So we considered Bali. Then the volcano erupted, periodically shutting down the airport. Next, Langkawi, fairly good choice because of the falling ringgit, if not for the visa requirement.
Then, it appeared that Krabi might be a good choice. Its proximity to Singapore, its less crowded beaches, and the flexibility to visit nearby islands. Best part, Air Asia was doing a discounted sale of SGD102 for a return trip.
The hotel was decent, despite the room being on the small side.
Then again, given the price we paid of about ~SGD 80 per night, this is a reasonable offer. Furthermore, the front-desk gave us a complimentary upgrade.
The interesting part is this bath-hub on the balcony. While the hotel, being built on a hill, is indeed secluded, it still feels weird.
However, I must give the hotel credit for living up to its name. The Ao Nang cliff is indeed visible right from the balcony, although the beach is blocked from view by the traveller's palm. Perhaps beach view is reserved for guests paying to stay at pricier suites.
Given that it was a late afternoon arrival, we strolled around the night markets, which was fairly touristy, though I got a cotton shirt for THB 200. Of course, a trip to Thailand would be incomplete without a visit to the massage parlours, especially when you have a day packed with intensive activities ahead. And with prices for a 60 minutes session at THB 200~300, it was almost a given that we patronise one.
The next day was spent island-hopping, starting with a 25 min ride on a fishing boat (the locals insist it is a long-tail boat).
Although we visited during the rainy season, the skies were clear and weather was sunny and warm during most of the trip, which was great for water activities.
