[Phang Nga Bay]
Phang Nga Bay is covered by rows of mangroves, millions of them. And they also become breeding grounds for fish. The bay had been inhabited by fishing tribes for over 3000 years. On some islands, they even left behind cave paintings that archeologists are now still learning about.
The mangroves of various varieties also cover the limestone cliffs of ragged islands and the walls of sea caves here. Their spread enriches the natural views of the whole landscape.
Phang Nga Bay is a protected zone, a national park.
[James Bond Island]
Long before being known as James Bond Island, the island was and still is called Ko Tapu by locals. Ko Tapu literally means the nail or wedge island because the island shape looks like a nail or a wedge. After being popularized by a James Bond movie, the island has become Thailand’s famous landmark that symbolizes exotic vibes on islands hopping.
Geologically speaking, the island is a magnificent limestone rock standing tall as if it has just sprung up from the sea. And it is away from the neighboring islands. Looking at it, you can easily wonder how the force of nature has worked in this bay to form such a beautiful island.
Therefore, visiting James Bond Island is a must. Without it, your Thailand’s travel experience is rather incomplete.
[Panyi Island]
Panyi Island is known for its floating village. The fishing people who live on the island have their own culture and language different from the rest of Thais who live on the mainland. This fishing tribe used to be sea nomadic people and came to the island hundreds of years ago. Now mostly Moslem, their culture and language are close to those practiced in Indonesia.
The village itself is not technically floating in a usual way. But the wooden houses are built on stilts on the shallow part of the island where there are a lot of mangroves. In a glimpse, those buildings look like floating, indeed.
[Cave Paintings]
Ancient cave paintings have been found here. The ones open to the public are said to be over 3000 years old. One is visible on the jagged wall of an island. The others are inside sea caves. There have been up to eleven sites of cave paintings discovered so far across Phang Nga Bay, but most are still being studied and are therefore closed to the public.
