Having only 4 days left in the tropical paradise that is Phuket, we now spend the the last days and our 15th wedding anniversary on valentines day here on Naka Yai Island situated just 15 minutes from Ao Por Pier yet it feels like you a million miles from the hassles of work.
I don’t want this to and and be back at work next week. We are so ready spirituality to travel full time, we just now have to wait until the funds are right (planning to depart….June 2015)
Leaving Samkor Place in Old Phuket Town was like saying goodbye to family as we said our farewells to staff and guests we had met here. We know that this will be our base when we return to Phuket.
With the taxi now waiting and our driver phoning for details of where to deliver us we climbed into the 4WD .
The drive along the 402 highway and turning right at Monument (yup it’s a place not a typo) we traveled along the same road we journeyed only the day before on our little rental scooter.
I’m gonna miss that little thing, so much fun for 200THB pet day.
Arriving at the pier, we just missed the long boat and had tho wait for him to do the round trip. Meanwhile we had to contend with another longboat driver hustling us the go with him. He finally understood once we told him we had already paid and we would not be paying twice.
He even tried phoning the resort and claiming that our driver wasn’t coming back, we asked to speak to the person he was talking with and quite bluntly said….we’ve paid, so we expect him to return…we will wait.
Soon enough we were loading our gear and out on open water heading for the island. Rounding the head and pulling up to a banner strung up in the trees…. COLD BEER…. Sounds like my kind of place.
As our boat glided onto the sand we stepped away from the boat pace of Phuket and into a relaxed and slow pace that is Tenta Nakara.
Our room (or should I say tent) wasn’t ready for another hour so its was decided this was a good time just to settle into the bar and order lunch.
The tents sit atop platforms perched on a steep bank so that each and every tent gets a view of the ocean.
With their open air bathrooms and cold showers I think we will fit in here just fine.
With their open air bathrooms and cold showers I think we will fit in here just fine.
The next bay to the south of us is where all the day trippers come to get away from it all. As it was low tide and reaching the end of the day we took a short walk along the beach and over the small rocks exposed by the ebbing tide.
The beach is a little coarse compared to the western beaches of Phuket, but the brilliance here is we don’t have to share with as many people. Complete with deck chairs, loungers, umbrellas lining the beach we made our way toward the tented bar to check out the prices. As always when you have a captive market your going to pay a higher prices…cheaper at Tenta Nakara for cocktails. However they did have something I was interested in…. Jet Skis for hire.
With quick negotiation I managed to get a Jet Ski organised for the following day (1500THB for 1/2 hour).
The sun was going down as walked north along the beach back to the resort. In the distance the sun danced it’s last rays onto the limestone mountains and outcrops on the horizon. I can’t wait till we go to these magnificent structures, James Bond Island, see you soon.
The sun was going down as walked north along the beach back to the resort. In the distance the sun danced it’s last rays onto the limestone mountains and outcrops on the horizon. I can’t wait till we go to these magnificent structures, James Bond Island, see you soon.
Resting in our tent before dinner I’m still suffering from a headache that cant shake for the last couple of days, these things come every 6-8 weeks and I really should get them sorted. But I don’t want to hear any bad news so the best remedy I’ve found is to try to sleep them off, however the heat is not helping.
Dinner was a low key affair. Black oyster sauce, rice, chicken and red chili Elena opting for something a little less spicy. Discovering the WIFI I sprint back to the room to grab my mobile and return to find Elena sipping on a cocktail, never let your wife order when your not present.
Taking a kerosene lamp and dragging ourselves up the path it was literally lights out for me as Elena reached book with a little light powered by a motorbike battery.
Dawn, and with the waking sounds of the local wildlife way learn what our bodies are designed to do (no, not procreate it’s a family friendly blog….) I mean wake as the sun rises, although some are more in tune with there inner self than others. Elena takes a little more effort to get started in the morning
Heading down the steps to the little paved path that leads to the main eating area we are reminded that this place is very Eco-friendly and we notice the signs informing us not to eat in our rooms due to doing this will attract and and other small animals into our tent.
The team here make you feel like you are part of the family, we as we always do try out fit in with the people running the place rather that making the hotel fit our needs. One task I just have to do before leaving this place is to rise early and contribute in helping the staff clean the beach, kits the small things you do that mean so much to the local people.
Four days here went by fast and we established new friendships with other traveler’s whom we plan to see again once we get back to Europe.
The days here are lazy and perfectly designed to make you relax. Its incredible how fast the day goes once you literally let yourself go and just go with the flow… To sit on your sun lounger, sip on fresh mango shakes and coconuts and only move to either swim or go to the restaurant for lunch to some would seem to be a waste of a day, but these are the days where you just learn to totally slow your busy pace down.
Tenta Nakara is a perfect place to let this happen.
Tenta Nakara is a perfect place to let this happen.
Four days here went by fast and we established new friendships with other traveler’s whom we plan to see again once we get back to Europe.If you come to Phuket and really are tired of the well beaten track of go-go bars and the tourist hot spots of Patong, then this place could we bee the answer to your prayers.
How to get to Tenta Nakara
First, if you are a budget traveler like is forget the bus option, because there is no bus to the pier that you will need to get to.
A taxi is the only way to get here. The cost of the taxi from Old Phuket Town to Ao Po Pier (not the marina)cost us 800THB and was organised by our friendly hotel staff at Samkong Place(another awesome place to stay).
You can either prepay your boat transfer online when you book your stay at Tenta Nakara or pay once you get to the pier. For us we prepaid and saved the confusion once we got to the pier.
The long tail boat trip from the mainland to the island of Naka Yai takes onto 15 minutes yet you will feel like you’re a million miles from the stress of life.
The long tail boat trip from the mainland to the island of Naka Yai takes onto 15 minutes yet you will feel like you’re a million miles from the stress of life.
Come stay at Tenta Nakara, take photos, savoir memories, meet new friends, leave behind nothing but footprints in the sands…. That’s the eco friendly way 🙂
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