Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( 0 7648 5500;
www.happysnapperbar.com
;
Th Phetkasem)
The bar is stocked with good liquor,
there's an atlas on the ceiling, the tree of life on the wall and a rockin' house band on
stage six nights a week in the high season, led by the owner, Pitak, a Bangkok-born bass
legend.
Information
For diving-related emergencies, call the
SSS Ambulance
( 08 1081 9444)
, which rushes in-
jured persons down to Phuket for treatment. The ambulance can also be used for car or
motorcycle accidents. There is also one nurse in Bang Niang who caters to diving-related
injuries.
There are numerous travel agencies scattered about that rent motorbikes for around
250B per day. The best is
Khao Lak Land Discovery
(
0 7648 5411;
www.khaolaklanddiscovery.com
; Th
Petchkasem)
.
Getting There & Away
Any bus running along Hwy 4 between Takua Pa (60B, 45 minutes) and Phuket (100B,
two hours) will stop at Hat Khao Lak if you ask the driver.
Khao Lak Land Discovery runs hourly minibuses to Phuket International Airport
(600B, 75 minutes). Alternately you can take
Cheaper Than Hotel
( 08 6276 6479, 08 5786 1378)
,
which admittedly is an odd name for a taxi and transport service. They make the run to
the Phuket airport (1000B) and points south. Or tell a Phuket-bound bus-driver to drop
you at the 'airport' - you'll be let off at an intersection from which motorcycle taxis will
take you to the airport (10 minutes, 100B). It sounds sketchy, but works every time.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Similan Islands Marine National Park
Known to divers the world over, the beautiful
Similan Islands Marine National Park
(
www.dnp.go.th
;
adult/child 400/200B; Nov-May)
is 70km offshore. Its smooth granite islands are
as impressive above water as below, topped with rainforest, edged with white-sand
beaches and fringed with coral reefs. Unfortunately recent coral bleaching has killed off
many of the hard corals, but soft corals are still intact, the fauna is there and it's still a
lovely place to dive.
