Ao Nang is the most popular beach area in Krabi, and the Irish Rover is the best spot to hear live music, watch sports and drink imported beer. The weeknights are the time to go to this lively pub to get your fix of live music. Another one to check out is Rocky Bar. Those on Railay Beach will find live music at Ya Ya’s Beach Bar. To groove with the locals check out the house band at Krabi Town’s Crazy Pub, Blue Boy Bar and Smoody Bar.

Just outside of Krabi south along Petchakasem Road are Khlong Thom and the Khlong Thom Museum. Located in the town’s Wat (temple), this off the beaten path museum is filled with beads that are over 5,000 years old as well as other ancient artefacts that were found just behind the temple at the site known as Khuan Luk Pat (bead mound). A trip here is well worth it, and can be combined with other sites such as the Hin Phoeng Waterfall, the Thung Teao Forest, and the Ron Waterfall and hot springs.

This rarely seen and interesting festival is about romancing the moon and prosperity, and participants dance around the boats to bring wealth and happiness to themselves and their homelands. They then float the boats out to sea. Anyone that is in Lanta next week should not miss this culturally rich festival, and it is even worth taking a trip over from Krabi’s mainland.

To get to Koh Lanta from Krabi for the festival take the ferry from Klong Chi Lard pier to Saladan pier; the festival is just minutes’ away from Ban Sala Dan. The ferry leaves daily at 11am heads back at 1pm. This festival is a great excuse to get off of the mainland and visit this laid back island and experience something you are likely never to see again.

Participants are taken across zip-lines, rope bridges, tarzan-type swings and tight rope walks to test their fear and get their adrenaline pumping. The park also has flying skateboards and air cycling as well as numerous other things to test and try, and comes complete with fruit, water and lunch. All for just 1,500 Baht!

This is something that the entire family can enjoy, although many have also bared it alone. It is also a fun way to spend time with a loved one. So if you are looking for some pure fun and excitement while holidaying in Krabi I highly recommend seeking this place out.

I am glad that nothing happened and that all my friends here in Krabi and in other provinces along the Andaman coast of Thailand are safe. Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what this would do to the area if it happened yet again.

Krabi was not hit as badly as other provinces such as Phang Na and Phuket were when tsunami hit us eight years ago, and because of this my thoughts immediately went to these people. Especially those in Khao Lak and Kuraburi, as in the past they saw the most damage. These places have only just started to recover from the last tsunami and I can’t imagine how they would deal with another blow.

I am very happy that this scary natural disaster did not hit us again and that we can all continue to live our lives as safely as possible. But one thing is for sure, I am glad that the warning signals are now in place and that we all made it to another Songkran. Happy Thai New Year!

Traditionally this wasn’t how Songkran was celebrated at all. Water would be spilled on a person’s hands as a sign of good luck for the year to come. It was also a celebration of the end of the dry season and start of the wet season. Today this spilling has gotten a little out of hand and now consists of a country wide water fight.

On April 13th the streets of Krabi will fill up with locals and tourists wishing to participate in this special holiday. People come geared with water guns and water bazookas, as well as garden hoses and buckets filled with ice water. In Krabi most of the festivities will take place in Ao Nang and Krabi Town.

If you don’t wish to get wet then it is best to stay in the confines of your hotel room. Otherwise, put on some clothes that you don’t mind getting wet, grab your weapon and enjoy!

I have seen on quite a few forums people blatantly angry that they will be unable to go out and drink or spend time in the girl bars that are found in tourist areas all over the country. This is a bit embarrassing to me as a fellow expat in this country, as to me part of being here is the culture and you should respect the culture of any country you live in.

HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda was the only daughter of the former King Rama VI. It is quite normal when a prominent person dies to have very long funerals, like the one that will take place next month. As a sign of respect to the royal family it is asked that all night entertainment establishments be closed on these nights. Some I am sure will not follow this, but others will. As an individual this is also up to you, whether or not you choose to go to these establishments or not.

Two million bath was spent designing 13 bus stops throughout the province, most of which are along the Ao Nang-Krabi Town route. This came as a bit of a shock to me, and others living in Krabi. This works out to roughly 153,000THB per bus stop. I understand that tourists do want to use the local transport, but I am sure there is a better way to aid them then spending two million baht. Will this money ever be made back by these tourists looking for bus stops?

Most of us, both Thai and expat, just stand on the street and wave a bus to stop when we want to get on it. Informing tourists to do the same would cost the province next to nothing. At least now the tourists have something else to take a photo of.

Soar above this breathtaking province and view the geological gems of Krabi at a view that cannot be appreciated when at sea level. Encounter the Andaman’s sculpture-like formations emerging from the sea in these aerial excursions, which can accommodate either two or four people.

This wonderful journey lasts either 45 or 60-minutes and takes you high above Krabi Bay, Railay Beach, Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Lay and Hin Klong as well as others. Leaving from Krabi International Airport, a qualified and experienced pilot will take you on an experience of a lifetime on one of three single engine aircrafts.

These tours do not come cheap, however they will leave you with a long-lasting impression.

The festival showcases the three main cultures living on the island; Chinese, Sea Gypsy and Muslim, and celebrates the fact that these very different cultures have lived peacefully together for over 200 years. Like most Thai festivals The Lanta Festival will have an abundance of food, drink and night entertainment. Each year the Sea Gypsies put on a great show of traditional music and dance, and there will also be Thai bands playing jazz, reggae and rock.

To coincide with the Lanta Festival is the Mango House Sessions Festival, an event that brings world-renown international DJ’s to the island for five days of great vibes. This year Two Good Souls will headline the event, and along side them will be DJ Colin Edwards, Tommy T, and Thailand’s own DJ Taz, DJ Nu Trip and DJ Q. This event will be held from March 7th to 11th, but the first three nights are sure to be the best. These nights filled with house music and a great vibe will be held at the Mango House Bar & Restaurant in Old Lanta Town from 8pm to 2am each night.