, past the giant crab statue. It is low-tide now and the river has shrunk in size, with sand bars on both sides. A floating restaurant is resting lop-sided in mud. The twin pinnacles of Khao Khanap Nam are prominently in view.

I cross Utarakit Road and leave the river, and continue several blocks inland away from the hustle and bustle. My first stop is the Andaman Art Museum.

I have no other reason to go here other than to check it out. Before I even walk in the door, a lady stops me and instructs on how to visit the museum. Apparently you start in one building and work your way systematically through several others until you've returned to the gift shop. The first three, she warns, have no air-conditioning. “You keep your shoes on!” she adds with a smile.

The first building is devoted to beads, and the history of beads in Southern Thailand. She's right about the air-conditioning. It feels like a brick oven in here! Sweat is dripping down my cheek.

I am the only person in the “bead room” and each station has an audio recording to teach the visitor. I press the button and a dialog emerges from the speakers in Thai. Luckily, the signs are in both Thai and English.

Can this elaborate style of kite really fly?

Artist's depiction of Khao Khanap Nam at the Andaman Art Museum.

One room that fascinates me is the kite exhibition. These kites are like none other that I've ever seen. They are made with a bamboo frames, are very large with elaborate designs, and sometimes have wooden fish or other trinkets attached to them. Of course I can't touch or lift them up, but I wonder how light they really are. Can they really fly? Is this what the historical kite of Thailand looked like? Or are they just for decoration? (Later I attempt to ask a lady in the gift shop this exact question, and our communication falls dead at the language barrier.)

The final building (and well air-conditioned!) is the art exhibit. This gallery takes up three stories of photographs and paintings, most focused on local genre.

I return to the sultry outside air and walk south on Maharad Road. I go inside a small store and buy a pineapple Fanta for 15 baht. Like all the refrigerated drinks I've had in Thailand, it is only lukewarm. They give me a straw and I sip as I walk.

The songthaew is the form of taxi used in Southern Thailand.

Two lanes of traffic buzz in each direction. There are no tourists here. Locals sit in the doorways and chat in singsong accents.

I pass the intersection with the ape statues. Last night we ate at a noodle stand just around the corner.

Across the street, there is a large block of dense trees with no development. Curiously, I walk toward it and find a stone path that leads into a growth of trees. Soon I am in a jungle, rather than the hubbub of Krabi Town. There are periodic signs along the path, but only in Thai. I would guess that they are identifying the trees.

At length I hear a commotion of laughing and splashing. As I approach, I notice a hidden water hole where boys are swinging off ropes and jumping off trees into the water. I can only catch glimpses as palm fronds and other branches block most of my view.

Pulling out my camera and seeing the opportunity for a good candid picture, I tiptoe diagonally forward for a better view, but my not so stealthy feet crunch the dry ground and quickly, all the laughing and splashing stops, and the boys retreat out of sight.

I wait for thirty seconds, but decide that they will not resume until I'm gone. I begin to walk away when one of the boys swims out into the open, looks at me and yells out, “No, no!” in meager English. Again, he yells out, “No, no!” and holds up two hands to form a box. He is telling me to take no pictures. I humbly comply and walk away.

Wat Kaew Korawaram in Krabi Town.

I follow the stone path back to civilization and continue around the corner to the base of Wat Kaew Korawaram, the main Buddhist temple in Krabi Town. The temple is a beautiful white building perched on a hill, with a naga staircase leading up the hill. (I learned that a naga is a diety in the form of a great snake, originating from the Sanskrit word for cobra.)

A rooster ambles around the grounds, while a gardener cares for flowers. I remove my shoes and step inside the main hall where I reverently admire the mural on the wall and the statue of Buddha. Offerings of fruit and flowers have been placed at the foot of the shrine. An Asian family is in the room also and they huddle together for a family picture with the Buddha in the background.

My favorite time in Krabi Town is at night. This is when the sleepy city comes alive.

We have counted three different night markets here: one on the weekend, one during the week, and the smallest one, Chao Fa, is every night.

As with most markets in Thailand, you can find about anything: clothing, crafts, sarongs, plants, and of course, food—and lots of it! It is here that we tried coconut ice cream and purple sticky rice rolled in a banana leaf and grilled over coals.

For many of the vendors at the market, this is a family affair. Every night we saw a group of children (probably siblings) who played percussion instruments for money. They sat huddled together in the middle of the crowded market, and on a signal from an adult, they began pounding away and producing very good music.

Another little girl at the end of the street dressed in a costume that I believe comes from the hill tribes, and posed and stretched and contorted in aerobatic positions, of course with a coin bucket in front of her. On the following night a different girl with an identical costume, similar-looking face, but just a couple years older, performed at the same location. They were obviously sisters making money for Mom and Dad.

The spiny "jackfruit" has a yellow interior.

Tonight we opt for the smaller market of Chao Fa, which is right next to the river and much more relaxed. Here the vendors have set up their carts along the street and sell everything from noodles to fish. Ladies stand next to propane stoves and stir up dishes in a wok. Although night has taken the edge from the heat, the humid air still permeates everything.

I order a bowl of tom yum goong with a small plate of rice and we sit at a plastic table behind the cart where we took our order. I don' know how to eat this dish, so I do what I think the Thai's would do and spice it up with Nam Phrik Pla, a condiment consisting of chili peppers and fish sauce. I'm not sure if that was the smartest idea because now I am sweating profusely and using up all the tiny toilet paper tissues that they call napkins to wipe my nose.

This soup is packed with flavor, blending the spicy with the sour. The giant prawns I break open with my spoon and fingers, but within the strong broth there are also a mixture of other herbs, all of which I can't see because it is night, but all consisting of a fibrous texture, very tough to chew, almost like eating bark. One of them, I'm sure, is a kaffir lime leaf. The others feel like twigs and orange peels. I don't know if I am supposed to eat them, or spit them out and set aside. I do a little of both, surely getting my daily dose of fiber.

Next, we buy from other booths: mango and sticky rice, chicken satay, lotus and beetroot juice. At a booth near the end of the market I order some squid and they grill, slice, and bag it for me, and give me a skewer and a little bag of hot sauce. Jenelle and I sit down to another plastic table and I eat the squid while she nibbles a plate of pad thai. The squid is semi-tender and the spicy sauce has quite an earthy taste.

Jenelle packs the rest of her pad thai into a styrofoam box and we make the slow stroll along the river back to our hotel. Street lamps illuminate the walkway. A group of boys sit along the sidewalk, their feet dangling over the water, and their poles cast into the river. A gibbous moon shines a reflection over the dark body of water and somewhere out of sight I can hear the engine of a long-tail boat.

At our hotel we climb four stories of stairs to our room where we dump off our packs, and then climb another story to the terrace. 

We have it to ourselves. A soft lunar light reveals the tops of the mangrove trees on the other side of the river near Ko Klang. We lounge in plastic chairs and enjoy a subtle breeze as we nibble the sticky rice and mangos. ♠

Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand is a sprawling urban jungle of over nine million people. Located in southeast Asia, it is infused with Theravada Buddhism, aggressive street hawkers, miles of canals, and food vendors on nearly every alley in the city. Shanty houses lie in the same neighborhood as luxurious skyscrapers. Tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis flood the streets. Everyone seems to speak a little English, but no one seems to speak it fluently. In short, the Thai capital, also known as Krung Thep, is like no other city in the world.

The Chao Phraya River divides the city of Bangkok and is a major venue for transportation. Not only do tourists and locals use the river, but also large tugboats pulling cargo.

Boat taxis run up and down the river, making stops along the way. Some ferries, like this one, will simply take you to the other side.

The most important (and busiest) attraction in all of Thailand in the Grand Palace. Home to the Royal family since 1782, the Grand Palace was constructed just fifteen years after the former capital of Ayutthaya was destroyed by the Burmese. It is visited by thousands of tourists and is home to the Emerald Buddha.

In Thailand there is a strong alliance between the Royal Family and the Buddhist religion. The king, therefore, is greatly revered and his image can be found on many public buildings and currency.

Khao San Road is one of the most famous streets in Bangkok. It is popular for its cheap lodging and colorful night market. Here one can get a massage, tattoo, eat bugs, or Pad Thai. We went for the Pad Thai.

One of the most popular dishes in Bangkok is a bowl of beef noodle soup. Some street stands specialize only in noodle soup and you can buy a bowl for about 40 baht ($1.14).

Notice the bottled water in the picture? Bangkok is a blazing hot city, yet tap water is not potable. Bottled water is sold everywhere. So, stay hydrated!

In many respects, Bangkok is just like Disneyland. Case-in-point are the boat taxis that transport travelers up and down some of the main canals. A ride on one of these boats can cost as low as 7 baht. A cruise along the waters will make you forget that you are in a city full of skyscrapers, and instead, take you away to the jungle, where palm trees hang over the canals and shanty houses with clothes hanging to dry along the water's edge.

And then there are the tuk-tuks, the three-wheeled taxis that are ubiquitous in Bangkok. Once again, they feel like a ride at Disneyland. But beware! Everywhere you go, drivers will come up to you and ask: “tuk-tuk, tuk-tuk?” They are wily. Always negotiate a price before accepting a ride. And always be ready for an impromptu adventure.

For a less adventurous, yet more scenic mode of transportation, try Bangkok's BTS, or Skytrain, system. The BTS allows you to see the city from an elevated perspective, and lets you sit in air-conditioned ease while avoiding the gnarly traffic jams on the street. There are two lines, which don't allow for many options, but if your destination falls near a BTS line, I would definitely take it.

If the BTS doesn't meet your itinerary needs, maybe the MRT, or subway, will. Although there is only one line, it makes a long snaking path across the city.

The bus is another option in Bangkok. If you can master the transit maps, they can take you almost anywhere, and are very cheap. Some buses, like this red one, don't have air-conditioning.

When in Thailand, you must make time for a traditional Thai Massage. They will twist you, pull you, walk on you, dig their elbow in you, and make you cringe and almost cry, but when all is over, you will feel far better than when you arrived. Allow one to two hours. My one hour massage cost 250 Baht ($7.13), plus a tip.

The national sport of Thailand is Muay Thai boxing. As far as I know, there are two main venues in Bangkok, with fights three times a week. Admission can be steep, ranging from 1000 to 2000 baht per person. Beware of pushy hawkers trying to sell you the expensive seats. We didn't get to watch a fight on this trip, but came across this training ring while on a walk.

Yes, the toilets in Thailand are different than those in the States. There will be a variety in Bangkok, as you probably wont find some of the more “deplorable” ones that you may find elsewhere. You may encounter squat toilets, but most of them will be sit-down type. They ask you not to put toilet paper in the toilet as their plumbing system may not be able to handle it. Instead, use the hose and sprayer to clean yourself off; pat dry with toilet paper (if they have any), and you will be good to go!

Bangkok is a museum of holy Buddhist shrines and temples. Wat Pho, officially called Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn, dating back to the 17^th century, was a royal monastery while the Grand Palace was under construction. Replete with pagodas, ornate buildings, Buddhas, and Chinese stone statues, Wat Pho is the quintessential Thai temple.

The centerpiece of Wat Pho is the Reclining Buddha. This forty-six meter icon is revered by many who believe that worshiping the image will bring them peace and happiness.

Across the city on the fringes of Chinatown, the temple of Wat Traimit houses the largest golden Buddha in the world.

When you visit a Thai temple, it will be required of you to dress modestly (no shoulders or knees showing), and when entering the holiest shrines of the Buddha, you must remove your shoes.

During your visit, you will undoubtedly happen upon monks dressed in their orange robes. I didn't learn much about them during my visit, but they are certainly a curiosity.

Buddhists don't have a monopoly on religion in Bangkok. You will find Muslims also, and they worship in mosques such as this one. The Ton Son Mosque was originally built around 1688 AD, but has since been renovated with modern materials.

Throughout Bangkok (as well as Thailand), you will find spirit houses in front of many of the properties. A spirit house is designed as a place for spirits to dwell that could cause problems for the property owners, especially since their old home was disturbed by construction on the property. It is usually in the shape of a house or temple, and offerings such as flowers or food are often left.

Bangkok is world renowned for its markets. Klong Toey is a fresh produce market that is best enjoyed in the morning. Walking through this market you will find Thai chili peppers, tamarind, long beans, morning glory, pulsating fish, mounds of raw meat, huge balls of curry, and any other ingredients that you would find in Thai cooking.

Much different is the Pak Klong Talad flower market, the largest of its kind in Bangkok. We visited here in the evening, after dark, but they say the best time to come is after midnight, around three in the morning when the freshest floral arrangements are being set out. Walking along Pak Klong Talad is a sensory pleasure, with pleasant aromas swimming the air, and a vibrant array to please the eye.

Next door is the Saphan Phut Night Bazaar, near Memorial Bridge, and along the flank of the Chao Phraya River. The later in the night you come, the more active the market becomes. They sell t-shirts, jeans, DVD's, and about anything else a teenager might want. It is here that I bought a jersey of my favorite soccer team, Barcelona, for just a fraction of what I would have paid in Spain.

On the weekend (and usually located an hour or two outside the city) are the floating markets. A combination of boats selling produce, and stalls on terra firma selling meals, a floating market is the perfect place to experience a new variety of food and setting. Fish is plentiful, and a common meal will include the entire fish with a plate of rice and a spicy dipping sauce.

It was here that I bought my first bag of coconut water. Yes, they sell it in a bag with an insterted straw.

The biggest market in Bangkok is the Chatuchak weekend market. Composed of over 8,000 stalls, Chatuchak is almost too big to take in. Everything is sold here from art to clothing to food to bugs (the edible kind).

If a crowded street market in the balmy air of Bangkok doesn't sound appealing, how about one of its many air-conditioned malls? We chose to relax at CentralWorld, sipping on fruit shakes while sitting in cushy chairs. CentralWorld is several stories high, and is the largest mall in Bangkok, with over 500 stores and 100 restaurants.

Around the corner from CentralWorld is Siam Plaza, not a true plaza in the conventional sense of the word, but a cluster of shops and restaurants. It is also a central hub of traffic, with the BTS rail line directly above the street, and is extremely busy with pedestrians.

Perhaps because of the abundance of street stalls, the common grocery store isn't as common in Thailand as it is in the States. The 7-Eleven store is the closest and most convenient substitute we found. Not only is it very air conditioned, but it also sells some of those small knick-knacks that you may not find anywhere else: finger nail clippers, band-aids, sim cards, and toothpaste. We also enjoyed the pre-packaged, yet unique pastries such as bread with pandan cream spread on top. 7-Eleven is found in nearly every neighborhood in Bangkok.

If you want to leave the chaos without leaving the city, try a visit to Lumphini Park, Bangkok's own version of Central Park in New York City. Here you will find lots of grass, as well as ponds, and a panoramic view of the high-rise skyline. There are peddle boats you can rent for a small price that will allow you a romantic cruise on the lake. You will likely see a monitor lizard or two.

Finally, no trip to Bangkok would be complete without a trip to Chinatown, perhaps the largest in the entire world. The principal street is Yarowat Road, with its gold shops, street stalls, and lively night life. All the streets radiating from Yarowat are equally alive, some in alleyways so narrow that wandering through the overflowing merchandise can be a tricky ordeal.

Don't be surprised if you come across quivering fish heads, the smell of ancient Asian herbs, or a Chinese Buddhist temple.

 Whenever you're in Bangkok, the time will come every evening when the large equatorial sun dips low on the horizon of haze and smog, and after a glorious sky of amber-painted colors, the night will come and take the edge from the heat. The lights will turn on from the skyscrapers, the street stalls, the tuk-tuks, the barges on the river, and a new chapter will begin on your visit to Bangkok. ♠