Southern Thailand: Blue seas, tropical weather, stunning nature, and a whole lot of relaxation to be had. Sure, there are the beaches. But if you are looking for more local flavor, make your way into Krabi Town and have a little walkabout. You’re sure to find interesting sights, good food, and a different vibe.
Bamboo groves and limestone karsts
Sadly, this was not a very sunny day (for best results, avoid Krabi’s May through November rainy season), but the sight of a limestone karst diagonally launching into the sky out of a mangrove forest is impressive nonetheless. Boats like (or sometimes nicer than) the one in the foreground, shuttle visitors out yonder for an up-close look at the scenery. Prices vary based on the season, weather, and time of day, but you can be pretty sure that the first price quoted is just a place to start negotiating down from.
Giant bronze crabs, why not?
You will soon figure out that Krabi Town has a special place in its coffers for street sculpture, and what with the area being known for crabs, it’s only natural that something like this would be primely placed just coast-side of downtown. It’s a popular destination, so you may need to line up to photo a loved one in the crab’s clutches. Note that it is far easier than it should be to fall off the back end of the installation, so be careful as to not become a selfie statistic.
Pork like you mean it
Pork is popular in Thailand, as it also is in China. In Krabi, where there has been a Chinese cultural influence for generations, it’s natural that pork is on parade in all its deliciousness. You can see the roast pork dangling in the showcase of scrumptiousness, but out of the kitchen comes all types of other tasty and affordable (figure 50 THB, or less than 2 USD a person) dishes, both porcine and not. Restaurants like this line the streets, so just pick one that look appealing – most have either English menus or someone who can get by speaking it.
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Stop by the open market for bananas, mangos, and more
You can’t miss the open market, as it’s right in the middle of this small town. Walk through the aisles and spy the tropical fruits of various sizes, colors, and sizes, or stick with the standards and pick up a couple juicy mangos or a bunch of bananas. Prices are more than reasonable.
Planet of the Apes?
As part of Krabi’s love affair with sculpture, traffic signal have been transformed into art. Or maybe just into kitsch. But definitely transformed into something to look at. How many other odd sculptures can you find around town?
Krabtastic afternoon!
You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who would recommend spending more than a night or two in this town, especially with beach towns just twenty minutes or so away, but an afternoon or maybe even a whole day here is definitely worthwhile! And it’s close to Krabi Airport, too. Stop on by Krabi town and try it on for size.
History
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