Krabi, Thailand, is the perfect place to try kayaking, no matter what your skill, experience or fitness level might be. There are an abundance of waterways that are sheltered and calm to gently paddle your way down and there is no better way to take in the majestic scenery the Krabi region has to offer. Kayaking along the Srakaew river was indeed a real treat.   Klong Srakaew meanders 5km through the Khao Thong sub-district of Krabi and boasts the deepest freshwater pool in Asia. We headed out 28km from Krabi itself until we reached our destination – the base of our kayak tour operator, Long Klong Srakaew. Stepping out of our minivan, we were greeted in true Thai style by our guide for the day, who happily gave us a rundown on the history of the place whilst showing us a detailed map of the rivers, mountains and thick vegetation that the area harbours. We were then shown to our rides for the morning, the brightly coloured kayaks waiting at the river’s edge. We were equipped with lifejackets and paddles, before settling – albeit in a wobbly fashion – into our rides. We pushed off from the jetty and were soon gliding gracefully out into the middle of the river itself. The one great advantage of river kayaking over sea kayaking is that the river version is a lot gentler! This makes it a perfect activity for anyone able to get into a kayak – young or old. As we gently paddled along, we took in the incredible sights, sounds and smells of nature that enveloped us from all sides. We were dwarfed by the towering trees on either side of us, as well as the iconic limestone karsts that this area of Thailand is famous for. Bright explosions of flowers adorned the river’s edges and exotic looking birds swooped and chirped above our heads. This was amazing, and the colours were surreal! We felt like we were paddling down the Amazon River, 100 years back in time! As this is an untouched part of the world, we did have to keep our eyes peeled for the odd obstacle that included a few tree stumps and rocks that poked up out of the water. But they were easy to spot and our guide made extra sure that we gave them a wide berth in plenty of time. All too soon, we reached the end of our trail and were guided in towards the riverbank to disembark. Waiting for us were a couple of trucks to take us back to our starting point, where we would begin the second part of our day of exploration. After a delicious Thai lunch and some refreshing drinks, we set off up a dirt track to explore some of the lush jungle that surrounds the area. Heading towards the base of the mountains, we came across a small oasis of natural pools filled with cool, clear water. A perfect discovery on a hot and humid day like today! A few of us decided to make the most of them and jumped in to cool off, which was just what we needed. Our guide handed us some food for the little fish that were swimming around our bodies, and they hungrily gobbled it up. This brought squeals of delight from some members, and it was great to see so many happy faces of people enjoying the whole experience. We were enveloped by nature, and all around us we had birds singing in the trees, large butterflies dancing around our heads, crickets chirping and water gurgling. Taking a deep breath of the sweet air was invigorating to say the least! Our guide took us further until we reached the base of Sa Kongsi Mountain, where he showed us an incredible natural display of stalactites and stalagmites that have formed in the soft limestone over millennia. It’s easy to guess how this part of the world has become a favourite location for several Hollywood blockbuster movies, such as “Around the World in 80 Days” and “The Beach”, to name just a couple. I highly recommend a visit to the Srakaew cave area, where at least one hour should be dedicated. The colour of the pool of water is a weird blue, and the pool is 200 meters deep, the deepest pool in Asia! As we made our way back to the start to begin our homeward journey, we passed farms with locals working away at the rubber trees – one of the major industries in Krabi. Fascinating to see and smell, it was a lasting impression on top of everything else we had experienced that day. It was wonderfully relaxing, informative and downright fun day; kayaking along the Srakaew river is a must for anyone visiting Krabi. GETTING THERE There is hardly any reference of this area in the Krabi generic tourist maps, so I relied on the Internet to find out more. Drive from Krabi Town towards Phuket on the main road, the sign to Klong Srakaew is at about 20km out of Krabi. Turn left into that road and drive on for another 5km, then turn right on the tarmac road and follow it until you see the sign, to the right, to the kayaking area. If you are driving from Ao Nang, ask for directions to Tha Pom.

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The day looked quite dull when I awoke, a real change from the previous sunny and humid week I had just spent in Sarawak, in the lush Malaysian Borneo. I showered and realized the time would not be enough for breakfast so I made my way to the Paradesa Borneo Discovery office, located near the Kuching waterfront area, where I met my two kayaking companions, two young British girls on a Malaysia backpacking tour. We were ready for our kayaking in the Sarawak River Tour. James the driver turned up at 8,30, we made introductions and we were soon on our way on his brand new Chinese-made14-seater minivan. James is a kind middle aged man of Chinese origins, talkative and friendly. He suggested stopping in an eatery to have breakfast, a suggestion that I happily embraced! The sun was timidly attempting a feeble appearance from behind a curtain of black clouds as we sat and ordered coffee and fried dough from a food stand in a residential area on the outskirts of town, a welcome respite for my hungry belly. The drive that followed was smooth; the road was flanked by lush vegetation and the traffic was scarce. James stopped at the Semangoh Wildlife Center to pick up a family of four from the USA taking part in the tour before heading towards hilly Padawan, an area where Bidayu tribes live. There the limestone mountains get higher, with impressive pointed peaks. James told us that we were so close to the border with Indonesia that trekkers can easily find themselves in a different country without even realizing it. Wow, I thought. These valleys are densely cultivated: bananas, ferns, tapioca, corn, sloped paddies, fruit orchards. Villagers from this area are economically productive and depends mainly on agriculture, selling their produce at the local weekend markets. At the village of Semadang – a few wooden houses with tin roofs, a catholic church, a school, and all around cultivated fields – we picked up Biko our guide for the day. James drove another 10 minutes along a road sided by plantations of dragon fruit, pepper and rubber, the main cash crops in this area, before reaching Kampong Benoh, our starting point for this kayak expedition. We got geared up with lifejackets, dry-bags and paddles, received a briefing on how to maneuver the kayak and walked down a path to the small river below, where the water was quite shallow due to the dry season. I was assigned a single kayak, and while the other customers seated on their vessels, I got quite worried of the small size of the stream, only to reassure myself after a few meters when we reached the main river, the Sarawak Kiri, which means ‘left’. This tributary joins the Sarawak Kanan – ‘right’ – downriver to become Sungai Sarawak, or Sarawak River, an important source of water and transportation for the inhabitants of southwest Sarawak. I paddled nonchalantly as we passed a few small rapids; we negotiated small whirlpools, avoiding logs sticking out of the water. The kayaks bumped into rocks and occasionally got stuck in sandy banks, where we had to get off and push it out into deeper water. I looked up at huge and tall durian trees with spiky fruits, observing the clouds building up and eventually discharging a wall of water that caught us unprepared. The alternate bursts of heavy rain forced me to take refuge under the thick canopy of trees and overhanging bamboos growing along the river bank, more than anything to ensure my camera did not get wet. I motioned the group to paddle forward and stopped a while to listen to the sound of nature, to smell the vegetation and to enjoy the silence. Nature is at its best when it rains so I did not mind getting wet. The sky finally opened up a little, I rejoined the group and we soon stopped for a break, parking the kayaks in a sandy beach that marks the entrance of the Bidayu village of Kampung Danu. Women picked veggies from the gardens and dogs roamed freely as we approached the local house where we had our lunch: kolo mee noodles, chicken on rice, curry puffs and juicy pineapple and yellow watermelon. A well deserved meal after all the padding. Kampung Danu is home to 300 people and has recently won the price for the ‘Best Dayak Village’ in the area. Its villagers depend mainly on agriculture, while earning a bit from tourism as well. From here it is in fact possible to arrange activities such as rafting, fishing and visiting the nearby caves, and they even have a very picturesque suspension bridge crossing the Sarawak Kiri river. On to the second leg of the journey we endured more rain, saw a baby monitor lizard on the shore, marveled at amazing rock formations and had another break. We then paddled past some kids swimming naked and Biko informed we were pretty near the ending point, though the black menacing clouds that had been approaching from behind did not give us enough time: the sky opened when we were at only 200m from arrival. The rain was so think and violent that paddling in itself was an issue, let alone keeping the eyes opened. The rive current got stronger and the full force of nature was against us, soaking us wet and making us struggle to paddle the last 50 meters. At the jetty, the staff was there to help us disembark our kayaks and lead us to a parking area where James was waiting with his minivan. We felt cold and exhausted but happy: we all looked at each other and you could tell there was a satisfaction feeling at having been at one with nature, nearly powerless against it, and at having reached destination safely. Rain or sunshine, dry or wet season, if you are in Kuching and have a day to spare, do try this amazing experience: you will not be disappointed and...

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Krungsri River Hotel – www.krungsririver.com/main.php Tel: +66 (0) 35-244-333 Fax: +66 (0) 35-243-777 E-mail: krungsririverhotel@gmail.com   Reservation: krungsririver@gmail.com The Krungsri River Hotel invites you to explore the many possibilities within Ayutthaya and within yourself. Located in the heart of Ayutthaya right off the Naraesuan Bridge that crosses the great Pa Sak River, the newly renovated hotel draws you in and surrounds your senses with all manner of stimulations once inside. Undeniably compelling with spacious views overlooking the historic river filled with culture and traditional masterpiece. The Krungsri River Hotel, a luxurious four-star hotel with great heritage, is nestled in the energy and excitement of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. A city once was a capital of the majestic kingdom of Thailand and a place where thousands of people visit every day. The hotel has been welcoming guests of Ayutthaya since 1993; located just 60 kilometers from Don-Muaeng International Airport and 90 Kilometers from Suwanabhumi International airport, the 202-room hotel is an oasis of stylish elegance and comfort. Krungsri River Hotel overlooks the Pa Sak river – a river with culture and tradition – where guests can truly experience the charming scenes of Ayutthaya, Thailand’s most precious ancient city. With easy access to the best sites of the city, the Krungsri River Hotel is also the perfect base for exploring Ayutthaya. The hotel can be accessed via road, rail or river and offers a memorable experience with its own cruises along the Pa Sak river. Indulging in the cultural attractions of Ayutthaya, meeting for important business of the day or inspiring industry events of the year something happens every hour of every day. And after a long day of meetings, shopping or sightseeing, you can rejuvenate your evening into our stylish room with every convenience, every facility right at your fingertips. The Krungsri River Hotel is Ayutthaya’s most luxurious hotel that indulges in the sights, sounds, textures and tastes of its environment. Sink into the warmth and sophistication of our lobby and relaxing room décor or take advantage of our many facilities designed for business as well as our many recreational spots designed for sheer pleasure. Wrap yourself in luxury at the Krungsri River Hotel, the premier sanctuary in Ayutthaya and one of Thailand’s leading hotels just outside of Bangkok. Krungsri River Hotel offers a sense that, even for a day, you are transported to an inspirational sanctuary of style and comfort. THAILAND ON 2 WHEELS stayed at Krungsri River Hotel in May 2014, sponsored by Mosaico – http://www.mosaicotouroperator.it Follow THAILAND ON 2 WHEELS on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Thailand-on-2-wheels/272739139560253?fref=ts

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