Khao Lak
Khao Lak ( Thai : เขา หลัก , pronunciation : [ kăo.làk ] - roughly: stake mountain ) is a mountain on the west coast of Thailand near the Andaman Sea in the district ( Amphoe ) of Takua Pa , Phang Nga Province , southern Thailand . Better known, however, is the holiday region of the same name, which is located opposite on the coast, about 60 kilometers north of Phuket .
economy
Tourism is an essential industry in the region, which has led to an extensive expansion of the tourist infrastructure since the late 1980s. Khao (mountain) Lak is a tourist name for a relatively young holiday area. From Phuket to Takua Pa, seemingly endless sandy beaches stretch. There are no larger towns. The main town of the Khao Lak region is the small town of La Ohn . The famous Nang Thong Beach is also located here.
traffic
The distance from Bangkok is 10 hours by bus. The nearest airport is Phuket Airport , which is about 1½ hours away by car. The best way to get to Khao Lak is by transfer or taxi.
The main road that runs through the entire town is national road number 4. In the villages of Nang Thong (Khao Lak Center) and Bang Niang there is a traffic light that you can use to orient yourself. Be careful when crossing the street. Tourists should especially remember that there is left-hand traffic in Thailand .
tourism
Tourist “highlights” are the beaches of Nang Thong, Bang Niang and Khuk Khak. The settlements of the accommodations stretch from Lamru Harbor (the starting port to the Similan Islands ) up to Cap Coral .
In Khao Lak itself you can see a lot besides 'beach hopping'. There are many markets in Bang Niang Village. The most popular are Bang Niang Market, right by the traffic lights. Everything your heart desires can be found at Bang Niang Market. Food, clothing, souvenirs and technology are on offer here. The Bang Niang Market is always open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from around 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. A little further north is the Build Market, which is a little less touristy, but where you can mainly find food and clothing. The Build Market always takes place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays from around 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Opposite the Bang Niang Market is the Tsunami Boat Memorial . The police boat washed ashore in the 2004 tsunami. Now it serves as a memorial. Admission is free.
In addition, Khao Lak is the starting point for many day trips to the diving sites at the Similan Islands , which are about 70 kilometers off the coast. The Khao Sok National Park in Surat Thani Province is also visited a lot from Khao Lak.
beaches
The beaches of Khao Lak stretch over 25 km along the coast of the Andaman Sea. Most of the beaches flow into one another, but they all have a different atmosphere. From shady conifers to coconut palms or flower beds that line the beach, everything is represented. There are places with black sand containing tin, as well as those with fine white sand. They have one thing in common All the beaches of Khao Lak have in common that they are ideal for relaxing, swimming or walking. Since many of the beaches are part of a national park, there are no sun loungers or umbrellas, and motorized water sports are prohibited, not surfing. Due to official government statements and marketing measures from various resorts, it is difficult to set concrete beach boundaries. Generally recognized, however, the following beaches can be named (from south to north):
- Taplamu Beach , located at Navy Station by Lam Kaen Village
- Khaolak Beach , south of the headland that marks the southern border of the region
- Sunset Beach , north of the headland that marks the southern border of the region
- Nang Thong Beach , located in the village of Bang La On (often incorrectly called Khao Lak)
- Bangniang Beach , in the village of the same name, about 3 km north of Bang La On
- Khuk Khak Beach , in the village of the same name, about 2–3 km north of Bang Niang
- Pakarang Beach , north of Khuk Khak
- Coconut Beach , located on the headland that marks the northern border of the region
- White Sand Beach , north of the headland that marks the region's northern border
- Bangsak Beach , north of Cape Pakarang
- Bang Lud Beach , north of Laem Tantawan
The tsunami of December 26, 2004
In Germany, Khao Lak aroused media interest as a result of the worst devastation within Thailand, the seaquake in the Indian Ocean on December 26, 2004 and the subsequent tsunami . The region is a popular travel destination for European tourists, approximately 80%. Several hundred tourists were killed in the tsunami. The final death toll was over 4,000, with local unofficial estimates estimated at over 10,000 due to the lack of accurate government censuses and the fact that much of the Burmese migrant population was neither documented nor recognized as legally resident. The damage was repaired by the beginning of the travel season in autumn 2006.
Most of the coastal landscape, that is, beaches, resorts and vegetation, was destroyed by the tsunami. Some replanting programs have been initiated, which have been very successful. Studies suggesting that coastal vegetation may have helped cushion the effects of the waves have helped replanting and maintaining coastal vegetation become a priority in landscape rebuilding.
As a reminder of the force that a tsunami can exert, the Thai naval ship 813 (Gate 813) is located just 2 kilometers inland from Bang Niang Beach. It was on patrol, guarding Bhumi Jensen, a grandson of the king, while jet skiing in front of La Flora Resort. Despite rescue efforts, he could not be saved from the waves. His mother, Princess Ubol Ratana, and sister survived by escaping to an upper floor at La Flora Resort. The 813 boat was being carried inland and came to rest across from Bang Niang Market Square. The area in which it is located has been renovated and contains a museum dedicated to the events of December 26th.
The 2012 feature film The Impossible by Spanish director Juan Antonio Bayona tells the true story of a vacationing family during and after the tsunami.
literature
- Charlie Campbell: The Tsunami's Wake . TIME.com , December 29, 2014.
- Emma Calgaro, Kannapa Pongponrat and, Sopon Naruchaikusol: Destination Vulnerability Assessment for Khao Lak, Thailand , SEI - Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), November 2009
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Khao Lak Beaches - Resorts on Khao Lak Beach - Khaolaklanddiscovery.com. In: Khao Lak Land Discovery. Retrieved January 27, 2020 (UK English).
- ↑ https://time.com/tsunamis-wake/
- ↑ https://mediamanager.sei.org/documents/Publications/SEI-ProjectReport-Calgaro-DestinationVulnerabilityAssessmentForKhaoLakThailand-2009.pdf
Coordinates: 8 ° 40 ′ N , 98 ° 15 ′ E