Enter mysterious caves with impressive limestone rock formations via kayak. The islands in Phang Nga Bay are hidden ecosystems, populated by mangrove trees, crabs, macaque monkeys, butterflies, and kingfishers and more. Kayaking in this area was founded and established by John Gray in 1989 discovering it was possible to paddle through low tide tunnels and into the open centers of some islands.
Galleries
Wat Pho- Temple of The Reclining Buddha & Khaosan Rd
Wat Pho temple is a buddhist temple complex in Bangkok. With a 46 meter long golden reclining Buddha statue it is one of the iconic must see tour stops in Bangkok. As one of the largest temple complexes in the city, It’s just south of the grand Palace. Wat Pho existed before Bangkok was established as the capital by King Rama I.
Lub D Hostel Stay- Phuket
The Lub D hostel in Patong Beach-Phuket is one of the finest hostels with great bang for the buck. It has many fine amenities of a resort such as pool, bar/cafe, exercise equipment, lounges and services. At first glance you’ll see that it is a large hostel situated in a lively area of Patong Beach.
Scuba Diving with Mantas- Similan Islands, koh bon
Koh Bon is part of the Similan Islands Archipelago about 31 miles off the western coast of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. Advanced divers adore this spot because it is frequented by giant manta rays (Manta birostris) and occasionally Whale Sharks. The island is uninhabited and surrounded by turquoise waters. Getting there can be done via a day trip on a dive boat from the Phuket which I did via South Siam Divers from Thap Lamu.
River cruise- Chao Phraya River
We board our large river cruise boat for our 3hr tour and immediately see the large food spread on a long table. Lunch is ready to go as soon as we pick our seating places. I’m looking for a table right next to a window for the best view. Left or right side, or should I say starboard or port, is always the question for the better views. I want to see every everything this cruise has to offer.
Wat Maha that Temple
Wat Maha That, “the temple of the Great Relic” was one of the most important temples in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. This temple was constructed in 1374 by King Boromma Rachathirat I with a design that follows concepts of the ancient Khmer mountain temples of Angkor in Cambodia. The post feature picture shows one of the most eerie and photographed objects at the temple. A stone Buddha head enveloped by by the roots of a tree.
Golden Mount Temple- Wat Saket
After some pool time and lunch at the hostel I set out to explore the local area. I pass through the Royal Pavilion and look back to see the Golden Mount Temple high up in the distance. But I’m heading the opposite way making a large loop with my goal to see the Golden Mount Temple towards the end of the day.
Here Hostel Stay- Bangkok
Choosing the right hostel can take some internet research and sometimes word of mouth from other travelers helps. Your mood is also a factor. I chose a hostel in Bangkok that appealed to me because of its location away from a busy noisy area. It seemed to have a few things within walking distance to check out, local bus stops, and a short 750m walk to the famous (or should I say infamous?) Khaosan road. The Here Hostel had photos showing a rustic charm and pleasant garden area. Having a pool was also a plus.
The Floating Village of Mechrey
Mechrey is one of several floating villages in the Siem Reap region of Cambodia. This one in particular is still floating even during the dry season. Several of us from the Lub D hostel have booked this tour via the Adventure Travel Co. and we start our day with a 2:30pm pickup for a sunset visit to this village.
Kbal Spean- River of Carved Stones
Kbal Spean which means Bridge Head is a river of carved relief stones. The ‘bridge’ is a natural sandstone arch. These stone carvings are mainly of lingams (phallic symbol of the Hindu god Shiva). Also known as the River of 1000 Lingas, the trail head is about 48km to the north of Siem Reap. I was curious about seeing these and thought it would be a change from the temple agenda.