This small island has a pictresque village, which rests precariously on small pilings and extends out across the water
Koh Panyee is a towering limestone outcrop jutting out of the sea at Phang Nga Bay.
Below the limestone hill, a Muslim village on stills has developed. This is Panyee. Many tourist brochures call it a floating village of sea gypsies, but rather permanent settlers who depend on the sea for their livelihood.
As Phang Nga Bay embraces tourism, the village of Panyee is cashing in by putting up a few seafood restaurants. These can be prominently seen as one passes the island. Another distinctive feature of Koh Panyee is the village mosque which towers over the rest of the stilt houses.
Koh Panyee is often the stopover point for tourist on their way to explore the caves and grottoes of Phang Nga Bay National Park, as well as the rest stop for trips to James Bond Island. I am documenting it so that you may have a better idea of the sights in Phang Nga Bay National Park.
International calls dial :+66-76, Inside Thailand call dial 076-
Muang District Police Station 212021, 212115
Phuket Airport 327230-37
Tourist Police 219878 or 1155
Tourism Authorities (TAT) 211036, 212213
The beautiful Andaman coastline of Southern Thailand, in Phang Nga province, provides the peaceful tranquil paradise setting of Khao Lak with it's 9 km stretch of pristine sandy beach set against a background of casuarina pines and overlooked by the towering evergreen forest of Khaolak-Lamru National Park.
This is an unsurpassed and unspoilt locale for nature lovers or those seeking complete relaxation.
Khao Lak is 80 km from Phuket International airport, and is ideally situatec to provide visits to numerous point of interest and natural attractions, including several land and marine based National Parks. The Similan and Surin islands, with their world renowned dive sites, are just a short trip away. The list of attracions and activities is quite extensive-beautiful deserted beaches, hiking, waterfalls, hot springs, elephant trekking, diving, snorkeling, reefs, lakes, estuaries, canoeing, wild life, remote islands...to name a few.
There is a good range of excellent accomodation, discreetly nestled in the environment, and offering every amenity and luxury, according to your budget, with views to the sea and surrounding forest. Night life is quiet and relaxing.
Khaolak BeachThis is an unsurpassed and unspotlt locale for nature loves or those seeking complete relaxation.
If you're all about the music then you have plenty of options in Patong. There are quite a few places where the most important thing going is the tunes.Fordie hard rockers there's Rock City on the beach road, which features AC/DC and Metallica tribute bands. It may not really be Angus Young or James Hetfield, but it's a good substitute. If you'd rather snap your fingers to some cool jazz, check out Saxophone, a long 
time Bangkok favourite that has mada its way to Phuket. Molly Malone's features Celtic music nightly, Banana Club (below the disco) also features live bands, as does Margaritas, at the Rat-U-Thit/Bangla intersection Until relatively recenlty you could almost guarantee a rendition of "Hotel California" in every live music venue, but times are a changin' and a new wind is blowing through the live music scene. The old favs still get an airing out but the both the venues and the bands have really gone up a notch. Saxophone (Beach Road, north end) is the latest venue to elevate the music scene in Patong. Cloned from the original Saxophone in Bangkok, famous for its quality jazz, R&B and reggae Saxophone Phuket has some excellent musicians and a relaxed unpretentious atmosphere. It's the kind of place where you can just get up and dance to quality live music and feel totally unembarrassed.
Rock City (Beach Road, north end) All you metal fans requiring your daily dose should head to Rock City. Among the head banging bands is a AC/DC tribute band that just belts it out. Various live bands pump up the volume with cover versions of Scorpions, Van Halen, Metallica and other vintage metal.
The enthusiastic house bands at Scruffy Murphy's and Molly Molone's rarely fail to rouse the crowds, while the band at 2 Black Sheep usually coaxes more than a few out to the dance floor.
Live music has also hit the beach road with the rather obvious realisation by the hotels that people like to sit out in the open and listen to live larger restaurants now offer a live band with your lobster at places like. The Port at Banthai Beach Resort, featuring a lively and talented Filipino band.
On the corner of Soi Bangla and Rat-U-Thit road, Tai Pan, Safari and Star Club all feature a mix of live and DJ-spun music. A lesser-Known spot called Relics, on Sai Namyen Rd, is very popular with local Thais and packs people in most nights.
Tarutao is the first marine park of Thailand. It is famous for its distinguished history and natural beauty.
It is located in the Andaman Sea 40 kilometres from town or 22 kilometres from Bara Pier. The park borders Mu Ko Phetra Nationl Park in the north and the Thai-Malaysian sea border in the south. The park occupies an area of 1,490 square kilometres and comprises 51 islands. Seven large islands are Ko Tarutao, Ko Adang, Ko Rawi, Ko Li Pe, Ko Klang, Ko Ba Tuang, and Ko Bit Si. Tarutao was proclaimed a Nation Park on 19 April 1974 and declared by UNESCO as an ASEAN Heritage Park and Reserve in 1982. The best time to visit is from November to April.Ko Tarutao is the biggest island in the park that covers an area of 152 square kilometres. The island is teeming with verdant forests and white sandy beaches. There are also camping and diving facility to see corals.
Penitentiary Memorial on Tarutao Island comprises two parts; Ao Talo Udang Prison is at the southern most bay of Tarutao Island and Ao Talowao Prison, a prison, a prison for common and political prisoners which is situated in the south and the east of the island.
The historical six-kilometre road trail was built by prisoners connecting Ao Talowao to Ao Talo Udang and is 12 kilometres long.
Activities on Ko Tarutao
Walking trail from the national Park Office on Ao Phante Malaka is a 12-kilometre walking trail which runs through verdant forest all the way to Ao Talowao. Various types of trees, wild animals like wild boar and mouse deer, and birds, hornbills in particular, are found along sides this trail. An eight-kilometre walking trail begins at Ao ma lae ends at Ao Son, passing through virgin forest where various kinds of birds are found. Bird-watching is ideal here.
Boat rides on a long-tail boat around island for eco-tourism es recommended. The National Park provides boat service with guides for vesitors to tour around beaches. The journey could begin with bird-watching on Ao Chak, going to see the longest white sandy beach on Tarutao Island at Ao Son, tracing historical trail on Ao Talo Udang, enjoying natural beauty on Ao Talowao, ending with diving and visiting mangrove forests. For more information on a one-day trip, contact the tourist centre at the Tarutao National Park.
