Chrismate: Return to the Andaman, May 2017.

Friday, May 19, 2017

Return to the Andaman, May 2017.

After discovering the KHAO LAK coast, north of Phuket island, two years ago, I had strongly wanted to return there for a relaxing holiday. Unfortunately, it may not have been the best time to get there as the southwestern monsoon was slowly settling in.

The bright tropical waters of the Andaman had turned gray due to the poor forecast. Yet it has been a refreshing break from the city life of Bangkok.

May 16 - Departure from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport [BKK] to Phuket [HKT] aboard an A333 of THAI AIRWAYS (flying time: 1h).

TG flight route from BKK to HKT

- National car rent from a brand new renovated airport to Khao Lak with a compact silver Nissan.

Road map to Khao Lak south

The driving time is just a little more than an hour.

- Rest of the day spent at MORACEA Resort on a beach near the rainforest hill area of southern Khao Lak.

May 17-19 - At MORACEA Resort for 3 full days in a beautifully tended tropical park having a great number of pools of all shapes. Too bad, the weather was a bit wet.
Moracea Resort

Hillside bungalows

Another pool

Room bathroom

Bedroom decoration

Resort beac

The beach at monsoon time

KHAO LAK village offers a wide variety os shops, restaurants and even some trendy coffeeshops:

Centara coffeeshop

Nice cosy café with original B&W picture frames

There is another attraction nearby: KHAO LAK LAM RU National Park. Located on the hill south of Khao Lak village, this park is a natural reserve preserving the rainforest.

- However, the facilities are not well maintained,

- and you need to be equipped with good shoes to be able to go on the trail.

- The entrance fee of THB200/per person is for all foreigners of any age, local residents included. When you know that Thais only pay THB20, it becomes a clear rip off, which is truly questionable in our times. Thailand is not the only country with such practices in southeast Asia. But there is no clear policy and this may change from one place to another. Yet, being a National Park, which ought to be a showcase for tourists, this policy is perceived as a blating discrimination.

Viewpoint

May 19 - Departure for BANG SAK Beach in the northern part of Khao Lak area (about 35km away).

HAADSON Resort is a lovely beach resort set in a tropical setting by a lagoon and a long stretch of sandy beach on the Andaman. This is a returning trip to this exotic resort also laid in a beautiful park with a definite Thai atmosphere.
Haadson Resort, Khao Lak