There were two flights of stairs in the temple compound. One had 1237 steep steps, which led to the meditation temple at the top of the karst tower, and which offered a wide view of the Krabi landscape. I was hoping to scale that flight, but due to time constraints, we decided to give it a miss. The second one had 130 steps, which led into a valley where the monks live in simple huts.
Red bull give you wings~
We hop onto the van, and head to our next destination - Hot Springs and Emerald/Crystal Pool.
In the south of Krabi province, are nature's own hot-tub jacuzzis. The water here comes from thermal springs, originating deep underground in volcanic chambers. Located in the jungle, this site features naturally hollowed-out 'bathtubs' in the smooth stone, filled to the brim with running spring water at a pleasant 35-40C.
The mineral salts contained in the water are said to ease a number of ailments, including rheumatism, sciatica and skin complaints. Although these medical claims are unproven, the effect of simply lazing in hot water up to your chin, watching the clouds go by, certainly has positive health benefits.
A visit to the Hot Springs would not be complete without a trip the nearby 'Crystal Pool' in Khao Phra Bang Khram Nature Reserve. Also known as 'Emerald Pool', this is an astonishly-hued natural pool at the centre of the forest, filled with clear spring water.
After the Hot Springs and Emerald/Crystal Pool, we proceed for Elephant trekking again.
With elephants fast disappearing from the wild in Thailand, the best place to see these fascinating animals up close is in a trekking camp. There are only a few camps in Krabi - such establishments must follow strict guidelines as set by the National Livestock Department regarding the provision of adequate food, water and shade for their animals, as well as proper health care.
A trek will allow us to experience this first-hand, as well as the animals' natural forest environment. Carrying tourists for fun means the elephants are able to earn their keep, while living as freely as is possible: as there is not enough space to release them into the wild, and they are very costly to feed. The only alternatives for these gentle giants are begging, illegal logging, or inactivity in a zoo.
We are not uptight about the questionable hygiene of food from the roadside stalls, so we decide try them out. They are mostly very delicious and are certainly more authentic than those sold at restaurants. And they are very affordable as well!
We were very adventurous when we first came to Thailand and was not worried about eating from street vendors. But of course, there’s obviously a balance needed as not everybody will immediately adapt to the food.
If the street vendor has a long line of Thai customers waiting every lunch/dinner time, then it’s a reasonably safe bet that both the food and the hygiene are good.
Needless to say, the food here are very delicious!
Thailand has some excellent street food and I think you do miss out on so much if you don’t try it during your stay here because food and eating are so embedded in Thailand culture!
To end the night, we went for full body massage at one of the parlours at Ao Nang Center. From 200 Baht, you can opt for a myriad of massages, ranging from head/ shoulder/neck/back/foot, full body, oil/milk/lotion massages and etc.
Coming up next..
Krabi Trip Day 5!
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