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Krabi Information
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This seaside province is located in the Andaman Sea. The province is full of white sandy beaches, crystal clear seawater, beautiful islands, verdant forest with caves, and waterfalls, including more than 100 offshore islands.
Krabi is located 814 kilometres from Bangkok, covering an area of 4,708 square kilometres. From archaeological discoveries, it is believed that Krabi was one of the oldest communities in Thailand dating from the prehistoric period. It is also believed that Krabi was once the town of Ban Thai Samo, one of 12 royal cities that used a monkey as the town symbol. Krabi was a dependency town of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Kingdom.
Another legend indicates that the town may have taken its name after the meaning of Krabi, which means sword. This may have stemmed from a legend that says an ancient sword was unearthed prior to the city's founding. Later, the sword became a symbol of Krabi.
The province consists of mountains, hills, plains, and mangrove forests, including more than 130 large and small islands. Krabi town has a 5 kilometre-long river, which flows through town and ends at the Andaman Sea in Tambon Pak Nam. There are several canals in Krabi including Khlong Pakasai, Khlong Krabi Yai and Khlong Krabi Noi, all of them originate from Phanom Bencha mountain range, the highest mountain range in Krabi.
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History
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Krabi is a southern province on Thailand's Andaman seaboard with perhaps the country's oldest history of continued settlement. After dating stone tools, ancient colored pictures, beads, pottery and skeletal remains found in the province's many cliffs and caves, it is thought that Krabi has been home to homo sapiens since the period 25,000 - 35,000 B.C.
In recorded times it was called the 'Ban Thai Samor', and was one of twelve towns that used, before people were widely literate, the monkey for their standard. At that time, c. 1200 A.D., Krabi was tributary to the Kingdom of Ligor, a city on the Kra Peninsula's east coast better known today as Nakhon Si Thammarat.
At the start of the Rattanakosin period, about 200 years ago, when the capital was finally settled at Bangkok, an elephant kraal was established in Krabi by order of Chao Phraya Nakorn (Noi), the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat, which was by then a part of the Thai Kingdom. He sent his vizier, the Phra Palad, to oversee this task, which was to ensure a regular supply of elephants for the larger town. So followers many emigrated in the steps of the Phra Palad that soon Krabi had a large community in three different boroughs : Pakasai, Khlong Pon, and Pak Lao.
In 1872, King Chulalongkorn graciously elevated these to town status, called Krabi, a word that preserves in its meaning the monkey symbolism of the old standard. The town's first governor was Luang Thep Sena, though it continued a while as a dependency of Nakhon Si Thammarat. This was changed in 1875, when Krabi was raised to a fourth-level town in the old system of Thai government. Administrators then reported directly to the central government in Bangkok, and Krabi's history as a unique entity separated from the other provinces, had begun.
During the present reign, the corps of civil servants, the merchants, and the population generally of Krabi and nearby provinces have together organized construction of a royal residence at Laem Hang Nak Cape for presentation to His Majesty the King. This lies thirty kilometers to the west of Krabi Town on the Andaman coast.
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Climate
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Weather in Krabi is typically that of the tropical monsoon, providing the province with just two seasons,
the hot season from January to April,
and the rainy season from May to December.
Monsoon winds, which change according to season, blow from the southeast, the southwest, and the northeast.
Temperatures range between 16.9 and 37.3 degrees Celsius and the yearly rainfall averages 2,568.5 millimeters.
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Weather
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Weather in Krabi is typically that of the tropical monsoon, providing the province with just two seasons,
the hot season from January to April,
and the rainy season from May to December.
Monsoon winds, which change according to season, blow from the southeast, the southwest, and the northeast.
Temperatures range between 16.9 and 37.3 degrees Celsius and the yearly rainfall averages 2,568.5 millimeters. |
Festivals
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Krabi Boek Fa Andaman Festival
is held annually to inaugurate the province's tourist season. The festival features parades, local products contests, sea Kayak competitions and boat races.
Loi Ruea Chao Le Festival
is a rare festival on Ko Lanta of sea gypsies. The festival is held annually, on the full moon day in the sixth and the eleventh months of the lunar calendar. The sea gypsies on Ko Lanta and from neighbouring areas will gather at the beach near Ban Sala Dan to float boats in the sea in order to bring good luck. The Rong Ngeng, a typical southern dance as well as traditional music, will be performed around the boats.
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Population
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Cave paintings and artifacts found around Krabi indicate that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times.
Today the people of Krabi represent a mix of three different ethnic groups who came to settle from other regions. It is said that each ethnic group has written a page in Krabi's rich history.
The origins of the Chao Ley or "Sea Gypsies" are unknown. Living mainly on the islands, these nomadic people live in small settlements and earn their living from fishing, collecting shells and diving.
They still retain their own language and beliefs and spiritual worship is still strong in the community. Although overexposure to tourism, and inevitable assimilation with mainstream culture is unfortunately threatening their small communities.
Some of their traditional ways are preserved the yearly sea gypsy sailing ritual held in May on Koh Lanta, Koh Pu and Koh Cha and various ceremonies still celebrated within the community.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, immigrants from southern China flocked to Thailand in search of work. Many assimilated into Thai society but their descendants still retain their Chinese heritage and are prominent in the business community. Many still speak Chinese dialects, have Chinese (and Thai) names, and observe Chinese rituals and religious beliefs which form part of the local culture.
Krabi is also home to many Muslim communities, due to its close proximity to Malaysia and strong ethnic ties with the border provinces, providing a rich diversity to the area.
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Geography
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Krabi's mountainous physical geography is broken by highlands and plains on the mainland.The provincial administration also covers more than 130 islands in the Andaman Sea. Natural forest cover is chiefly mangrove and Cassia trees.
Krabi's sandy clay soil conditions are perfect for a variety of agricultural products, including rubber trees, palms, mangos, coconuts, and coffee.
The Krabi River flows 5 kilometers through the city and falls into the Andaman at Tambon Pak Nam.
There are other streams as well : the Khlong Pakasai, the Khlong Krabi Yai and the Khlong Krabi Noi in the province's highest range of mountains, the Khao Phanom Bencha.
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Krabi Sport
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Canoeing
There are various establishments particularly on Ao Phra Nang and Railey beaches where you can hire canoes, either by hour or by day. A few charter companies in the area also offer canoeing expeditions along the coast or around the islands in the area.
Snorkelling, Scuba Diving and Fishing Trips
are organized from most beaches, some offering canoeing in two-person kayaks, sailing and windsurfing. If some sport is not offered at your beach, you can easily take one of the regular long-tail boats to the next beach and probably find it there.
Rock Climbing
This is a popular pastime in Krabi and the limestone cliffs in the area seem to have been created by nature for this very purpose. World renowned for the spectacular views and accessibility the cliffs of Krabi see flocks of tourists and avid climbers annually. One of the more popular, particularly with inexperienced climbers is the climb to see the Princess Lagoon and the scintillating views across the karst landscape both inland and out to sea that lies next to Railey Beach. There are fixed ropes to assist you at the steeper points, but most of it is a forest hike. Access is at the south end of either Railey East or Phra Nang beach.
Boating and Yachting
Explore and discover some of the hidden secrets of this area by chartering a boat to cruise around the islands. The water clarity is near crystal around the islands off Krabi and the Phi Phi Islands are a must-see port of call.
Anchorages here are plentiful, usually deserted and always beautiful. Even in the southwest monsoon season the calm, protected waters in fascinating Phang Nga Bay provide the ultimate in boating enjoyment, even for the least experienced of sailors. There are many charter sailing boats available and some even offer "join-in" day trips for two
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Shopping
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Souvenirs of Krabi are turtle-dove cages, Toei Panan mats made from pandanus trees, shrimp paste, dried fish, and dried shrimp. They are sold in shops on Uttarakit Road
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TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN
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Luckily for those with children, the Thai people are very gentle and love to have kids around. But you should bring essentials: sunhats, creams, medicines, special foods, and a separate water container for babies to be sure of always having sterile water. Disposable diapers are available in Ao nang beach supermarkets. Nights can be cool sometimes, so bring some warm clothing for your child. Milk, eggs, fruit which you can peel and porridges are readily available in the supermarkets here. Babysitters are available for a moderate charge at your hotel.
An excellent general practitioner and family doctor is Dr. Young Yut clinic at Dang Plaza shopping center (next to Ao nang Buri Resort) Clinic phone.
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WHAT TO BRING ALONG
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When packing, keep in mind that you will be in the tropics, but that it can get cold in the mountains. Generally, you will want to dress light and wear natural fibers that absorb perspiration.
A medium-weight sweater or wind breaker is also a must as is a sturdy pair of shoes. Suits and ties are almost never worn.
Don't bring too much, as you will be tempted by the great variety of inexpensive clothes available here. Most tourists find a cotton batik shirt more comfortable than what they brought along.
In the majority of hotels and department stores and supermarkets you can find Western toiletries. Contact lens supplies for hard and soft lenses are available in Ao nang shopping center. For gas permeable lens wearers it is still necessary to come well-stocked.
Dental floss, tampons, and sanitary napkins are available in Western style grocery stores. Kondom (condoms) are available at all supermarket. Bring sunscreen and Insect repellent, although these are also available locally.
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TIME ZONES IN KRABI
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Krabi is on Southern of Thailand Standard Time, is same in Bangkok capital city of Thailand , which is Greenwich mean time + 10 hours.
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OFFICE HOURS
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Krabi government offices are officially open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am to 5 pm, And Post office open to Saturday until 12 In most travel agencies businesses in Ao nang area are open 8 am to 20 pm. Shops from 9 am to 10 pm. And supermarket from 08.00 11 pm .
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COMMUNICATIONS
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Mail
Thailand postal service is reliable, Express mail service ( EMS.) service is only slightly more expensive and much faster. Domestic special delivery will get there overnight. International express mail gets postcards and letters to North America or Europe in about 7 days from most cities.
Krabi post office, open 8.30 am- 15.30 pm. from Monday Saturday. However if you want to sent your postcards and letters you can leave it at your hotel reception and the hotel will be take care your documents to Krabi post office every day.
Telephone and Fax Long distance phone calls, both within Thailand and international, are handled by satellite. Domestic long distance calls can be dialed from most phones. To dial your own international calls, find an IDD (International Direct Dial) phone and dial 001+ city code + tel. number? A magnetic debit phone card can be purchased at supermarket, shops, post offices and many other outlets. This is used on card phones, which are increasing in popularity, eliminating the need for small change.
Faxes can be sent and received at your hotel.
E-mail E-mail and internet services are available at many travel agencies and internet cafés on the the Ao nang main street. The cost for using internet cafes will be 1 baht per min. and 40 baht for using per hour.
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Thailand has converted to 220 volts and 50 cycles. Ask before you plug in if your are uncertain. Power failures are common in smaller cities and towns. Voltage can fluctuate considerably so use a stabilizer for computers and similar equipment. Plugs are of the European two-pronged variety.
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