24th - 31st March 2012 (8 Days)
My first real overseas trip for 2012. Krabi, climbers' paradise. Chillout paradise too. The last time I went was back in 2010 and over the period of Nov/December. Good time to go. This trip was out of the peak season and things were tapering down. We still managed a lot of good sunny days.
Getting there was a 4 hours flight and then a 45 minute drive to Ao Nang. If you're not in Krabi for climbing, most people stay at Ao Nang. It's more of a tourist area with many hotels and amenities. But if you're thinking of spending most of your time climbing, take a Long Tail boat at the beach to Railay or Tonsai. We stopped by Ao Nang to gather supplies because on the other side, things can be a little pricier and limited.
Ao Nang for lunch
On the Long Tail boat to Tonsai.
We arrived at Tonsai Beach but since it was already around evening time, most of us spent lazing by the bar.
If you're ever at Tonsai, the MUST TRY thing is this extremely unhealthy barbecued chicken thigh. The best thing ever on the island.
Well the rest is history with regards to the trip. The bunch of us stayed at Tonsai then headed over to Railay for the rest of the trip.
I'm perspiring more from the walk up to this crag I think rather than the climbing. Posing with my new toy, Cinch.
Gathering at Base Camp (that's the resort's name) to head off together to Railay.
I also managed to squeeze in a day of diving since everyone's always been saying "they heard" this and that about diving in Krabi, I decided that heck it, just go. It cost us around $150 if I remember correctly for two dives out at PhiPhi Island.
About an hour and a half out to Phi Phi Island via boat.
Turtles
I think this fella thinks I'm a shark.
This shot of me is when I dislocated my arm underwater. WTF, yes I know. I dislocate my arm for the most ridiculous things. Typing at the computer, sleeping, stretching out my arm... Well, for the benefit of this incident, I did dislocate my arm earlier on in the trip while I was trying to retrieve a quick draw left on another route. Luckily, my arm pops back in rather easily. Except this time, under water, it stayed out for a rather long time. Eventually it did go back in once I got out of the water.
The diving sites had some really amazing walls and macro stuff. In terms of diversity, I would really go back to do more dives.
After the dive, I decided to relax and not climb any more.
Dead mosquito on the book.
We also tried Deep Water Solo-ing. You climb up as high as you can then jump into the water. Sometimes you fall before you can reach where you want to, but that's the fun of it.
Ladder up to the start
Best time to go: Late November to March
Budget: 8 Days, less than $900. Depending how big a eater you are and what sort of accommodation you're willing to put up with. This number can even go below $600. Typically a comfortable room with hot shower, TV and air con would be about $50 - $60 a night.
