With a quite scary sea, it was lazy beach time for me– 04.02.15
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A 20-minute tuktuk ride took me to a relatively more secluded beach called KLONG NIN with waters that scared the hell out of me the first time with its suddenly steep bed and unpredictable rocks. These rocks were revealed to be quite many during the latter part of the afternoon when tide got low. Nonetheless found a spot where I could swim but with some kind of curfew at only about noon.
It was then more of a lazy day at the beach (finally had time to read!), some walking in the midst of heat and stopping by at bars to chill a bit until sundown. Night spent on a beach chair with the water now near the shore before calling it a night before next day’s early goodbye.
After breakfast at Phra Ae, hired a tuktuk ride to a beach farther south. I was expecting it to be less crowded, sand not as fine as former and waves stronger. All turned out to be true except that detail that the sea has that unsteady bed home to those hidden (some partly hidden) rocks.
With tuktuk and motorbikes as main transport options, they have quite a number of these mini gasoline stations
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Roads get less busy as we approach Klong Nin
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Finally a room to myself!
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Less crowded, indeed!
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Now, almost none
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From this side either
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That semi-hidden rock
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This mandatory panoramic shot
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View from my spot at Lanta Paragon Resort’s bar called Lucky
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Find the hidden bird
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My spot at the bar until noon
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And now I just could not seem to remember why this retake
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Finally got to read
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Could not zoom in but some father-son moment in there
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Aha! One of these rocks
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When tide got low, there was more
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Single dads (or maybe moms are just busy sunbathing) roam this place
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Another example
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Because I lost my hair tie to the sea and this is how I improvised
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Because I just think this is an unexpected nice photo
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When I felt that the sun was less harsh, I decided to do some exploring of the town. There was not much to explore though and the heat did not help even. Or maybe the place is really intended for beach-bumming all day.
So after discovery of this shop with good finds (though pricey for me!) and this monkey-inspired cafe near it, I went back to the beach for more lazy time.
While I was on my spot at the restaurant reading, occasionally checking out the locals doing something by the sea. I could just infer that maybe they were getting some shells as the two kids came to me to give me some two mussels which I by the way brought home without cleaning so the moment I checked it at home, it was stinky.
How can gasoline be on the same list
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Oh the colors
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From the two local boys
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Uh oh. Tide now really low
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Spot the unnatural
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That big
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Less ideal to swim at this time of day
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Bringing my clutter here
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That semi-hidden rock from earlier that day
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Finding shade from a tangerine umbrella
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Choose your island
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… from this many
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This boy thinks he is a superhero
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Found an interesting local shop
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A cute coffee shop. Too bad I am not that fan of coffee
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Someone’s enjoying his afternoon nap
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A panorama when tide is low
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I slightly changed venue (slightly because it was very close to my table at the bar) to one of the beach chairs. I tried to nap but for some reason, couldn’t. That could have made this officially a bum day.
In less than an hour, my feet again went restless that I started walking. On my way to the southern end of the strip, I came across this bar with comfortable looking seats that I ended up drinking a glass of cocktail while reading. I am no expert with such drinks that I ended up getting what I am familiar with – which is mojito.
Spent some sitdown on this spot when I could no longer swim
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Now I could not remember why I had this selfie with the rocks
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On the way to checking out the rest of the island
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Stranded?
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Feet and skull
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Because those seats at Majestic Bar were inviting
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Cocktail with Happy Hour price when it was not yet Happy Hour
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Comfort and color
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When some cocktail buzz started kicking in, I thought it was time to stand up and do some more walking. I then explored the other end (northward) of the beach where similarly, there were restaurants and bars.
Nothing extraordinary happened except that I made an attempt to walk bare on sand. I eventually had to wear slippers though because the sand was hot. (This exercise, by the way, was a sort of test since I was trying to check how this compares to sand in Boracay that never gets hot).
Off to walk to the other side
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Still everywhere
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This cute little girl
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Back at the resort, I must have gotten tired from all the walking that I checked out their menu and pointed at something that looked interesting. It turned out simple but very good that I had to Google right there and then what that is called.
Laab gai, it was, which is Thai for herb ad chicken salad.
Just something I randomly picked from the menu and it turned out really good
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So after eating, time to clean self a bit. It was also then that I searched for a good place to be at during sunset. I read up on a bar called Blue Moon which was on the southern end of the beach. I then had to retrace my steps there,
It was quite a walk to there that I almost gave up but curiosity had me. Nothing spectacular when I went there but it was nice to have the entire deck to myself. I waited for the sun to set while in a hammock but I eventually went down to sit in one of the beach beds on sand as it seemed comfortable to see sunset from there as well.
Too many footprints
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More bars
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Because this heart (or inverted butt) is universal
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Walking on sunset
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Oh that kiwi mojito sounds yummy
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Failed photo by the sunset
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Another failed attempt at a sunset photo.
Who looks like a man, right?
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Pierced
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Sunset from Blue Moon’s roofdeck
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This is my gloat face because I am in a sunset photo
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Even my slippers get to be in a decent one
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On portrait too
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Right after sunset
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Now just the sunset
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Winged
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I went back to my hostel when it got dark and wanted to watch some Thai TV. Unfortunately, unit in my room was not working. Boohoo. Screen was just black so it felt like I was listening to Thai radio. Okay, charge that to experience too. Staff seemingly clueless on how to resolve the situation, I did not turn on my bitchy mode and just thought that maybe I should spend more time out than inside my room despite the air conditioner being so inviting.
So out I was and in search of any place with live music. My resort’s bar seemed to hold promise as there were kids on stage but it turned out it was some sort of free jam. I asked the waiter whether someone would play that night but I was told that gigs usually happen only during peak season (and apparently, that time of year was not. Odd).
I then settled for a seat near the shore. Chair was so near the water I could imagine it reaching my feet anytime. I finished a bottle of beer there then moved to a random find someplace else. I had a spot there on a cloth on sand where I had beer and dose of stars, including a stubbornly bright one which I hypothesize to be the North Star.
Now it is the moon’s turn
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Was that the North Star?
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Artificial lights at night
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From where I was having my last beer for the night
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My quest for a night with music was unsuccessful but I had a good night of sleep. I managed to wake up just right on time for my 6AM appointment with the tuktuk driver who was supposed to take me to the pier.
She showed up late though but I later on realized that it could be because she knew already that my 6AM call time was too early for my 8AM ferry ride to Phi Phi. Well, nothing wrong with being on the safe side, right?
Someone had a good sleep with that messy hair
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Oldschool lock
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For almost an hour, I was on my way to the pier. It was the right time of morning that it was not yet hot and no longer cold. I remember also smelling all kinds of smell, probably from the houses we were passing by. It was a calming ride, the perfect way to say goodbye.
I arrived at the pier too early that the ladies manning the tables for tickets were not yet there. I then took my time walking around the pier. It was a bit of a wait and I could have gone impatient but at least, I got to score a good seat at the ferry, i.e. one that let me go up the deck anytime I wanted to.
So many islands to go to, so little time
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Twilli Fruity, ain’t that cute?
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What is up with this smile
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Never too early for soda
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A no-sense selfie at the boat to Phi Phi
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This little girl accompanies her mother who was selling tours and transfer options to ferry passengers
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Bunny cloud ears
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Oh I wish I have skin that can take that sun and still be nice
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Just too much of selfies on this ferry, maybe?
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Gap that must be crossed
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Yet another selfie
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Just like that, it was goodbye to Lanta and off to this busier place called Phi Phi !
HOW TO GET THERE:
To get to Ko Lanta, please see entry on Phra Ae.
From Phra Ae to Klong Nin, you may rent a tuktuk for 200 baht (150 baht if you with others. I don’t understand this policy really but yes, that is how that works. Or if you do know how to ride a motorbike, you can rent one which you can also use to go around the island.
Fare from Klong Nin to Saladan Pier at 150 baht via private tuktuk ride.
OTHER PRACTICAL DETAILS:
Chang beer at70-80 baht for the small one and 110 baht for the bigger bottle
Happy Hour starts at 3 in the afternoon when cocktails are priced at 100 baht. I was at Majestic Bar and got mine even though it was not 3PM yet.
Meals range from 120 to 200+ baht
I am no travel planner. 
An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who has been conducting a little homework on this.
And he actually ordered me lunch because I discovered it for him…
lol. So allow me to reword this…. Thanks for
the meal!! But yeah, thanx for spending time to discuss this topic here on your blog.