Krabi

Thursday 9 February: Dominated by two great limestone pinnacles poking out of the estuary, Krabi is a great base to explore Thailand's stunning Andaman coast. Green Tea Guesthouse in Krabi town, not in my guidebook, is my favourite from my first visit here in 2005, only remembered when I saw the powder-blue 1st floor fan-cooled rooms - big and breezy with high ceilings and wide polished-teak floorboards. My room, 'U3', has a little balcony overlooking the town centre, great value at 175 Bhat. Run by the ever smiling "Mamma" it's my sort of place. Mamma, who likes to look after her guests, offers unprompted discounts on boat trips around Kho Phi Phi National Marine Park.
Friday 10: The 4-islands long-tail boat snorkeling day-trip, via touristy Ao Nang, includes Tup Island with it's underwater sand spit, Chicken Island and Phranang Beach which seems strangely familiar. The white flour-soft sand, warm mill-pond still azure sea and craggy Kharst limestone rockscapes are just magical. Krabi's atmospheric waterside night market is the place to eat: great seafood cheap 'beer Chang' and more skewered sweetmeats than you can shake a kebab at.
Photos of Krabi.