Koh Sirey Island

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Koh Sirey Island is an island that I usually recommend to the visitors who want something real - this is an island where there is very little investment and I am never sure why.

There is an area is called Asia Marina near the South End of the island and I can find nothing about it at all - I could not even tell whether is had been opened at all?

Crossing over the bridge from Phuket Island there is immediately a port on the South sise and it is teeming with fishing vessels each time we enter Koh Sirey. I must admit to feeling a little 'conspicuous as I entered into the harbour to take a few photographs. 



Swiftly returning to the care we travelled over the bridge which gave me another look at the harbour and I can tell that there is a lot of boats and activity when we visited in the morning.

We travelled the roads (after feeding the monkeys) and very swiftly the 

atmosphere changed.

There were a great number of discarded boats alongside the mangrove swamps - whether they were abandone and deposited there from the Tsuami I was let to ponder. As we drove round we went into the small fishing villages of the local people. There was certainly more to be seen here so we will have to make another visit.

In the distance we saw the hill of the Wat Koh Sirey so we headed there - I wonder what else is on the island - it is far bigger than we visited.

Just found a Google Street Map of Koh Sirey and Jamie has a post about Koh Sirey.

Previous visits

 1) July 2012 - Monkey seeing

 2) September 2012 - Wat Koh Sirey

 2) November 2012 - Sea Gypsy Cultural Centre

 2) January 2013 - Phuket Fishing Community

Tham Than Lot National Park - คายัค บ้านบ่อท่อ

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We decided to try this Kayak trip which would take us into the caves of Tham Than Lot National Park.

We walked along a wooden walkway where we were taken to a floating raft and prepared for the next step of our journey - now if you are worried about Safety then this may be the time to stop. But as a family we decided to continue - Jemma had her life jacket on and was going into the lead canoe and then we would follow.

We were taken to Tham Lot Cave to begin with - I was under the impression that there used to be one of the world's tallest stalagmite but this as not shown to us.  We kayaked quite a way and it was then clear that we could have taken a fishing boat for this bit - but this was more fun - right?

We kayaked past a number of 'homes' which were also set up to 'grow' oysters? It was at this point that we were taken into our first cave - pretty creepy as it was initially very dark... But as we turned the corner the light was seen - great - and where was everybody else? They had missed this cave because they were on the fishing boats!

It was at this point that we stopped to have a walk through the mangrove swamps on a walkway of course. After this it was back on the kayaks.

We then paddled through more mangrove swamps - stopping to look at the creatures populating the water's edge.

Then we were through the much smelly 'bat cave' - not for everyone!

The next stop seemed to be a little more organized and there were park rangers carefully watching us enter them - this was the Big Headed Ghost Cave (Pee Tua Hoh Cave) where we saw the much talked about cave paintings. 

This was fascinating - wow - stories have been written about these paintings being of a certain age BUT then I can find very little about these cave paintings. 

This was a stained sign outside and provided me with the most information.

"The Big-Headed Ghost Cave or the Skull Cave is located in Mo 2, Ban Bo Tho, Krabi Province's Ao-luk District. The villagers here call it Skull Cave because in 2497 skulls were found in the cave."

"It is a limestone cave with stalagmites and stalactites. Cave paintings are found on the roof and the walls of the cave. Compared to other caves in the South of Thailand, this cave is believed to have the largest number of mural paintings. The painted murals in the cave can be divided into three main categories: those in the shape of human beings and animals, nonhuman being and those shaped like a hand and foot. A variety of colours was used in the painting auch as red, black, yellow and brown."

"These cave paintings are of immense archaeological value. They can be regarded as convincing evidence that around 3,000 years ago there was a prehistoric community on the coast of the Andaman Sea who relied on natural resources in this area of food and shelter."

There seemed to be a plethora of all these caves and we investigated all of them!!!!

This was not an easy walk for any of us.  

After the caves we returned to the kayaks and paddled carefully back to our stop! (I do here tales that Phu Tara Pool is in the forest near to here - this was the pool which was used in the filming of The Beach).

A full afternoon for us all.

Approximate Price: $$$$$ - 800 Baht to 2,500 Baht

Address: Ao Luek Tai, Ao District, Krabi

Phuket Philatelic Museum

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This was a real surprise - they had changed the Phuket Philatelic Museum.

All of the older equipment which was in the old Phuket Philatelic Museum had been organised - wonderful.

As I walked through the small museum there was a small library for reference?

Then there were displays about the history of the stamps in Thailand.

Then about the post was (and still is) delivered.

Previous Visit

 1) April 2013

  

Website: none to my knowledge

Email: none

Phone Number: none

Address: Phuket Town - see map

Hours: Mon - Fri: 08:30 - 16:30 

The price for entry is: Free

View tim in Phuket in a larger map

Wat Sapam

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This was a beautiful surprise - so much of a surprise that I have not yet returned - I was driving home one afternoon and this is out of the car window. 

Simple entrances.

It looks like you need a bot of fitness for this one though!

In fact the best write up on this is from Jamie in Phuket.

I will have to return and actually enter the Wat it looks quite stunning inside.