TRAVELLIVE 04-2017

Kayaking to the stunning fjords
The charm of Krabi first comes from magnificent limestone
islands standing out in the blue sea. There are various tours
for visitors as each group of islands and islet has its own
distinct beauty. Some islands are renowned for coral reefs
while others offer guests sights of colorful fish swimming
happily about. Some islands are home to wild cats. There
are even groups of islets creating an "oasis" in the ocean.
What impressed me most during my stay there was kayaking in
Ao Thalane by the most beautiful mangrove forest in Thailand.
To start the journey, we kayaked through a calm area. I couldn't
choose the right words to express how imposing the limestone
cliffs were. When approaching them, I felt as if they were about to
collapse on us. At that moment, should you venture there yourself,
perhaps you will feel as I did, knowing how tiny we all are before
the impressive mountains and endless ocean.
Following our humorous and enthusiastic guide in our silent kayaks
we crossed past cliffs, beaches,
and islets before becoming
immersed in a new world of lush
mangroves. We swept through
the "fjords", sometimes bending
down to sail through a maze of
roots or go through low caves. The
most frightening yet intriguing
experience was getting lost in the
"battle" of two aggressive groups
of monkeys. The monkeys are
usually friendly and just a bit
mischievous. However, when
they must fight for food, they have
a temper to be reckoned with.
Sometimes, when we met
other groups kayaking from the
opposite direction, our guide