Photo by Ammata's Eyes Photography: www.facebook.com/ammataeyes

Compiled by Khaolak.Guru: www.facebook.com/Khaolak.guru

UNSEEN of KURABURI - "A Trip to the Edge of the Horizon at Ko Phrathong"

#Introduction

- Kuraburi District has long been off the beaten track for tourists, even for me, a native of Phang Nga. Initially, I had no idea what Kuraburi had to offer. However, this trip to Kuraburi opened my eyes to the stunning natural beauty of this town. A short 3-day, 2-night trip revealed that this small town has much to offer... You can read about my previous trip to Kuraburi here: https://th.readme.me/p/4438

If you are "ready" to "leave behind" your comfort... your beauty products... and the shell that wraps you from the city of indulgence, then follow me.

Our meeting point for the trip to Ko Phrathong is the Kuraburi District Passenger Transport Station. We drove from Khao Lak for about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

We arrived a little early for our appointment, so we decided to have lunch at our usual restaurant, Ko Sak, located in the heart of Kura Buri town. We couldn't resist ordering the "Moo Koh," crispy fried pork tossed in a sweet and sour sauce, followed by the restaurant's special "Moo Hong," featuring tender, sweet-flavored pork. We also enjoyed fried fish and fresh vegetable chili paste. Three of us devoured the entire meal, leaving no rice behind (we were afraid of going hungry on the island, haha!).

Ms. Noi picked us up at the Ko Sak Restaurant instead of the Kuraburi Bus Terminal and guided us to the Kuraburi Pier. She quickly found us a parking spot within the pier area and loaded the food and drinks we had requested onto the boat. After all, a trip to the island wouldn't be complete without some refreshments to enjoy the laid-back Thai style.

The long-tailed boat that will take us to Koh Phra Thong is a local boat. When there are passengers, other people may also ask to send goods to the island. We don't mind helping each other. The boatmen diligently helped lift our luggage that we prepared for this photo shoot.

Goodbye, city lights, I'm off to a deserted island.

After a short boat ride, we arrived at Koh Phra Thong. However, due to the conditions, we were unable to land our boat at the beach where we were staying. Instead, we had to go around to the other side of the island, where a local villager was waiting with a car to transport our belongings.

The storm just passed a day ago. We hope that the day we travel today and the remaining two days will not encounter wind and rain… The sky after the rain is always beautiful, but the sky after the storm is the most beautiful.

After the students helped unload the various items from the boat, the villagers' cars took us through the forest. Along the way, we greeted oncoming cars, which brought the first smiles to our faces as we arrived at Koh Phra Thong.

The bumpy road meandered through a less rugged terrain than we had anticipated. Occasionally, we had to dodge low-hanging branches, adding a touch of excitement to the journey. Lush meadows unfolded before us, and as we sat in the back of the pickup truck, we took deep breaths of the cool air, fragrant with the scent of trees and grass. Unlike the city, here we could breathe freely without fear of pollution damaging our lungs.

After a while, we arrived at our destination for the night, "Phra-Thong Bayfront & Cottage" (not available on Agoda, haha!).

The tent, or should we say the pavilion, has been set up perfectly. It looks much better than we imagined.

The room is spacious. For Thai people, four people can sleep comfortably without feeling cramped. However, for Westerners or larger individuals, two people can sleep comfortably.

The room is equipped with drinking water, cups, and tissues. As a surprise, there is also a fan. Electricity is available, so you don't need to worry about your battery or charging your phone.

After packing our belongings, we set out to explore the campsite. As the sun began to set, we headed towards "Hat Phra Thong" beach, located in front of the Phra Thong Bayfront Camping site. Before we even reached the beach, we were greeted by our first host, a hornbill that flew over our heads and perched on a treetop. We were ecstatic, not expecting such good fortune from the moment we arrived. Our excitement grew even more when we realized it wasn't just one bird, but a flock of hornbills perched on the trees above our tent. They flew to a distant tree after hearing our joyous shouts. The staff informed us that they often perch on the trees in this area during the evening, and we were incredibly lucky to have them so close to our tent.

"Haad Phra Thong" beach is not as white and beautiful as the Similan Islands or Koh Tachai, but the sand is fine-grained and white, with a reddish-orange hue, giving the beach a brownish color mixed with black mineral streaks.

We encountered a second homeowner, the "Sichuan crab," strutting across the sand, pausing to allow us to capture its image.

The sun began to set, casting a golden glow on the receding seawater trapped in the ripples of the sandy beach, resembling the scales of a mighty dragon emerging from the earth.

If it were white sand, we wouldn't see this kind of beach pattern.

The third homeowner, "Poom," must be the king of Poom because it is enormous. It stands still, posing with its eyes wide open, as if inviting us to take a picture of it as a model.

The intricate sand patterns created by these industrious sand bubbler crabs transform the once-smooth beach into a canvas of mesmerizing artistry.

Capturing nearly a hundred photographs as the sun dipped below the horizon, we returned as twilight descended to prepare for a barbecue at Phra Thong Bayfront Camping.

Camping wouldn't be complete without a campfire.

… A voice floated over, saying, "Men are like moths … they see a bottle of liquor and they're like moths drawn to a flame." … We're easygoing people, so we just grilled up some barbecue that we had prepared and chatted.

You can order additional food from nearby restaurants (but the prices are for food on the island, which will be more expensive than on the mainland because it has to be transported by boat).

The first night, I planned to take pictures of the stars for my friends, just like other reviewers do. But then, dark clouds gathered and it started to rain. So, we ended up eating the barbecue we had already cooked in the tent. It was still fun, though. P.S. Don't ask about showering. On the first day, all I could do was wash my face. Hahahaha.

Waking up in the morning, the dew from last night's rain still clung to the pine needles by the sea. The air was cool and refreshing.

The back of the hut of Phra Thong Bayfront Camping For those who do not like to sleep in a tent, there are also services available.

The "E-taek" car of the people of Koh Phra Thong is also parked waiting for us to travel to see the morning savannah field today. Uncle with a cheerful and kind face acts as the driver.

The golden morning sun paints the meadow in hues of orange, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

The morning air on the island was so cold that the mist drifted along the rows of trees and the orange-yellow grass.

As the golden light fades, the blue sky emerges in the morning. The old man continues to drive through the meadow with the sound of the car.

The scenery changes along the way, sometimes lush, sometimes meadows, so much so that we can hardly take pictures fast enough.

"Tiny Lotus" The world's smallest lotus, blooming in the savannah wetlands of Ko Phra Thong.

And at several water sources, the uncle pointed out the footprints of deer that had come to drink water. We asked him if we would see any, and he said that the deer come out at night. He had even seen some earlier that morning when he went out to pick us up at 5 am. Oh, what a shame!

We found the "E-Taek" car to be very cool, so we asked our uncle to let us try driving it. He said it wasn't difficult to drive, and that it didn't have any gears or brakes! 5555

"Dwarf mangrove forest" is the last point where the uncle let us take pictures freely.

An Unforgettable Experience on Koh Phrathong Island

This breathtaking atmosphere and stunning view are rare finds in Thailand. We challenge you to shed your neckties and high heels, and immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Koh Phrathong Island for just one night. You'll discover that the price you pay is nothing compared to the priceless experience you'll gain.

Returning from the savanna-like landscape of Koh Phrathong, the azure waters of "Hat Phrathong" beach beckon you to dive in. The refreshing scent of a recent rain lingers in the air. Not wanting to waste a single moment, we absorb every detail of the island's nature into our bodies and memories before bidding farewell to this tranquil haven surrounded by nature in Kura Buri District, Phang Nga Province.

Thank you Phra-Thong Bayfront Camping & Cottage for inviting us to experience something new.
For those who are interested, you can contact them at www.facebook.com/PhraThongBayfront or call Ms. Noi at 086-268-6888.

Ultimately, I understand that many friends who want to experience the nature of Koh Phra Thong may not be comfortable sleeping in tents or camping. Therefore, I asked my friend to take me to another accommodation option called Moken Eco Village, which is not far from Phra Thong Bayfront Camping.

The room here is quite beautiful. The curtains and mosquito nets are pleasing to the eye. (Please note that air conditioning is not used here, as the weather is already comfortably cool.) However, there are wall-mounted fans available. I was informed that this location utilizes solar power for all of its electricity needs.

The room is simply stunning.

Since I was already visiting the hotel, I decided to have lunch there.

The hotel is located on a secluded beach, offering a tranquil atmosphere with various cozy corners for relaxation. Unlike a campsite, this location provides a distinct ambiance, making it ideal for leisure travelers or families seeking a peaceful getaway.

Check out their website http://mokenecovillage.com Prices during the Peek Season (December-February) are around 3000 - 3600 baht/night with breakfast for 2 people. However, for those who will be visiting in March - April, the hotel staff informed that there is a promotional price of only 1,600 - 2,300 baht/room (I have already booked for this April to avoid the Songkran crowd). If you are interested, you can inquire for more details at www.facebook.com/PhrathongIsland. ☎️Tel. 081-895 6186, 099-126 9296

" Experiences that are like cashback from expenses may be more valuable than the money spent on travel. When you step out of the city and into nature, you may come to know and love Kura Buri more than before. "