Koh Lipe, Thailand, Day #4 Kennett’s Tour
I am going to hit you with a full low-season experience here for a trip, Langkawi to Ko Lipe (in Thailand – yes you leave Singapore to Malaysia, then end up in Thailand and then back to Malaysia, to get back to Singapore. You ready? Were we? Not sure to be honest. We are travelers, we are international so who cares attitude I suppose! This is Koh Lipe, Thailand, Day #4 Kennett’s Tour.
- Have to be up at 6am to be at the ferry terminal at 8am to book the low-season 0900 ferry;
- OK that has changed to 1030 ferry;
- Hi, @ 083o when the place opens – 5 tickets please to Satun;
- Oh no Philippines – dodgy passport you need see immigration 1st;
- Off to immigration building, which they are currently constructing;
- No-one there;
- Banging on door;
- “Here she is” shouts someone;
- Once she finishes taking off her bike helmet off and having her 1st coffee she emerges;
- “Hi some issue with Philippines???”
- “No just abuse of pass” “You are married?”
- “Yes” “And he is my son”
- “The you are good!”
- Back to ticket place; “Hi trust me, she did say this, we’re good!”
- Tickets issued.
- Off we go on diesel stinking ferry with blacked out windows to Satun.
- Expect a bloody long immigration scenario, so always agains the clock to meet the last speedboat to Koh Lipe;
- You will get hit by all and sundry taxi uncles punting tier wares to allow them to drive you to the ferry terminal at Pak Bara – to be honest you have limited choice;
- We meet Mr Korex – old guy, but confident as, and booked everything forward and backwards – I like that- we are done;
- Just now the 1.5 hour drive through the Satun Province;
- Daddy-pedia – 80% Muslim, and acre after acre of rubber plantation – it is relentless;
- It now goes like this;
- My car is 30 years old;
- None of the dashboard dials work;
- His hooter is a new drilled in dashboard button because the original does not work;
- We run out of petrol mid-route;
- He brings a can from the boot and fills up enough to get to the next petrol station;
- We get to the petrol station, thankfully, and he starts to fill up. But forgets the handbrake so we are driving across the forecourt;
- He gets back in; “I have lost my glasses!” Major panic, WTF you can’t see, but he starts driving again, clearly upset – then finds them. It’s just sun-glasses!!!
It is a journey that just keeps on giving. If you are adventurous go for it. We did, and actually it turned out to be a tad bonding and a giggle, despite.This was Koh Lipe, Thailand, Day #4 Kennett’s Tour. It was an interesting one!
The gang pensively waiting at Langkawi ferry terminal on our way to a new place, Satun, Thailand for the start of the adventure to get to Koh Lipe – who knows what is going going to happen. Hold on a minute – quite a few things! Watch this space, or blog rather – it’s funny!!!
An hour from Langkawi via ferry and you hit the port of Satun, Thailand – actually a province. Then you take an hour plus drive to Pak Bara Pier – the speedboat terminal to Koh Lipe. Just to add this is only in ‘low season’ as normally there is a direct ferry from Langkawi to Koh Lipe – we are low season hence the adventure. Phew!
Whilst at the terminal waiting and waiting for the bloody speedboat to arrive – more on that later. What came about but 3, yes three, fish eagles on the hunt right in front of us. Literally at the terminal. This place is an estuary so full of mangrove and fast flowing waters sea to river and visa versa, so these eagles were a hunting. Soaring one minute in the thermals, then a quick turn to swoop on the spotted prey!
I slipped into Sir David Attenborough mode and had the camera in sport mode to try to capture this – not doing this amazing creature justice to be honest. The speed was exceptional. Can you even see it in the photo?
So fast as he/she kicks in to gear to ‘eat’ or ‘feed”.
It gets a little better as he/she unfolds those wings from the dive!!!
So bloody fast – even the EOS struggled!
Stay on target…
Stay on target…
And; “Oh shit I missed moment!”
“Might as well go bowling then, something to do. No bloody fish!”
“Dad any tips?”
“Mighty Mighty Eagle …”
And we are on. The speedboat finally arrives and we are now storming through at a fast rate of knots this beautiful scenery – reminds me of Ha long Bay in Cambodia, Stunning!
Boom, 3x 250 horses, this thing shifts!
How can you not help but just sit back and stare at this as it whizzes past? It is jus stunning scenery emerging from the Andaman Sea.
Seriously do not underestimate the power of this boat, carrying circa 50 pax this thing flies – but my poor Baby Jude had a wee barf moment – sat in middle and too hot methinks! Bless!
We arrive from speedboat to next docking station, which is a transfer to a long-tail to actually get to ‘the island’ which is now a spit away. Seriously travelers you need factor all the above in to your travel plans to get to this paradise! Ours is first on the left by the way!
But this was our speed vessel. Slow ferry from Langkawi, then 30 year old Toyota, then this, then long-tail.
Another payment and another boat – to the long-tail. Names so because of the bloody hugely long propeller blade the guy sticks in and out of the water to navigate through the coral. I think they are looking happy about to venture on the next leg – nearly there now!
And we are away – the open ocean, for about 2 minutes before precise coral and boat navigation!
But to where? I think it could look like something like this! Our first, virgin time here! But these are just out-liers! Can you believe it?
Here is the home run – getting rather excited now!
Cannot over-exaggerate the channel steering from the guys at the front to the long-tail Captain – this was precise, between boats, through coral channels, over ropes, etc. precise but we got there. And hen you moor up and you literally take off shoes and walk ashore – the coolest arrival at a hotel I think I have ever had!
A very quick change and spruce as starving family is a chomping – so to the restaurant for sustenance and yep 1st impressions bloody good – thank you Akira Lipe!
Mary goes for fried fish and Jude goes BOOM for this one too. You know my Mary, if it is not fresh, forget it. This got devoured (a whole fish) in minute by the two of them. Looks good and apparently was a killer dish!
So the guy serving says; “Spicy?” I answer for Ollie (Who’s choice this is); “Yeah we love spicy!” And OMG the hottest, bum burner Laab Kai pops up. Good work from Ollie and about 4 litres of cooling liquid!
Mine now and a favourite I have to sample no matter where in Thailand of further a field. Thom Khai Kai. I just have to have it. Now Akira Lipe, a personal word. It was absolutely gorgeous. BUT. Lime juice and chili makes it rock for me boys and I did add both to make it mine. A cracker indeed!
And to finish it all just up the beach we get this. Life ain’t bad huh! Just sitting chatting, eating, drinking with free entertainment and this is night number one. Not a bad start Koh Lipe! I think we are gonna like it here!
Show off!
