Krabi, Thailand – 1-5 May 2025

We land into Krabi International airport 27 minutes early on Thursday 1 May at 11.13am. My first time to Krabi!

As I’m staring out the window waiting for the bags to come out I notice the baggage trolley come around the corner and some suitcases come flying off. One of them is mind. Grrrrrr! I’ll be most displeased if the gin bottle is broken.

Gin bottle is not broken but suitcase is. FFS.

Jason is waiting as I walk out of the passenger only section. We head upstairs to departures to find Thai Lion Air to complain about my suitcase.  While they are helpful, all they offer me is THB 500 (just less than USD 15). I guess better than a punch in the eye.

We take the scenic route back to Kate and Jason’s house. Krabi is definitely a lot more tropical and hillier than I expected.

 When we arrive home Kate is back from her work. I get a tour of the house before we head to a beachside restaurant for lunch.

Lunch is tasty!

 

As the thunder gets louder we decide it’s time to head back to the house.

Thankfully we are sitting outside undercover when the heavens absolutely open!

We head to another beachside restaurant for dinner.

 

The lightning is crazy. It was extremely bright, red like colour and stayed for longer than it usually does.

I wake before my alarm on Friday, 2 May.

Kate and I have breakfast before the three of us leave the house. Kate had arranged her boat driver to take her and me to a couple of islands.

 

As we arrive at the beach on Ko Hong (Hong Island) we realize we’re not the only people who had the same idea. But it’s absolutely beautiful.

Aah the sea is nice and refreshing and even better is super clear so you can see all the fish.

Sitting here drying off while listening to the waves is very peaceful.

We have a few hours on the beach relaxing, chatting and people watching.

 

Kate decides we need to visit another island.  We now have the fun task of locating our boat.  Once located we cruise around the other side of the island to the lagoon.

 

 

We leave Ko Hong behind and head off to Koh Daeng (known also as Red Island).

 

Kate and I both jump into the water immediately.  We have a good half hour snorkelling.

Back at shore we are picked up by Jason.

We had the rest of the afternoon at the house relaxing, me swimming, and chatting. When the rain started it actually got cool.

For dinner we headed down to a restaurant on the beach.

 

 

Saturday 3 May I wake again before 7am, definitely no sleep in here. It’s nice though having a slow start.

Kate and I enjoy breakfast sitting under the fan chatting.

Mid-morning we head off to Klong Root (Clear Water Canal) where we can kayak. It’s been at least 30 years since I last kayaked so this will be interesting!

Once in the kayak I’m good to go. That is until we reach the part where other people are. Eeks this is going to be interesting.

The water is very clear - amazing really. Thankfully as we go into the mangroves we are protected from the hot hot sun. Does mean tighter spaces to go through though.

I do get stuck twice on tree stumps.  The lake / reservoir is full of tree stumps so it’s like a very pretty obstacle course. The second tree stump that I got friendly with a local thankfully came and pushed me off.

I’m pleased to reach for the shore without going into the water.

Just as we are finishing lunch the heavens well and truly open!! Talk about crazy loud rain.

About 10 minutes drive down the road it’s dry.

We spend the afternoon back at the house, at times being undercover from the rain. I spend some time doing some research for an interview I have on Tuesday.

After happy hour drinks at home we head to the town area for dinner. This time a more western restaurant. The food and cocktails are good!

 

Sunday 4 May I wake before my alarm. Opening my curtains it’s not the blue sky I’ve been waking up to the last couple of mornings.

Kate and I head off for a walk along the beach.

 

 

Back at the house we have breakfast sitting outside under the fan (I will miss this!) then it’s time for me to pack up.

We leave Kate and Jason’s place and head to Khao Thong Hill.

When we arrive there are people for Africa!!!! After finding a park and buying a ticket we have a wait before it’s our turn to get into the truck. I did ask if you can walk, yes but its very steep. 

Less than 5 minutes later we are at the top.

Wow the views are absolutely amazing!!! I know my photos won’t do it the justice it deserves.

Getting down isn’t as straight forward as there are people for Africa everywhere!!!!! So much worse than it was to get up. We have a longer wait before we manage to get on a truck. As we are waiting Kate discovers today is a public holiday in Thailand. Well this explains why there are so many people around.

Time to head to Into the Forrest (a restaurant).

 

We certainly aren’t the only ones with the same idea! Thankfully though it’s not packed and we have a friendly whistle blowing man “assist” with the parking.

 

Getting a table is nice and easy.

Just as we are finishing lunch the thunder increases and the rain drops start then quickly increases. The blue sky has gone away!

 

Thankfully it’s an easy drive to the airport. I say goodbye to Kate and Jason then head inside.

As I’d already checked in online and am doing carry on I head straight to the gate area.

As expected its chaos boarding - first because the gate changes then second because there are people everywhere!

Surprisingly the doors are closed 2 minutes prior to our expected departure time. Didn’t see that happening.

Goodbye Krabi, it’s been a lovely break away. Bangkok here I come (for about 18 hours).

One of the joys of traveling domestically, and with carry on, is I’m able to walk straight out of the terminal. No waiting needed! The hotel airport shuttle isn’t for another 45 minutes so I decide to order a Grab instead. This way I should be at the hotel before 7pm.

Excellent, I arrive at the hotel 7 minutes before the shuttle was due to depart the airport. Check-in takes a little time but we get there in the end.

I enjoy happy hour and dinner in the lobby bar.

I wake just before my alarm on Monday 5 May.

 

Breakfast is a slow affair - no need to rush!

Cheek-out doesn’t go smoothly as they make a mistake on the payment type - honestly zero idea how it can be stuffed up! And even worse that it happened on check-in as well.

The 9.30am shuttle to the airport departs a few minutes late due to 4 people arriving late. I’m now very glad I decided to leave on the earlier shuttle.

As I walk into the terminal, I decide to head straight to the check-in counters to see if there is an earlier flight. Woo hoo, there is one seat on the next flight (1.5 hours earlier than my one). I made it within minutes to spare!!!

With my APEC card immigration and security are nice and easy.

I have a good 10 minutes in the lounge before heading to the gate.

Back to reality I go!