By Manueldietrichphotography

Ao Phang Nga National Park, Thailand

Phang Nga Bay, Thailand: Phang Nga Bay is a 400 km2 bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Kra Isthmus of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The park is in Phang Nga Province, at 8°17′N 98°36′E. Limestone cliffs with caves, collapsed cave systems, and archaeological sites are found about Phang Nga Bay. Around 10,000 years ago, when sea levels were lower, it was possible to walk from Phuket and Krabi. Wikipedia

Phang Nga National Park, Thailand: Ao Phang Nga National Park located in the Phang Nga Province of the Southern Thailand, encompasses parts of Mueang Phang Nga District and Takua Thung District. The park is predominantly maritime, featuring a section of the Strait of Malacca dotted with numerous limestone tower karst islands. Wikipedia

May 14, 2023 - Day 140

Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is one of the largest and most popular islands in Thailand. It is the country’s largest island with another 32 smaller islands offshore. It has over 30 beautiful beaches. A lot of people come here for the night life but, of course, at my age that is limited to a beer at happy hour. Many of the younger people on board were disappointed because May 14 was Election Day here and there is no drinking 24 hours before the election so all the many nightlife bars were closed.

We went to a set of mainland islands North of the island of Phuket which are enormous limestone karst towers. They are part of the Ao Phang Nga National Park. We took a boat they call a long tail boat through the park. A long tail boat consists of a hand built 30 foot wooden boat with a large big block V8 automobile motor attached to a long propeller shaft which has a big propeller mounted at the end. The length and weight of the shaft and propeller just balance the weight of the motor so the propeller can be lifted and moved manually. I put a photo of the motor and the boats below.

The long tail boat took us through a mangrove swamp to a tunnel running under a big karst mountain. The water draining through the limestone had formed some beautiful stalactite structures hanging from the ceiling of the cave. We then went to a island named Khao Phing Kan which was featured in the 1974 James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”. There is a karst right in front of the island named Ko Ta Pu. It is a limestone karst 66 feet tall which has a diameter of 13 feet at sea level increasing to 26 feet at the top. It looks like it should topple over at any time. The island and Ko Ta Pu are know collectively as James Bond Island.

https://www.tutorialathome.in/amazing-national-parks/ao-phang-nga-national-park-thailand

The world's most breathtaking natural coastal wonders

The world’s most breathtaking natural coastal wonders, from gravity-defying rocky pinnacles to other-worldly caves 1.Ko Tapu, off the coast of Thailand, is a top-heavy limestone sea stack about 66ft (20m) high. It became a popular attraction after staring in the 1974 James Bond movie The Man With The Golden Gun and it is now part of the protected Ao Phang Nga National Park 2.Behold Reynisdrangar,…

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7 April 2022

Khao Phing Kan Island, Thailand

Khao Phing Kan Island, Thailand by ViktorGoloborodko

Ao Phang Nga National Park - Thailand (by square(tea)) 

James Bond Island

There it is, ladies and gentlemen. Behold the beauty of the infamous James Bond Island, AKA Ao Phang-Nga National Park, made famous by The Man With The Golden Gun in 1974 as seen below...

To get out to this island we took a minibus for about 2 hours, followed by a long-boat ride of about 45 minutes. This long boat ride (video posted yesterday) was so relaxing and peaceful - despite the loud motor in our ears. I will never get tired of these views. Oh man, do I love being on/in/around water!

The next part of our day included sea cave “canoeing”, where a tour guide did all of the paddling for us! Here you can see the tour guide hard at work...

Just kidding, he was pretty great. He pointed out lots of crabs in the mangroves and we even saw a very large water monitor (around 4 feet), but that lizard swam way too fast for me to grab a photo. 

The sea caves reminded me a lot of the caving tour I did in Soppong, Thailand. Here we have the rock formation that was featured on Drake’s album cover If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late (AKA prayer hands).

If You’re Reading This, I Survived My First Full Week :)

James Bond Island by Mathulak Flickr

Khao Phing Kan, Phang Nga Bay, Ao Phang Nga National Park, Thailand

Ko Tapu Also known as James Bond Island after its appearance as Monsieur Scaramangas hideout in 'The Man with the Golden Gun', this 20 metre tall tapering pillar of Permian limestone lies just offshore of Khao Phing Kan in the Andaman sea off Thailand. Erosion and ice age sea level changes have gradually produced a marine karst landscape not dissimilar to Halong Bay in Vietnam. The area is part of the Ao Phang Nga marine national park. The limestone is a quarter billion year old barrier reef, made of fossil coral and lagoonal sediments of crushed shell remnants. Loz Image credit: Enver Murad via APOD. http://www.amazingplacesonearth.com/ko-tapu-thailand/

Ao Phang Nga National Park:

It’s Phang Na Bay, the bay that separates Phuket to mainland of Thailand

🔥 Ko Ta Pu, a 66 foot tall limestone karst tower off the shore of Khao Phing Kan Island in Thailand. The islands are a part of Ao Phang Nga National Park.

Discovering the Magic of Phang Nga Thailand

Giddy graciously as you attempted to unravel Phang nga Thailand? Before you set out on your journey, give you utmost enjoyment by knowing bits and pieces about the varied attractions that the exquisite destination is offering. Whether it's beach and island attractions (which can be ideal to see towards the later part of November until April) of Phang nga Thailand, or its nature parks and interesting wildlife, or historic sites, or a taste of paradise at พังงา positioned in southern Thailand you're dreaming of - you can explore all of them to your heart's pleased with just a bit of planning.

Phang nga Thailand might be a bit far particularly for travelers coming completely from other Asian countries, but those who have seen its natural beauty will exclaim it is worth the trip. The spot is steeped in history and tradition and provides pleasant little surprises specifically for those who have the wanderlust in them and are raring to take pleasure from moments of quiet solitude in harmony with nature. It's really a dream destination, indeed. Picture yourself as a whole relaxation and many types of settled in a modern resort using a private terrace overlooking cool waters, with only the splashing of waves, the cool breeze and also the idea of seeing colorful wildlife like dolphins, turtles, porcupines, or aiming on a diving or spelunking adventure breaking your reverie. You can make it all a real possibility. For starters, you can book yourself with a luxury hotel like the Phang Nga Bay Resort Hotel at the Phang Nga Bay National Marine Park that provides scenic views wherever you look. Famished from your long-haul trip? Nourish yourself first with authentic Thai cuisine, in addition to Chinese and Western cuisine served on the hotel restaurant. Arm yourself with the habits and rules generally observed by the Thais. If, by a few remote chance, someone happens to have a complaint over service, stay calm and soft-spoken regarding it, and keep that smile until you reach a solution. From the resort hotel, you can arrange to use a boat get you to the beach you've always dreamt of. If uncovering secret spots like hidden lagoons and basking within the unsullied wilderness of the islands of Phang Nga Bay proves highly irresistible, there's no reason to deprive yourself with the joy of exploring them. It could interest you to learn that the Ao Phang-Nga Bay National Park right in the heart of Phang nga Thailand is teeming with striking coves and mangrove forests. To your underwater adventure, you will come across sea snakes along with other sea creatures. On land, you could stumble across numerous reptiles and mammals, including gibbons and langurs. Another scenic spot worth looking at is the limestone hill in the sea. In case you are considering booking an extended holiday in Phang nga Thailand, you might like to include in your itinerary an exploration of the corals of Moo Koh Similan. Decide to stay in places, like luxury hotels with all the amenities you need, and which will actually allow you to get close to nature. Thailand offers a surreal experience you may long remember, so plan in advance and you will not lose out on the many wonders that your country, particularly Phang-nga, has to offer.