There are plenty of romantic getaways in Thailand, but one that stands out is Koh Yao Noi in the middle of Phang Nga Bay. This island has managed to stay surprisingly undeveloped considering its closeness to Phuket and Krabi. From golden beaches on the east coast overlooking the breathtaking sea filled with limestone cliffs to a west coast lined with mangroves and rice paddies, this could be your next dream destination.
My wife watching the rising sun.
We have visited Samet Nangshe Viewpoint daytime several times before, and now it was time to stay overnight in a tent to catch the beautiful sunrise. I also hoped to be able to shoot Milky Way at night, but it turned out to be way too cloudy and light polluted. If you decide to go camp here, don’t forget the mosquito spray!
A Thai-Muslim family has run Roti Chaofa on Chao Fa Road in Phuket Town, next to Siam Commercial Bank (where my wife worked before moving to Norway) for over 30 years. This breakfast-and-lunch place is very popular among locals, and when my wife worked at SCB, she often ate here paying less than 50 baht. Below are some Thai dishes that should be prepared by a Muslim.
Monkeys are a lot of fun, and they are so photogenic it’s ridiculous. In Thailand, you will most likely run into a few macaques, so be ready with your camera — they’re such a great subject to photograph. Just don’t get too close them as they can be aggressive, which is why you should use a camera with a bit longer focal length lens. Below are a few shots of macaques I’ve taken in Phuket and Krabi.
When my visitors reach my website, they sometimes book hotels via my ad links. I like to check up on those bookings to see what my readers are interested in, so I can tip other visitors, or in this case, perhaps even book it myself. One reservation that took my attention was Pullman Phuket Arcadia Naithon Beach Resort.
Photo: agoda.com
Phuket or Krabi? Personally, I don’t like to compare these two places since they are so different from each other. Phuket is an island famous for its long white sandy beaches and nightlife while Krabi, located on the mainland, is known for its natural beauty including limestone mountains, idyllic beaches, and mangrove forests.
Why choose when you can visit both? There is a bridge connecting Phuket with the mainland, and you can drive to Krabi via Phang Nga in two hours. But if you need to choose one place, you might want to know some differences between these two tropical paradises.
Even though my wife lived seven years in Phuket, she was never up to the hills of Patong. She didn’t even know there was a panoramic view of Patong until I showed a picture on the internet and suggested that we should drive up and take a look. There are a few restaurants and bars up here, but it is a very quiet area despite its closeness to Patong Beach.
