Featured Writer: Karissa Reck (Trippin My Trigger)
We set out bright and early for our sea tour with Simba Sea Trips. I wasn’t sure what to expect on this little excursion, but I was excited about it nonetheless. To have the opportunity to see parts of Thailand up close and personal was exciting.
After a short 30 minute taxi ride, we arrived at the Marina. It was an UGLY morning to say the least. Raining cats and dogs the entire drive to the Marina. I was SO disappointed in the weather but husband and I were determined to make the BEST of our day regardless of what kind of challenging weather day was ahead of us.
Upon arriving at the Marina, we were greeted by one of the owners, Jenny, who would also be our tour guide of the Krabi Islands for the day. We were taken to a little coffee shop to enjoy a cup of coffee whilst waiting out the rain. After nearly 30 minutes, the rain let up and we were on our way!
There were a total of 14 passengers on our tour aboard the Simba II, plus 4 Simba staff.
Simba II was a beautiful boat. More than enough room for all of us. One thing I noticed throughout the day as we were seeing other tour boats at our different island stops was how CROWDED the other tour boats were. Trust me when I tell you to look no further than Simba Sea Trips if you’re planning to do a sea tour while in Phuket. Top notch service with the most knowledgeable staff!
Our first stop was Rang Yai…(I think). It’s so hard to remember!! We kind of did our tour a little bit backwards to stay away from the weather that was moving through, so it’s difficult to remember the order in which we visited our different stops.
At any rate, Ran Yai, our first stop. It was a BEAUTIFUL beach. It was VERY quiet with hardly anyone there. Jenny, our guide, and her sidekick, Harry had bananas along so we could feed the fish. Of course I wasn’t brave enough to do it, but husband was and he said it was, “SO COOL!”
Next stop, Pran Nang Beach and a Princess Cave
I was pretty excited to see this Princess Cave. And, as we approached, it seemed like THE PLACE to be.
Then, as we got closer, I noticed something a little…well…interesting.
Mmmmhhhmmmm….
Well…there IS a story behind this cave filled with man parts. It goes something like this…
Phra Nang herself, the Princess Goddess who is believed to reside in the cave underneath the cliff at one end of the beach. The legend and mystery of Phra Nang goes back many centuries and the belief in the Princess Goddess still remains strong amongst local people. Phra Nang Cave (Princess Cave as it is sometimes shown on maps) is a sacred place and should be treated with respect by anybody visiting there.
So who is Phra Nang? There are different theories about Phra Nang and how she came to be associated with this particular cave in Krabi. One legend says that an Indian princess was killed in a shipwreck offshore and her ghost occupied the cave. Another story says that Phra Nang was the wife of a local fisherman. One day her husband set out to sea but never returned. According to this story, the woman lived out the rest of her years living in the cave and looking out to sea waiting for her husband to come back.
Fishermen and boatmen still make offerings in the form of incense and flowers to ensure a safe journey. More curious though, are the phallic symbols or lingams that are in prominence at the entrance to the cave (pictured).
Lingams are a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva and are associated with fertility and virility. In Thailand, Hindu and animist beliefs are incorporated alongside Buddhism. Over the centuries, Phra Nang cave has become associated with fertility and the lingams placed here take the form of carved wooden penises. Local folklore says that if somebody carves a wooden lingam and releases it at high tide anywhere along the Krabi coast, it will eventually end up in Phra Nang cave.
Naturally, we were RESPECTFUL visitors…
After visiting the Princess Cave, we went in search of some monkeys. Unfortunately, they were all hiding. A bit of a disappointment but the walk to try and find them was really beautiful.
Right around the corner from Pran Nang Beach was Railay Bay, the next stop on our itinerary.
Limestone cliffs completely surround Railay Beach and it is only accessible by boat. Another perfectly picturesque stop on our tour.
After our visit to Railay Bay we were taken to a fairly secluded island (not far from Chicken Island) to have lunch. Lunch was delightful to say the least. All the food was homemade!! Here is just a sneak peak at what we were blessed with for lunch and also a bit of our surroundings.
After lunch we cruised by Chicken Island…
Chicken Island was our last stop on the tour where we were treated to some pretty awesome snorkeling over a coral reef. I only wish we had a waterproof camera so we could have taken some photos.
This sea trip was absolutely SPECTACULAR. The care, service, attentiveness, professionalism and knowledge of the staff was OUT OF THIS WORLD!
Simba Sea Trips…Trippin’ My Trigger!
Sounds like the weather didn’t spoil anything… I’ll get your recommendation in mind if Jene and I ever get to that side of the world again.
Thanks for sharing your journey