Welcome to my Thai Travel Blog

When you're in a new place, a game, known as geocaching, is a great way to find new sights to see and places to visit. A geocache, is a container, placed at specific GPS coordinate. You find the container, and usually log your name in a log book provided inside.

Phuket has several caches, in some really nice locations. If you get time on your holiday come and play.

GPS isn't very accurate, so finding a cache isn't as easy as it may seem, and caches can be hidden or difficult to reach. I chose 3 easy caches in Phuket Island, and will take you through the basics.

Firstly a website (links below), lets you find and log geocaches in your area. This is your starting point for any geocache adventure. Find a cache on the website you want to visit.

Next up equipment, you'll need a GPS enabled smartphone or GPS tracker. There's an official app you can buy for Android and iPhone. But I used an Android tablet running 'GPS Geocachng Location Finder", a free, and simple app that lets you enter a GPS location and track to it, which is all you really need.

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This temple is misnamed, they call it the tiger temple, Wat Than Sua in Krabi, after the cave behind the Buddha, that once housed a tiger. But that really isn't the main attraction here, the real reason for coming here is to climb the steps up to the pagoda on the top of the hill, and admire the view.

Look down onto the temple, and below is a miniature toy town.

It's a challenge, one that's good for the spirit. There are 1237 steps to the top, but all steps are not equal. At the steepest point, the steps are so big, I am only 4 steps tall! In one place, the steps were too steep, and a new path has been carved to make it easier to climb. Thankfully, guard rails all the way up, make it a safe climb.

Continue reading "Tiger Temple Krabi, Wat Tham Suea" »

South East of Krabi town, are popular hydrothermal pools. Here you can bathe in the naturally hot spring water, stuffed full of invigorating minerals. Well that's the claim, I went at Songkran, and the pools were packed with Thai people on holiday. It's better to visit at a less busy time, I think.
There's a nature area and places to eat, and toilets to change in, but you're ultimately sitting in green mineral hot water, I think it's better to visit a spa.

Continue reading "Hot Thermal Pool, Emerald Pool, Krabi" »

Not far from Phuket, just south along the coast, is Krabi. There's a cluster of tourist places around here, Ao Nang is a popular tourist beach, and Koh Hong is a short boat ride away, with it's large lagoon.

The big tourist things to here, Tiger Temple, Wat Tham Suea - the attraction isn't the temple, it's the hill with 1237 steps up to a pagoda and Buddha statue, and some spectacular views. This temple is an absolute must do, but its hard work. The beaches, are a draw and Phangna bay boat trips, there's a hot spring, hydrothermal pools you can sit in and take the salts, and the Emerald Pool, a green mineral natural pond for swimming in, with a blue pool and nature area nearby for viewing.

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I went up to the top of monkey hill, in the center of Phuket town, and while I was there, I noticed a temple and golden Buddha I've never seen before. Time to explore!

This is Wat Kowrang, I couldn't find it marked on Google maps, but strangely it's there in the satellite and photographs, so it's not new. There's a few things to see here, the colourful demons that hold the temple up, and the large golden Buddha. Next to that, a bell just asking to be struck, and a temple surrounded by little monk statues.

If you're quick, there's adorable puppies from one of the temple stray dogs. I hate big stray dogs, but cute puppies cooling themselves next to a fan, on the other hand! Awwwwww.

Continue reading "Wat Kowrang Phuket" »

I did monkey spotting over on Siray Island, the Island connected to Phuket town by a bridge. But now it's time to do the full on monkey experience.

If you visit Phuket town in Phuket, and look up at the hills, you'll notice one with telecoms towers on the top. This is monkey hill, it has a temple at the bottom, satellite uplink for television stations at the top, and half way down, monkeys, lots and lots of monkeys. This is where the locals come to feed them.

I run into a man feeding them from the back of a truck, these are some well fed monkeys! He says they really like nuts the best, and as soon as he opens a bag, they desend on him. I get him to put some on the seat of my bike, maybe I can get a shot of a monkey driving my scooter... the monkey has different ideas, and refuses to grab the handle bars or even look forwards.

(Video/Map after the break)

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