Phang Nga Bay - 13 July 2023
Today was another long day. We did the James Bond Phang Nga Bay Tour. They picked us up from the hotel. About 1.5 hours later we arrived at Suwan Khuha Temple, also referred to as Monkey Temple, which is in a cave.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_66cdc61aa742454dbc7a97d32f87a448~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_974,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_66cdc61aa742454dbc7a97d32f87a448~mv2.jpg)
Many people were here for religious purposes. I kind of felt like I was intruding.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_a8d79f72c1d341ff85020d2b088688a4~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_a8d79f72c1d341ff85020d2b088688a4~mv2.jpg)
I did not go all the way to the top. It was smotheringly hot in this cave and the monkeys were more interesting.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_8bb67bbcd44646058eca603716af7d96~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_8bb67bbcd44646058eca603716af7d96~mv2.jpg)
There was fruit for sale outside the temple to feed these guys. They were just running all over the place.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_9e5e3be416de4a95b448ead868706233~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1103,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_9e5e3be416de4a95b448ead868706233~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_4d426b8b3dfd4ab3926d751bea16fa2d~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_4d426b8b3dfd4ab3926d751bea16fa2d~mv2.jpg)
That's me on the left in case you were confused.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_ac8a999b5bc6459bb8e7a915320b7d5b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_ac8a999b5bc6459bb8e7a915320b7d5b~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_c598279eda9c4537b5cbbec61331ee71~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1058,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_c598279eda9c4537b5cbbec61331ee71~mv2.jpg)
Here is the route from the hotel.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_3351c89f41a049798a9cd3cb84b05fb4~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_476,h_507,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/12d804_3351c89f41a049798a9cd3cb84b05fb4~mv2.png)
The pier was about a 10-minute drive. We were divided into groups and loaded onto a boat. There was a little store and restrooms. Again, glad I had tp and hand sanitizer with me. Then we were off. Most of the ride was through Ao Phang Nga National Park and was gorgeous.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_a65bf262632147f99a1d65cea0179143~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_534,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_a65bf262632147f99a1d65cea0179143~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_e3560dee54e1473a945c7c0fe7bc23af~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_721,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_e3560dee54e1473a945c7c0fe7bc23af~mv2.jpg)
Honestly, I am not sure how long we rode for until we reached Talu Island, where Lot Cave is. It was so pretty I didn't care how long it took.
We were going to kayak through the cave.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_5953fdd58f3443829ab989b94327059f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_816,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_5953fdd58f3443829ab989b94327059f~mv2.jpg)
Our guide paddled us through the cave, around the other side of the island and then showed us a bunch of crabs and mudskippers.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_3072e1e6df984a74bf14eeb7544c51a7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_874,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_3072e1e6df984a74bf14eeb7544c51a7~mv2.jpg)
He even made his own filters using a leaf to take pics of us.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_690127a0b33a4a4faf8fcd18aff99304~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_690127a0b33a4a4faf8fcd18aff99304~mv2.jpg)
It was a pretty short cave but still very cool.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_3072e1e6df984a74bf14eeb7544c51a7~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_874,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_3072e1e6df984a74bf14eeb7544c51a7~mv2.jpg)
I think the other side was the prettiest. The little cave was so neat. I really wanted to go into it.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_2756c2acbf4b4f2ab6e7dfa2fabd9ace~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_2756c2acbf4b4f2ab6e7dfa2fabd9ace~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_6e445a3f1c904943bd05eb3b60d6b37a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_6e445a3f1c904943bd05eb3b60d6b37a~mv2.jpg)
I think this is one of the prettiest places. I just love this picture.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_4cb6f06ee79e4d0d9e4d7419af4218de~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_4cb6f06ee79e4d0d9e4d7419af4218de~mv2.jpg)
I have never seen a live mudskipper before, and the number of crabs was a little intimidating.
Our next stop was Ko Tapu or James Bond Island. It was featured in one of his movies. This place was fun.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_902ede3c8ded420cb39336025e8fe37b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_902ede3c8ded420cb39336025e8fe37b~mv2.jpg)
We asked a guy to take our picture so we could do the James Bond pose. Another guy wanted to take pictures with us, then the guy taking the pictures wanted to have some with us. Then a lady wanted us to take pictures with her. It was kinda silly.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_e01b636065f84295a18f169cf05dfa7a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_e01b636065f84295a18f169cf05dfa7a~mv2.jpg)
Here is where we were.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_8aa26796104a4c5289a0c1d0e4469819~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_913,h_813,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/12d804_8aa26796104a4c5289a0c1d0e4469819~mv2.jpg)
Thankfully the next stop was for lunch. We rode to Panyee Island, also known as the Floating Muslim Village. It was so cool arriving. The whole village is built on stilts. They even have a floating soccer field.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_f5adef3fa7594dd7b54853d44db3c36a~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_703,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_f5adef3fa7594dd7b54853d44db3c36a~mv2.jpg)
First thing first, food. They had quite the buffet for us.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_c864bbedcad0473e94862a6077db3cf2~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_1307,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_c864bbedcad0473e94862a6077db3cf2~mv2.jpg)
Then we could wander the village but were warned not to go too far and get lost. I didn't get that at first, but there are trails everywhere and they are narrow so you can't see around you.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_452414479525491da0ee4b2583ad4c4e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_452414479525491da0ee4b2583ad4c4e~mv2.jpg)
Most of the walkways did not have rails and people were riding bikes!
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_cd9622d6a9a24390897daab8cff163a8~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_cd9622d6a9a24390897daab8cff163a8~mv2.jpg)
It was really neat to walk around though.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_559caed5d6194f12b184d6722e89a1f5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_559caed5d6194f12b184d6722e89a1f5~mv2.jpg)
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_b48cbcd2a8aa48bfbc1c2dd6fbf86ab0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_b48cbcd2a8aa48bfbc1c2dd6fbf86ab0~mv2.jpg)
I would love to see this view every day. But honestly, not from an island.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_56840907afd14826810a0664d05e3f01~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_56840907afd14826810a0664d05e3f01~mv2.jpg)
We returned to the pier and were taken back to the hotel. What a great experience! I loved it.
After cleaning up we walked to Sea Salt for dinner. A little longer of a walk then we expected but easy and beautiful.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_be7edad53400403c9cd3e4443d72915e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_842,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_be7edad53400403c9cd3e4443d72915e~mv2.jpg)
We sat by the water and watched the sunset. A perfect ending to a perfect day.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_8750fbb2731a4c89a224e7d16c6e1738~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_8750fbb2731a4c89a224e7d16c6e1738~mv2.jpg)
Funny story, Jamie got locked in the bathroom and some guy helped her out.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/12d804_ab883e12ba414b0ab6a1d419453764f5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/12d804_ab883e12ba414b0ab6a1d419453764f5~mv2.jpg)
Comments