Passing Through Lover’s Gate to Exotic Koh Lipe
FOR A TROPICAL ISLAND HOLIDAY KOH LIPE IS THE PERFECT PLACE TO CHILL AND REJUVENATE WITH EXCELLENT SNORKELLING AND DIVING, ENTICING BEACHES, FIRST CLASS RESORTS, RESTAURANTS, BARS, SHOPPING, DIVE SHOPS AND SPAS.
When you don’t want to go back to the boat, you know you are in a great snorkelling location. Koh Lipe is blessed with numerous spots around the cluster of nearby islands in Tarutao National Park. If you are into snorkelling or diving, and beautiful beaches, if you like nightlife and long lingering lazy days you’ll find this southern Thai island totally seductive.
GETTING THERE
We, a couple of writers and several travel agents, were hosted by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. We were joined by Mrs Patsalin Swetarat, Director Singapore & the Philippines and Mr Low Chun Yeen (William) Marketing Manager for TAT. In our group was Milly and Lily, so I asked where Silly was. William responded that she wasn’t invited.
I’m sure she would’ve enjoyed it – as we all did.
One recommended way to get to Koh Lipe, if you are coming from Singapore or Malaysia, is to fly to Langkawi and take the ferry over. Depending on the weather, it is about an hour to an hour and half trip. Langkawi is as close to the Thai mainland as it is to Malaysia. It is separated by the Strait of Malacca from the islands north of it that repose in the Andaman Sea.
DRIVING FROM HAT YAI
We were not blessed with the best weather. A typhoon screaming out of the Philippines hit the east coast of Thailand and spilled across the peninsula giving us choppy waters and rough boat rides.
As Hat Yai had been our first destination we did not take the ferry from Langkawi. We were on our bus early in the morning for a two-hour drive from the southern Thai city to Pak Bara Pier in La Ngu, Satun Province. I was familiar with the four-lane north – south highway but was impressed with the twolane B highways when we turned left to the west coast. The roads are well maintained and make for a comfortable drive. I later ran into a French couple on a motorcycle exploring the area on the quiet and scenic backroads. What a great way to get to these beautiful remote places.
BUSY PAK BARA
When we arrived at the bustling pier at Pak Bara we had a half hour before our boat departed. The pier was