March
2004
Updated
July 2006
Krabi
and Koh Lanta
Part
2
East
and West Railay
Mangroves
on East Railay
Normally, when people compare West Railay and East
Railay (sunset beach and sunrise beach respectively),
they talk about the beach being better on West Railay.
But I think it really depends. East Railay has muddy
beaches on the South end and a mangrove on the North
end. However, the scenery in East Railay is beautiful
and has unique umbrella trees perching thoughtfully
in the ocean water with sheer cliffs and caves on
the other side. East Railay also offers more direct
access to cave exploring and rock climbing
East Railay has a younger, hipper, and more athletic-looking
crowd than West Railay and there are a fair number
of bars that have not yet decided whether they are
techno bars or reggae bars on East Railay. Skunk Bar
and The Last Bar come to mind (as usual, since I was
here for work, I didn't have time to explore any of
the night-time pleasures).
Many
people are there for rock climbing or diving and there
seems to be less of the terminal party-seekers that
you find in Koh Phangan. To get to East Railay, you
just walk through a public walkway between West and
East Railay. West Railay has some expensive resorts
that look quite nice. Budget alternatives include
CoCo bungalows which were 350 baht a night when I
checked.
Koh
Lanta Land Office
Boat
Taxi to Koh Lanta Noy
From Koh Lanta Yai
The
Land Office in Koh Lanta is on Koh Lanta Noi across
the bay from Koh Lanta Yai. There are boat taxis that
cross the bay for 5 baht each way. It is one of the
few land offices I have visited in Thailand that has
air conditioning and seems fairly modern. Televisions
were playing as is normal in Thai government offices
(apparently they don't see this as affecting work
efficiency) and on the screen was the American Superbowl,
of all things. Almost everyone in the office was Muslim,
all wearing Muslim dress, except for the officials
who appear to be Bangkok Thais, and the Superbowl
is blaring in the background.
Unfortunately,
we left the Land Office before the half-time Janet
Jackson titty show, but I don't think anyone noticed
at the Koh Lanta land office.
