Krabi : A city of nature

Adimula Biola
Aug 9, 2017 · 6 min read

Nature is beautiful, nature oh, nature! The impression is a lasting one, the memories of the beach, the seas, the mountains the greens and the warmth of the good people of Krabi kept coming to my mind at intervals, each time making me wonder if I will ever have opportunity to visit Krabi again.

As our vehicle arrived at the beach site restaurant named “Wang Sai Speed Boat” restaurant, being a seafood restaurant, I saw nature beaming us in the face to give satisfaction of beauty of the earth and the food. I watched the waves of the beach rolling in grandeur of an unending sea, wide and distant with boatmen riding in excitement to and from our end, the fishermen carrying their tools of fish nets to catch different types of fish and sea animals. As I watched in deep appreciation of God’s creation and satisfaction of the appealing waters, I saw the high mountains surrounding the sea, full of trees and greens, looking down on everything around them in beauty. Lost in thoughts and inner appreciation, a friend’s voice brought me back to consciousness of why we were there, when she said “Biola, come and sit down for lunch”. Looking at the tables, I beheld the delicious meals set before us full of seafood- fish, crabs, shrimps, among others, were stylishly arranged among other dishes of rice, noodles, soups, fruits, etc- I noticed that my colleagues were already seated for the sumptuous lunch, since we all arrived from Bangkok about an hour earlier.

Still carried away in the euphoria of the beauty of nature at the beach, as soon as we finished seafood lunch, we were driven to Peace Laguna Resort for our accommodation for the next one week. It was a very beautiful hotel full of nature, the greens, the streams, the pools, surrounding mountains and the smiling faces with the warm reception of the hotel staff were very soothing to the heart, and it was like arriving into a paradise on earth- the beauty and large space of the room did not speak less- in short, Peace Laguna Resort is beautiful! For me, it presented a good natural environment to practice and enjoy my new training of “Ukulele” music instrument, it was really a good and exciting moment.

The visit to Krabi was the field trip of Class 23 Rotary Peace Fellows at the Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, where I am receiving training on new response to global peace and conflict resolution. It is a class of 23 Fellows drawn from 20 countries around the world. The choice of Krabi by the institution was to make us see the on-ground situation of the national conflict of government proposal on increase in energy generation for future reservation, through coal and palm oil, which plant is to be located in Krabi, and the two years protests of communities and human rights activists resisting the project, so that their livelihood in fishing, tourism, economic trees will not be jeopardized and their environment will not be polluted. In the midst of the training, lectures, visits and presentations, I can see nature and I was fascinated by it.

Right from the resort’s reception where different swimming pools were set and clean, beaming and attracting swimmers, with streams and bridges decoratively constructed to add elegance to premises, the flowers and roses around each bungalow and duplex in rows, delicately presenting itself as lovers getaway-executively and exclusively constructed with necessary comfort; the artificial mountains and waterfalls built to attract the eyes and enjoy the cool atmosphere and the rooms- big and beautiful with necessary facilities of an executive stay. Though I am not a swimmer and I do not have a swim suit, the attraction of the swimming pool drew me to the beach street market where I purchased a bikini to enjoy the pool. Thanks to my roommate Dessa- a Professor from the United States who not only accompanied me to buy the swimming suit, but also showed me the right paths in the water- it was cool, relaxing and refreshing- at least, I enjoyed the coolness in the serene environment, though my training did not give the perfection of a swimmer because of the short period of stay.

By 6am the following day I woke up to walk round the hotel premises, beholding the beauty of nature and appreciating the awesomness of God the Creator of heaven and earth, with songs of melody in praises of Him, for creating the earth and the fullness thereof, and I can see that the mountains in their heights declare that He is God, the valleys and its inhabitants living and non living proclaim that He is God, and I bow to worship His Majesty.

The Beach, yes, the Beach! That is something else! My first time of swimming in the thundering waves of the beach! My friend Wendy held my hand and we walked into the midst of the big sea to swim with our heads and shoulders showing above the salty water. It was an experience I never imagined, because all my visits to the beach had always been to stand at the bank and let the waves touch my legs- never beyond my kneels.

Sometimes early in the morning I walk round the bank of the beach to admire the great work of creation and at evening the setting down of the sun. Sitting for relaxation at the beach was also a good way of spending my leisure.

Oh my God! The boat ride! Yes, we rode in three different boats on the first day we arrived Krabi, to visit some landmark locations within and around the sea. It was an exciting moment. The two and a half hours ride on the boat in the big sea was splendid and exciting! The longest ride I ever had on a boat! The wave was storming, throwing the wooden boat up and down in the midst of the water, though slightly scared, the confidence of the captain of the boat showed there was nothing to worry about and the wavering moments of the boat became fun.

Riding in the boat occurred twice. At another time we rode in the boat to another village for a meeting and to plant a certain plant on the hills. We saw fishermen in their own boats catching jelly fish, each time they threw in the net it caught fish and we were amazed how generously available the fish were in the water. Huge mountains were surrounding the water and some of the mountains were in the midst of the water. A twin mountain facing each other inside the sea was a beauty and unique work of creation to behold. Inscriptions dating to hundreds of years were vividly showing the rocks. We alighted the boat at a wooden house on the water for lunch break. We eat our lunch in the leaf plates- it was different and good.

I cannot finish describing the good memories I have of Krabi, the palm plantation, the rubber plantation, magnificent palm oil factory, efficient technologically equipped energy outlets, beautiful restaurants with sumptuous meals, bonding of colleagues, smooth and executive flights in and out of the city, comfortable daily bus ride, educative theory and practical learning sessions, hospitality of our hosts in different communities, among others, are all memorable. However, the most charming of them all was the nature- truly, Krabi is a city of nature.

Adimula Biola

Written by

A Nigerian dedicated to humanitarian services.

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