Travel Time

I have always loved to travel, and this move to Thailand has opened up a whole new world of travel opportunities.  I will use the next few posts to write about some of the travel opportunities, both in and out of Thailand, that I have had during my first year here.

The first trip we took was to Krabi, Thailand.  Krabi is on the southwestern side of Thailand, along the peninsula that connects with Malaysia.  Phuket is the more famous neighbor to Krabi, both are along the coast of the Andaman Sea.  To get to Krabi is about a 10 hour road trip from Bangkok, or a quick one hour flight across the Gulf of Thailand.

We landed at the Krabi airport and drove about 1/2 hour to our resort.  Driving through Krabi reminded me a great deal of Jamaica, very green, lush with the feel of a jungle.  It is quiet, with a small-town feel, no hustle and bustle anywhere.

Sunset on the Tubkaak Beach

These 4 room villas were clustered around the small but cozy resort

We spent a long weekend at the Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort.  It is a lovely resort, along the Tubkaak Beach, consisting of 44 rooms, a pool, restaurant and a beautiful stretch of beach.  After the first afternoon, the staff knew our names and our preferences for table seating, etc.  "Boutique" is the new code word for "small and not cheap".  The rooms at the hotel all have outdoor showers and bathtubs, all very private (and a new experience for this northern US girl!)  The longtail boats come right up to the beach and you can rent a boat (and a driver) to take a trip to islands and other sites close to Krabi.  We snorkeled off Koh Phi Phi and Chicken Island, and it was incredible.  The underwater sealife is amazing. I wished that I had an underwater camera.  We brought our own gear with us from the States, because I have never liked the idea of sharing a snorkel!  About 15 minutes after leaving the resort, we got caught in a rain storm and our driver had to pull into a small cove so we could sit out the worst of the storm.  A longtail boat doesn't give much protection when the wind and waves pick up.

Riding on a wooden longtail boat

The outline of Chicken Island

     

The hotel provided a shuttle to Ao Nang, the little town about 20 minutes from the resort.  There was a bit of night life, shopping and restaurants, but still pretty low key.  We had dinner at an amazing restaurant called "Lae Lay Grill", which is set up on a hill, overlooking the bay.  The food was delicious, the staff attentive, it was a fantastic meal.

The Tubkaak restaurant, as seen from the beach.

I always purchase a "momento" from any trip I take, and my favorite was this 9 inch pewter tray, used by the hotel to serve hand towels to the guests upon arrival.  The tray is made in Thailand by the Loy Far Company, and I fell in love with the little monkey peering up at the edge.  The hotel manager was kind enough to sell one to me from their supply.   

 This was an incredible introduction to the "Amazing Thailand" written about in the travel brochures, and after this weekend experience, we plan on returning to Krabi.  

Thai Spirit Houses

While spending time in Thailand, one can't but help to notice the beautiful and plentiful "mini temples" seen everywhere.  They are in front of places of business, homes, seemingly everywhere.  These are called spirit houses - and serve an important function in Thai culture.

The origins of the spirit house are older than the Buddhist religion practiced in Thailand.  They originate from the practice of animism, which is the very ancient belief that spirits, or souls, reside not only in humans, but in animals, plants, mountains, rivers and other inanimate objects.  However, no Thai would place a spirit house without first conferring with a monk about placement and the correct "auspicious" day to erect the spirit house.  A sprit house cannot be placed in the shadow of the main house or building, and once properly placed, it assures good blessings for the building or home.  Thai people believe that the spirit of the land must be appeased through offerings made to the spirits who reside in the spirit house.  Spirit houses are usually made of concrete or wood and can be ornately decorated and painted.



The spirit houses are mounted on a pedestal or pillar, high enough to show respect, but low enough for offerings to be easily placed to show respect.  The Thai people believe that the spirits can cause problems if not appeased properly.  One is likely to see a spirit house at the sight of traffic accidents, placed in an attempt to create a safe area in a previously dangerous place!

The spirit houses look like a miniature temple.  In many places one might see two spirit houses, the larger spirit house is for the protective spirit of the land, and the smaller one is a shrine for previous or ancient inhabitants of the land.  A Thai person would likely tell you that the smaller one is for the grandmothers and grandfathers who lived before the previous owners, otherwise known as the spirits of the land.  Offerings made at the spirit houses include drinks, sweets, rice, flowers, incense and small objects for the spirits to use.  Elephants, horses and donkeys are provided so the spirits will have transportation.  Small figures represent servants and dancers, who provide entertainment for the spirits.  Offerings must be made daily to help ensure the families or business' continued prosperity.  If a house or business is sold, demolished or rumored to be a place of bad luck, the spirit house is removed and usually delivered to a Buddhist temple, where it can do no more harm, and a new spirit house will be installed in a ceremony, designed to transfer the spirit from the old house to the new one.

One other interesting belief is that spirits also reside in very old trees.  Brightly colored ribbons tied around the base of the tree indicates that the tree is a "spirit tree", and the ribbons are a way to pay respect and honor the spirit of the tree.