GREETINGS FROM KRABI
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Nopharat Thara Beach
Despite being national park land, Nopharat Thara does not seem to enjoy complete protection from developers.
The vast area of flat land leading towards Ao Nang has been subject to quite some (commercial) development over the past few years.
This has always been a very popular rest and picnic area for locals. Weekends and holidays, you will have countless vendors serving their
specialties to many a hungry stomach. The road and sidewalks received an upgrade in the past 2 years and look as good as - if not better -
those along Karon Beach in Phuket.
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Coming from Khlong Muang, the Andamanee Boutique Resort & Spa was the first
property on the way to Nopharat Thara. Andamanee is a playful word combination of
Andaman (Sea) and Manee (jewel) - keep reading my reports and you are able to
play word games in Thai. This new 50 rooms’ property is set to open in December
2006 and not quite that easy to find, if you are a fist time-visitor. It is located about
600 meters from Nopharat Thara Beach. Llookout for the sign “Soi 10” which will lead
you to the school; turn left right before the school’s entrance. Now you can’t miss it.
The Andamanee is the younger sister of the highly successful Theparat Logge in Krabi
Town. The Andamanee’s off-the-beach setting will appeal to those seeking a quiet
non-touristic environment.
Every room is decorated to reflect the local life (i.e. head boards show the outlines of
a longtail boat, lamp shades are made of bird cages etc.), air-conditioned and features
satellite TV, a daybed, Wifi Internet, personal safe, hair-dryer, balcony, mini bar,
tea and coffee facilities bathroom with separate bathtub and shower.
The resort has 3 room types: The 24 Rimbueng Deluxe Rooms (43 sq.m.) are located in 2
three-storey buildings and offer lake(side) views, the 12 Keangpaa Deluxe Rooms (43 sq.m.,
see pictures) are set in another 3 storey building with pool view and 14 Ruan Panya Junior
Suites (58 sq.m.) with pool view and larger living/balcony space and an extra-large balcony.
The Junior Suites are set in 6 two-storey buildings— 4 Junior Suites are connected.
The resort has the Krua Nopparang Restaurant as well as a |
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a library and a small meeting room.
This is a nice and cozy little property with well-designed, spacious and comfortable rooms.
The location may be a draw back for those who prefer to stay close to the sea; others, however,
won’t mind taking a transfer to Nopharat Thara or Ao Nang to explore nearby islands
and beaches. |
 I then drove to the National Park Authority building and was surprised about the amount of traffic and cars parked there. I had obviously forgotten that Nopharat Thara’s boat pier was located right behind the Park Authority building. If you take one of the bigger boats, you have to come here. It is nothing really glamorous; if there weren’t any boats you would not even think that this is a pier. But I appreciated keeping my feet dry while hopping on a boat; so for me the experience leaving from Nopharat pier beat a trip ex Ao Nang by far. Central Krabi Resort also has some of their transfers to/fro the hotel done with this pier. |
There is still quite some work to be done at the Ayodhaya Suites Resort & Spa to meet
their November 2006. The hotel is located right beside the affiliated Krabi Success Resort and
has around five 5-storey wings with all in all 141 suite bedrooms.
The interior design varies in each wing and reflects the various styles of each individual era in
the history of Thailand - Lanna, Sukhothai, Auytthaya and modern Rattanakosin style.
2 wings (facing the sea) will go on sale first while the remaining 3 buildings (facing the swimming
pool) are fully constructed but rooms are yet to be furnished.
One has to note that none of the guest room windows is actually facing the sea; they’re all
overlooking the pool. All rooms on the first floor have access to the swimming pool. There will
also be an Executive Floor.
Once completed, the Ayodhaya Suites Resort will have 97 Topaz Suites, 6 Amber Family
Suites, 33 Emerald Pool Access Suites, 4 Tubtim Duplex Suites and 1 Royal Pailin Suite. All
rooms are air-conditioned and feature IDD phone, bathrobe/slippers, tea and coffee making
facilities, satellite TV, hair dryer and in-room safe. Non-smoking rooms will be available.
It is always interesting - and at times even amusing - to observe how Thais imitate Thai
culture. And, really, it’s quite a challenge to bring back to life the styles of past eras. But of
course, the designers had to make compromises by creating a fusion of modern rooming with
historic decoration. After all, King Ramkamhaeng’s subjects neither had television, airconditioning,
mini-bar (and ice for that matter) nor do I suppose they slept in beds. But I
won’t bore and scare you with this any further: instead let me assure you that all of the Ayodhaya
Suites Resort’s rooms have these modern commodities. Nevertheless, I wondered if
Andamanee’s more local looks were a bit more practicable. History often weighs heavy...
There’s a living corner/room right at the entrance to the Topaz Suite (which was the only type
I could visit), which features a separate TV with DVD. Bathrooms have separate shower and
bathtub. Wardrobes open from two sides—to the corridor and the bathroom. While the rooms
are quite spacious, some aspects of interior design, decoration and color scheme are an acquired
taste. Maximum occupancy is 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids aged up to 12 years; however,
inter-connecting rooms will be available.
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There will be 4 restaurants and 4 swimming pools (including a kids pool), a lobby lounge &
bar, a fitness centre, meeting facilities (to cater for up to 350 persons) and the Dhawaree
Spa.
I was told that there will be a natural separation built/grown between this hotel and the adjacent
lower-category Krabi Success Resort. |
Courtesy: Diethelm Travel Asia
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