James Bond Island? Phang Nga Bay? Yes, I had booked another tour but this one had been paid for in-location. Dipping into my savings I did, every extra penny was intentionally spent. Leaving Krabi was a choice, I had drank the town dry and cared to not get enough sleep, this was becoming a recurring theme? Yes! So, I pulled myself together and climbed into that minibus!
A minibus? Yes, I had to rough it! The small group scene usually is fine for me but once at the longtail boat pier, I saw that the group number would almost triple! Had I been told falsehoods? Do you know what? I was too hungover to even question that situation, I climbed into yet another mode of transport to truly start my tour experience. I wanted a word with 'The Man with the Golden Gun' because things were dealt in a pretty shady way, I needed to get over myself! Heading away from 'Ao Nang', it was telling because the scenery changed instantly. Skimming across those waters, it didn't take long for my vessel to arrive at the kayak pier. Kayaking? I usually swerve small boats wherever possible but Phang Nga Bay was enlightening me with newfound experiences. I was shooketh! The thought of playing with my own life as I clambered into that kayak wasn't worth thinking about but I did it! The water wasn't the airbrushed azul blue kind but I was about to be weaved through a series of beautiful caves and rock formations.
I wasn't alone in that kayak and for that I wasn't mad because it gave me the chance to talk to someone, I needed a mental diversion to cope with the motion of the kayak. That guy who was about the same age as me was a flight attendant for easyJet, he was traveling solo whilst his 'girlfriend' was back in England. I am not one to judge but his back story was a little suspect with this supposed lady friend mentioned. Like I said, who am I to judge? If you know, you know! Yes, those views of the caves impressed me and petrified me at the same time because I didn't have time for that kayak to capsize or collide with another. I was living another Thailand travel dream, even though I wasn't navigating that smaller boat, I was actually facing a fear! Looking into the ocean blue-ish, I felt my hangover disappear, was that a small victory? 100%, I wasn't mad! Caves, views and conversations, the kayak ride was over and I was more than relieved to step back onto that floating pier. Lunch needed to happen because breakfast had betrayed me!
James Bond Island had made that part of the 'Phang Nga National Park' very famous, although that Thai island had a more local sounding name. 'Khao Ping Kan' would be the focal point of the tour, only then could I say that I had been on the 'James Bond Island Tour'. It was mad chaotic once we docked at the island, stepping onto the island was a rushed affair because it was like a taxi rank! Departing and arriving longtail boats were doing the most, don't get me started because those tourists were packed on pierhead side in their numbers, baby I am a world traveler not a tourist! Influencers? The beach facing the all important rock was a mockery, those cameras were adorned with self-sticks and I really needed to be out of their way because they were morons, the lot of them! The 'fly boy' stuck close, both being from England and the same generation, we had a talking point and we both agreed it was bedlam! Don't get me wrong, I loved the view, it made for great photos and for that I look back with memories for sure. Alight?
Once I removed those fools from my immediate mindset, I was able to find somewhere to sit. Was this place overhyped? That was a question I was asking myself! Touristic it was, I was able to look further into the distance with many redeeming qualities for the eye to survey. With rugged rock formations, blue skies and water to almost match that shade, I totally got why a frenzy was set around me. My group had about twenty minutes on the island, that was the perfect time because it got a bit much as time passed. When all was said and done, I know that I was grateful after visiting James Bond Island even though the trash needed to be taken out! You get my word association? You do though! The wind healed me as the longtail boat skimmed once again across the waters, I needed something to eat as mentioned. I didn't know where the next stop would be. Did they tell us? Am I even able to remember that fact? God knows! Value for money? Yes, I was about to see another location, clocking two before lunch impressed me much!
A floating village? Yes, Koh Panyi was our Halal-ifield lunch-spot! Muslim by religion and Thai by location, it was another reflection of Thailand's rich cultural and religious diversity. That stilt based settlement looked massive, with structures spanning quite a space as far as I could see! By this time, my stomach had decided to eat itself, I was in great need of the most basic sustenance. Getting off the longtail boat was another tribulation because the pier was not fixed, I felt as if I was still drunk again because I was swaying like a professional! Lunch was secured, getting my plate respectfully filled was a blessing, I would have time to check out the shopping after I had eaten something. The lunch was a basic affair and as I've said before, I had gotten used to the Pad Thai offerings from the previous tour. Needing something to quench my thirst, I paid extra for a raspberry smoothie, that ice cold drink hit different! Now, only then was I ready to discover the parts of the village that were accessible for us visitors. No longer was I running on empty!
Shopping? You don't even know how much I loathe that word, already you've worked out that my coins are reserved for anything alcoholic! Get with the programme! I was fronted with a range of tightly packed stalls, they were selling everything I had seen elsewhere but I wanted to buy my friends son a pair of Muay Thai boxing shorts. Bartering I did not because I wasn't in the mood but I did make sure that I wasn't ripped off, it is all about balance. A kindergarten? Yes, I was able to see inside the classrooms of that school but in the same breath, a child protection risk was it? I walked past the basketball court, there I was able to catch a glimpse of some simple homes and the mosque was in the background. This Halal island knew that I was living my life the Haram way, keeping me away from booze was much appreciated. The time on the Muslim Floating Village had come to an end, it was time to board the longtail boat for the final time. Mangroves, a temple and a somewhat flowing river? The tour wasn't over yet but I was tired!
Were those trees sinking? No, I wasn't going insane because the longtail boat was about to enter the same stunning mangroves that I had passed through that morning. Those shaded settings were gorgeous, I blocked everyone else out, yes all of them, it was my time to take those final Phang Nga Bay views in! Getting off the longtail boat didn't leave me feeling blue, I needed another ice cold drink before I would retox at Blue Dragon Cabaret later on that evening. Herded like cattle, I found myself on the road again, not bound for my hotel because two more points lay before my Ao Nang hotel room would find me! Wat Suwan Kuha - Cave Temple posed a new threat, I don't play with monkeys and that cave based temple was riddled with them! I cautiously stepped into the cave to see a leaning almost sleeping Buddha, now I was in the same mood as that 'half asleep' golden figure. I saw what I could tolerate, the shade of the cave did feel nice because the Thai sun continued to beatdown! Feeling the heat, that iced Thai tea helped me out!
Being the dry season, burning season to be absolutely correct, it was intriguing that a waterfall was the final stop. Really? Yes, that was just so. Turning up at Raman Waterfall Forest Park signified the end of that James Bond Island Tour, I was relieved and ready for an alcoholic drink! The forest park looked mysterious with a rickety rope bridge that I didn't exercise caution with. I was fine because I headed back to the parking area with the quickness, that poor choice didn't wrong me! I was able to catch a glimpse at the rocky river that resembled a reduced trickle due to the lack of rain. I did see some kids playing, at least they cool and relaxed! I was struggling! Getting back on the bus was a blessing, I bared the drive with the prospect of having a 7 Eleven toastie and another couple of drinks back in Ao Nang. The day had been value for money in every sense, I had encountered a lot and was not mad about that! Over tourism or not? I definitely had to dodge those selfies and influencers whilst they acted the fool! Be honest, lad!
James Bond? I Don't Know Him!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
