Thailand - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 813

Lanta Marine Park View Ao Kantiang T 075 665063,
W lantamarine.com. The bungalows here are ranged up
the slope at the northern end of the beach, with steps
leading down to the shore. The best of them are on stilts
and enjoy glorious bay views, while the plain, cheap fan-
cooled wood and bamboo bungalows sit further back.
There's also a small cliffside bar affording great views.
Double B500
Shanti Shanti Hat Khlong Nin T 089 044 2298,
E [e-mail]. Behind the same
owners' restaurant and set back from the beach in an
attractive small garden, simple, well-designed bungalows,
the cheapest of whic h have platform beds and cold
showers. Double B300

dishes (around B200), simple French main courses and
Western breakfasts, as well as superb home-made ice creams
and espresso coffees. Nov-March daily 8.30am-10pm; April,
May, Sept & Oct Tues-Sun 8.30am-10pm.
Sonya's On the main road in Hat Khlong Khong, just north
of 7-Eleven and 50m south of Bee Bee's T 089 471 5014.
Very popular, cheap, garden restaurant, where you can
“build your own” pasta from a wide choice of pastas,
sauces, meats and extras. Also has a big selection of Thai
food (from B60), Western breakfasts, sandwiches, and
espresso coffees; plus cheap, functional dorms and rooms.
Daily 8.30am-9pm.

10

DIRECTORY
Health centre Just south of the town centre is Sala Dan
Health Centre ( T 075 668170).
Post o ce On the main road towards the north end of
Ao Phra Ae, just north of Peaceful Resort .
Tourist police On the main road in central Ao Phra Ae
( T 1155).
Travel agent As well as being a cool gift shop and café,
Monkey Biziness on Hat Khlong Nin is a friendly and clued-up
agent for transport tickets, tours, motorbike and car rental
( T 087 033 5325, E [e-mail]).

EATING, DRINKING AND NIGHTLIFE
AO PHRA AE LONG BEACH
On Long Beach, bars take turns putting on parties so
there's usually something going on somewhere, as
advertised on posters and fliers. On the road towards the
north end of the beach, there's a branch of the good Hat
Khlong Nin restaurant, Cook Kai (see below).
★

Faim de Loup On the main road towards the south
end of the bay. Very good French bakery, where the
croissants, pains au chocolat, fruit tarts and excellent
espressos just hit the spot. Also does sandwiches, quiches
(B250 for a big one with salad) and savoury croissants.
Daily 7.30am-5pm.
Ozone Bar On the beach, north of Somewhere Else
bungalows. One of the most famous bars on the beach,
especially for its weekly DJ parties (currently Thurs), which
usually draw a lively crowd. Daily roughly 10am-2am.

The deep south
As hailand drops down to meet Malaysia,
the cultures of the two countries begin to
merge. Many inhabitants of the deep south
are ethnically more akin to the Malaysians,
and a significant proportion of the
1,500,000 followers of Islam here speak a
dialect of Malay. Some also yearn for
secession from hailand; since 2004 there
has been continuing violence in the region,
leading the hai government to introduce
special security measures in certain parts of
Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces
- currently all but essential travel is advised
against. For up-to-the-minute advice,
consult your government travel advisory.
he safest border crossings to Malaysia are
detailed below.

HAT KHLONG KHONG, HAT KHLONG NIN
AND AO KANTIANG
On Hat Khlong Nin, you can get delicious coffee, cakes and
snacks at the travel agent Monkey Biziness (see below).
Cook Kai Hat Khlong Nin. Friendly restaurant hung with
shell mobiles and lamps, dishing up hearty portions of all
the Thai classics, including a good seafood salad (B150)
and a few Western dishes including breakfast. Daily
8am-10pm.
★

Kantiang Restaurant Inland Kantiang, 100m south
of the 7-Eleven. A simple, rustic place with individual
tables in cute, thatched cabanas serving authentic Thai
food, including a huge selection of salads. The massaman
curry (B120) and the spicy mango salad with crispy catfish
are both delicious (B120). Daily 10am-10pm.
Phad Thai Rock'n'Roll North end of Ao Kantiang.
Simple but stunning combination, almost as good as rock
and roll: delicious pat thai (B90) and espresso coffees
(B50). Daily 9am-4.30pm & 6-9pm.
Shanti Shanti Hat Khlong Nin. This unpretentious,
roadside, French-Thai restaurant dishes up very good pasta

TRANG AND AROUND
TRANG hosts a vegetarian festival every
October that's similar to but smaller than
Phuket's (see p.804), but is chiefly of
interest for the string of gorgeous
beaches and islands nearby. Travel agents