Greetings! Are you ready for the sea? Let's hear it for all the ocean lovers! In just a few days, the official sea tourism season will begin. Today, I have some photos of Lord Howe Island, an island located in the territorial waters of our neighboring country, Myanmar. You can visit this island all year round. Traveling from Ranong Province is incredibly easy; you only need a photocopy of your ID card. Tourism is also possible throughout the year due to the geographical conditions of Myanmar, which has numerous small islands arranged as a natural barrier. These islands act as a windbreak for the sea, ensuring that the waves are not too high when we sail out.
Today, I have pictures of the atmosphere of Lord Heaven Island, which is defined as the King of Heaven. The white sand beach stretches out in a long line.
Surrounded by mountainous walls, the front reveals a cerulean sea.
Behind the island, there is a small bay with a rock formation resembling a shark fin. I call this bay Shark Fin Bay. It has a small sandy beach. The highlight is undoubtedly the cliff and the rock that looks like a shark fin protruding from the sea, offering a perfect spot for stunning photos.
These are some of the islands in the Burmese Sea that have been hidden for over 200 years. Nature remains vibrant, raw, and pristine, both on land and under the sea.
The vast and diverse coral reefs are guaranteed to be spectacular, but unfortunately, the weather and waves were not in my favor when I went, so I couldn't capture any images to share with you. Let me assure you that this is only 5% of the beauty I witnessed.
Let's start with the first topic, which is travel.
Traveling to Ranong Province.
1. There are many tour bus companies, the main ones being Somphot Tour, Bor Kor Sor, New Nimit, and Cho Tawan. If you want to recommend, you should book a VIP bus, which will be the most comfortable. The fare is
Roundtrip travel costs 627 baht per person, while one-way travel costs 470 baht. For my trip to Ranong, I used a bus service that departed from the Southern Bus Terminal in the evening and arrived in Ranong.
Approximately 6:00 PM, you can continue your journey to the Burmese Sea. The return trip is available in the early evening, around 8:00 PM onwards. You will arrive at the Southern Bus Terminal again in the morning.
This is the most comfortable way to travel. The tour bus is as comfortable as a bed, allowing you to rest and recharge for your adventures the next day.
2. Personal Vehicle (7-8 hours)
This method is not recommended at this time due to ongoing road construction, which can make driving inconvenient. However, once the road construction is complete, this could be a good option for families.
3. Currently, only Nok Air operates on this route, with two flights per day: one in the morning and one in the early evening.
This is a time-saving journey, but it is also very expensive.
4. It is possible to fly to Surat Thani province and then hire a van to travel to Ranong province, especially if you are traveling in a large group.
Traveling from Ranong Province to Koh Lord Howe
Board a boat at the lighthouse pier. With just your ID card, you can set sail for Burma.
The port is only 10 minutes from the city center. It takes approximately 1.30 hours to reach the island by boat.
Having a rough understanding of the city, let's finally meet Lord Eleven, the King of Creation, whom I have long dreamed of.
About 6 years ago, when I started working and had some money to travel, I was very fond of the sea, so my destination at that time was the Similan Islands and Tachai. When I went there for the first time, I was amazed by the white sand and the azure sea. I went there every year, sometimes twice a year. Until recently, I felt like I wanted to find new places to go, and I had a dream of being one of the first people to experience the beauty of the pristine, fresh, and raw sea that no one had ever been to before.
This translates to: "It felt like a personal triumph, and today my dream finally came true when I had the opportunity to visit Lord Howe Island, the king of paradise. The island boasts stunning beaches, breathtaking natural landscapes, and magnificent coral reefs beneath the crystal-clear waters. It was truly a marvel to behold."
Walking on the beach, the sand sinks beneath your feet, soft and fine like walking on a sponge.
The white sand, when hit by sunlight, is as dazzling as a level 10 sunburn.
I would call this bay "Heaven Bay". The beach here makes everyone who comes here feel like a child again. They roll around in the sand, take pictures, and run around on the beach having fun. They laugh like they've forgotten how old they are.
Despite the scorching sun that could easily darken their skin, everyone on the boat diligently applied sunscreen. However, upon witnessing the breathtaking beauty of Haeven Bay, they completely forgot about their appearance.
The emerald green water gradually fades into an azure blue. Looking at the sea here reminds me of Koh Tachai. The colors of the seawater are very similar. One of the brothers even exclaimed, "This is clearly the great-great-grandfather of Koh Tachai!"
Indeed, you heard correctly. The sea here is remarkably similar in terms of its beaches, the color of the water, and the nature trails that lead to another bay. If you miss Koh Tachai, I believe this is a perfect substitute without any shortcomings. The beauty is truly comparable.
I spent a long time walking and taking photos around this bay. There are so many angles to capture the beauty of the sea. However, the weather wasn't very cooperative, with a lot of clouds in the sky. If I had come during the high season, the sea and beach would have been twice as beautiful. But honestly, even like this, it was enough to impress me.
After taking photos at Aiy Heaven for a while, the Love Andaman team invited me to the other side of the island.
The team led us on a shortcut to the other side of the island, through a pristine forest untouched by human footsteps. This was evident from the abundance of fallen leaves and twigs littering the path. Within five minutes, we arrived at Shark Fin Bay.
A small bay with a cliff on the left and a small bay in front with a rock formation resembling a shark fin protruding above the water, which is the origin of the bay's name.
On the right-hand side, there is a small sandy beach under the trees for sitting in the shade. In that area, you will find a very large private pool, also located on the beach.
After a while, the Love Andaman team called us to board the boat to another island. Time flies so fast.
Farewell, Lord Heaven Island, with a picture of the atmosphere.
Loboh Loboh Island, also known as Dragon Island, is shaped like a sleeping dragon. The boat docked on the beach, revealing beautiful waves and crystal-clear water. The small bay is perfect for swimming and taking stunning photos. The island is peaceful and serene.
This island boasts a stunning viewpoint accessible via a straightforward climb. Unfortunately, our limited time prevented us from fully exploring its wonders. As 4 pm approached, we were forced to return to the mainland, leaving us with a lingering sense of regret. This island undoubtedly holds hidden secrets waiting to be uncovered.
Upon arriving at the lighthouse pier around 6 pm, the Love Andaman van picked us up to have dinner at Kieng Lay Restaurant.
Due to our hunger, my team and I did not take any pictures of the food. However, I must say that the papaya salad with crab was absolutely delicious.
Another dish that I cannot recall the name of was the fried chicken, which was extraordinary. It was crispy, tender, and incredibly flavorful.
After enjoying a delicious meal, we retired to our accommodations for the night. Our lodgings were conveniently located within the Keang Le restaurant complex.
Farmhouse Hotel Breakfast
This morning, we enjoyed breakfast at the Farmhouse Hotel in the city center. The highlight of this establishment is its breakfast, which features local Ranong cuisine.
There is a wide variety of dishes to choose from, reminiscent of a southern Thai curry restaurant. The unique aspect is that you can try everything. Must-try dishes include poached egg salad, rice noodles, and "lod chong" (a type of sweet dessert).
The breakfast is truly delicious and highly recommended.
In the late morning, we went canoeing at Khlong Bang Lin. The paddling was very slow-paced, just enjoying the scenery as we went. The backdrop was a mountain with wisps of mist rising after the recent rain. The paddling time was not long, about 30 minutes.
We then continued to the hot springs, which had several pools. The highlight here was the waterfall flowing from the mountains. There was both cold and hot spring water to play in. Unfortunately, I was already wet, so I couldn't take any pictures to share.
After a refreshing swim, it's time to indulge in a delicious lunch. Our destination is the renowned Khoon Lin Restaurant, a culinary gem in the heart of Ranong province.
The restaurant boasts an array of delectable dishes, but three stand out as must-try specialties: the aromatic mackerel fried with shrimp paste, the tangy red curry with flying fish roe, and the elusive stir-fried lumphu fish.
These dishes are a true testament to the culinary heritage of Ranong and should not be missed by any discerning diner.
After a satisfying meal, it's time to digest. While in Ranong, we haven't yet paid respects to any sacred sites. Our next stop is Wat Ban Hongaw.
The highlight of the temple is the world's largest pewter Buddha statue housed within the Ubosot. Outside, the Hongaw Waterfall cascades down from the mountains, visible from the Ubosot. This spot offers a truly blissful experience.
Not far from Wat Ban Hangao, there is a two-colored grass field where you can take pictures. I think it looks similar to the Teletubbies' field.
It's getting late and I'm starting to feel sleepy. Let's go get something to eat at Ja Ja Coffee. I have to say, the owner of this shop is very beautiful! And the shrimp paste rice is also delicious. Most importantly, the prices are very reasonable.
What a pity! My time is up. My 2-day, 1-night trip to Ranong was full of delicious food and heartwarming experiences. I was one of the first to visit Koh Ra-cha-san, and I was very impressed. I know there's still so much to discover on this island. No matter how many times I come back, it will never be the same. Ranong Province has become my go-to destination, and I'm sure I'll never get tired of coming here. Next time, I'll give myself more time to explore. I feel like I haven't seen everything yet. I'll be back with a full review for my fellow travel enthusiasts. Thank you for all the comments and support. I don't know if there will be any comments, but thank you in advance. If you have any questions, feel free to message me.
Not yet. It's not over yet. Since we've seen enough of the land, I have some pictures of the underwater world here. I can tell you that it's definitely a huge coral reef.
It's a pity that the current wasn't very cooperative for me to take pictures, and the spot where I dived wasn't a landmark for diving. I promise that
in the next review, I will capture the full atmosphere of the underwater world for you to enjoy.
Thank you all for visiting.
Mr'Napat Ittiyos
Friday, September 27, 2024 10:24 AM