Among the Mangroves
We had talked about doing a kayak trip and decided on the one with ancient cave paintings among the mangroves. We were picked up early in the morning and traveled by minivan for over an hour. We picked up three other people--a French couple and a German woman--then traveled to Au Lak, an inland water area quite far from Krabi. Finally out of the van, we walked the wooden planked area to the kayaks and after a cool drink started out our upriver trip. Eg was our guide.. a young man with a wide grin and a lively spirit. Rick and I shared a kayak and were soon paddling among the thick green mangrove along the shore of the wide river with views of the tall limestone karsts with clinging greenery in the background up river. It was quiet with only the sound of the paddles and the voices of a few fellow paddlers met along the way. Our first stop was a cave that we had to dock the kayak
and then climb up stairs to look at the ancient cave paintings and walk among the stalagtites and stalagmites. Complete with a few clinging bats on the cave ceiling and a walk to watch your head at many turns, we viewed the many paintings that Eg knew at every turn of the cave and pointed out with his trusty flashlight.
That cave was the only one that we had to get out of the kayak and walk in.
The next cave, we glided through a shallow rock area and layed down flat in the kayak under the a rock overhang to find ourselves in a circle of rock towering above us with greenery clinging to the side and water clear to the sandy bottom. Next a glide through a large tunnel giving darkness before we saw the rocky cliffs on the other side. 
Mangroves always at our sides along the river and gliding along 
with the silence of it all. Paddling back, Eg told us that we would have paddled about 7 km when we were back to our starting place. Docking the kayaks, we were out and enjoyed a 
lunch as we watched lots of other kayakers starting or returning from their trip. Then we were off to a fresh water spring for a dip. We walked along a wooden walkway through the green jungle to a spring area flowing through a mangrove forest. There were many Thai here enjoying the water. It is vacation for the kids, so there were lots of families here. Some of us walked down the steps and into the water that was cool and refreshing as any water I have been in in Thailand. It also had a current that would take you on a fast ride down stream if you weren't hanging onto a mangrove root to just let yourself be in the flow. I found a way to climb up the roots unto the base of the tree and atop the roots to the steps and back up to the walkway. Back in the van, we were the first to be dropped off. A quick shower and a short rest and we wandered into town with Rick getting his favorite treat--a Slurpee from 7-11! 
Our last night in Krabi after 5 nights there! And.. we were off to Ko Libong in the morning!
and then climb up stairs to look at the ancient cave paintings and walk among the stalagtites and stalagmites. Complete with a few clinging bats on the cave ceiling and a walk to watch your head at many turns, we viewed the many paintings that Eg knew at every turn of the cave and pointed out with his trusty flashlight.That cave was the only one that we had to get out of the kayak and walk in.
The next cave, we glided through a shallow rock area and layed down flat in the kayak under the a rock overhang to find ourselves in a circle of rock towering above us with greenery clinging to the side and water clear to the sandy bottom. Next a glide through a large tunnel giving darkness before we saw the rocky cliffs on the other side. 
Mangroves always at our sides along the river and gliding along 
with the silence of it all. Paddling back, Eg told us that we would have paddled about 7 km when we were back to our starting place. Docking the kayaks, we were out and enjoyed a 
lunch as we watched lots of other kayakers starting or returning from their trip. Then we were off to a fresh water spring for a dip. We walked along a wooden walkway through the green jungle to a spring area flowing through a mangrove forest. There were many Thai here enjoying the water. It is vacation for the kids, so there were lots of families here. Some of us walked down the steps and into the water that was cool and refreshing as any water I have been in in Thailand. It also had a current that would take you on a fast ride down stream if you weren't hanging onto a mangrove root to just let yourself be in the flow. I found a way to climb up the roots unto the base of the tree and atop the roots to the steps and back up to the walkway. Back in the van, we were the first to be dropped off. A quick shower and a short rest and we wandered into town with Rick getting his favorite treat--a Slurpee from 7-11! 
Our last night in Krabi after 5 nights there! And.. we were off to Ko Libong in the morning!posted by Tracy at
5:43 PM
