by Sean Lindsay

Created on: February 06, 2007   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I recently realized that I have posted very little about my experiences while staying in Phuket, Thailand. A few people have been curious about what exactly I did there, and what I would recommend. Thailand was an incredible journey, an experience I will surely never forget, and as I always say, a complete envelopement of the five senses. The temperatures soared over 40 degrees, the waters picture-postcard-perfect, the people warm, friendly and welcoming (especially if they want you to shop in their store!), and the selection of food a gastronomic paradise. I could write an almost endless blog on the magnetic pull Thailand has on travellers everywhere, but will tailor this one to focus on three amazing journeys I had the opportunity of experiencing. I most certainly recommend these to ANYONE with at least a week to spare in Phuket.

Phang Nga Bay

A couple days before departing Phuket, Leanne and I went on what is called a `sea-caving` trip. We had to take a bus for about an hour up to the northeastern part of
Phuket, at which point we then transferred to a boat for another hour to an area called `Phang Nga` (pronounced Pang Ga, or so I was told). Phang Nga is an area with a series of 42 islands off the coast of Phuket, most of which contain `caves` that are exposed during low tide.

We stopped at a placed called `Hong Island`, at which point we transferred to tiny inflatable 3-person canoes (Leanne, myself and our guide). This trip was aboslutely amazing. Our guide took us through a series of sea caves that at times were pitch black inside (with only our flashlight to guide us) and the ceiling of the cave was covered with thousands of bats. Some of the cave entrances were so small, we actually had to lie flat in the canoe to get through them! A couple of the caves lead us to secret 'hidden` lagoons contained within the island, only accessible by going through the caves. These lagoons can only be described as truly magical, with absolutely MASSIVE cliffs towering into the sky all around you, and the first time I saw a species of fish that actually has legs, and hops on and off tree close to the water!

Phi Phi Island Village Resort

On another excursion, Leannd and I took a trip to a remote island off the coast of Phuket called Koh Phi Phi (an island also hammered by the tsunami and left in ruins only up until recently). We stayed the night at a place on the island so remote that it takes about 40 minutes by longtail boat from the main port of entry on the island (the

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