2016 Jul. Aonang Beach in Krabi & Phi Phi Islands.
Phi Phi Islands in Krabi become famous after Leonardo Dicaprio’s movie The Beach, and is now a hugely popular beach destination. It was a spontaneous decision to go on a short lazy getaway to Krabi, as it is easily accessible and reasonable affordable from Singapore. Budget airline TigerAir has promotion and decent pricing if you book at the right time in advance. We chose to stay in Aonang, which is close to many shops and restaurants, and has easy access to island hopping.
We booked and went on a half day land tour to visit the Hot Spring and Emerald Pool on the second day. The are many kiosks and shops along the road to book such day tours and island hopping packages, all with very competitive pricing compared to the rip-off tourist rates at hotels or resorts.
A car ride away and a short walk through the wooded area brought us to the Emerald Pool, which has very clean and crystal clear water. I was not expecting much initially but the Emerald Pool was really beautiful. So enticing and refreshing to jump into the cool water on a hot day!
We went on a multi island hopping day tour, including Phi Phi Islands on the third day. The tour operator will pick you up from your hotel, there is water provided on board and a simple buffet lunch is also included on one of the islands. First, the romantic and idyllic images of Phi Phi Islands natural beauty…
And then, you should see the reality of the crowd at Phi Phi Islands. Overwhelming is an understatement, so best to know what to expect, as you are not going to find any secluded and pristine beach all to yourself. Snorkelling at the crowded tourist hotspots is disappointing. While you do get clear water, there is no reef and very limited variety of marine life.
Food is usually pretty good and cheap in Thailand. We checked out a few in Aonang and these are a few restaurants worth patronising. This is a popular restaurant Wang Sai, but had mixed internet reviews. My experience for food and service her is alright, nothing wow wow but acceptable, and you get gorgeous sunset view right by the beach.
Another simple but delicious restaurant we found was along the main commercial street in Aonang was Massaman Restaurant. The food was very authentic in flavour, and not watered down to cater to tourist tastebuds. The pricing was very reasonable, great value for money. So good that I forgot to take pictures of the mango salad, steamed fish, and several other dishes when I started eating. 🙂 Highly recommended.
The final restaurant Lae Lay Grill I am recommending is somewhat pricey, but you get a wonderful hilltop view while dining. Perched on a hilltop with nice elaborate decor, wide selection of cocktails, nicely plated dishes, you get the usual upmarket restaurant stuff. Best to make reservation in advance, and they will even send a complimentary car to pick you up wherever you are. So if you feel like pampering yourself and splurging on a nice meal with a view, it is worth checking out.
