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Communications
Mail and Postal
Services
Open: 8am to 4.30pm.
The Thai post service is usually reliable. Urgent or important
items can be sent by EMS services. This is faster and safer but
the cost is higher. Krabi Town's main post office is located on
Uttarakit Road, near the Customs Pier (See
Map).
Telecommunications/Internet
International phone calls, bureau fax, and Internet services
are widely available throughout Thailand. Krabi Town's post office
and most hotels can provide telephone and fax services and Internet
services are springing up in all the main tourist areas, catering
for Internet savvy tourists.
Banks
Krabi Town has a number of banks that provide standard services,
Mondays to Fridays, except public and bank holidays, between 8.30am
and 3.30pm. Check our town map for location details. Currency
exchange centers also operate from 7.00am to 9.00pm, seven days
a week including holidays.
Important Telephone Numbers
Hospitals
Krabi Hospital 611-202, 611-210, 611-2203
Ao Lak Hospital 681-159, 681-510
Koh Lanta Hospital 697-017, 697-100
Assistance
Provincial Tourist Police 637-308
Immigration Office 612-740
Tourism Authority 212-213
Provincial Travellers Assistance Centre 612-740
Locale and Landscape
Covering an area of approximately 4709sq km, Krabi province
is bounded by Phang Nga and Surathani provinces from the north,
Trang province and the Andaman Sea from the south, Trang and Nakorn
Si Thammarat provinces from the east and Phang Nga province and
the Andaman Sea from the west.
Krabi's landscape is undulating and dotted with hills and mountains,
the highest of which is Khao Phanom Bencha at 1,350m. Along the
160km coastline of Krabi are alternately bays and capes - which
viewed from the air reveal a jagged outline with outcrops of limestone
mountains rising up from the sea waters. Much of the coastal area
is covered by mangrove forest which serves as a natural breeding
ground for Krabi's diverse aquatic life. Inland, Krabi's extensive
deciduous forest area are mainly reserved and feature high flora
and fauna biodiversity.
Industry
In recent years, with it's natural attractions such as tropical
islands, palm fringed beaches, forest waterfalls and caves attracting
more and more sunseeking adventure-bound tourists, Krabi has begun
to earn a substantial income from its tourism industry.
Predominantly however, it is an agricultural based area, with
sandy clay soil conditions, like many surrounding provinces, making
it ideal for producing rubber, palm oils, oranges, coconuts, and
coffee.
Rubber is the main cash crop grown with over 700,00 rai being
under cultivation for this purpose. Palm oil comes in second,
followed by coconuts.
Fishing is widely carried out along the coastline and on most
larger islands, and although traditional methods are still in
use, modern trawling techniques are threatening numbers and the
industry. Shrimp and cockle farming has been a high growth industry
since the early 1990's, and there is also a flourishing grouper
farming industry.
People
The people of Krabi represent a mix of different races who over
history came to settle from different regions. It is said that
each group of people represent a different page in the history
of Krabi.
The Chao Ley or "Sea Gypsies" reside on various
of the islands in Krabi's waters, and traditionally made their
living from wandering around fishing and diving for their livelihood.
Their small communities are in danger of overexposure to tourism,
and inevitable assimilation, however some of their traditional
ways are presented in the yearly sea gypsy sailing ritual held
in May on Koh Lanta, Koh Pu and Koh Cham.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Southern Chinese
people flocked to Thailand in search of work and many made their
way to the south of Thailand to work in local industry. In more
recent times, there involvement has been high in oil palm plantations
and gypsum mining. Despite the assimilation of Chinese people
and their descendants with local people over time, many retain
vestiges of their Chinese heritage. Many still retain the ability
to speak Chinese, have Chinese (and Thai) names, and observe Chinese
rituals and religious beliefs.
Being in close proximity to Malaysia, southern Thailand is also
home to many Muslim communities, and Krabi itself has a strong
Muslim presence.
Climate
Krabi has a tropical monsoon climate. It's warm all year 'round,
but the two periods of April-May and September-October are the
hottest. The September-October period is also the wettest. The
best time to visit Krabi is during the cool NE monsoon season,
from November though March, when it isn't so humid, and the cool
breezes keep things comfortable. The average temperature is around
75ºF to 89ºF (24ºC to 32ºC).
The hottest time is from April through May, with temperatures
ranging from 80ºF to 95ºF (27ºC to 36ºC). There are frequent short
heavy thundery showers, offering welcome relief from the temperature
and humidity. The Thai New Year occurs on April 13th and everyone
sprinkles (or throws) cool water on each other.
Locals enjoy June, July and August, since the weather is usually
fine and favourite haunts remain uncrowded. The usual pattern
is brief but heavy showers, with plenty of sunshine between downpours.
Everything is a little less expensive at this time of year, as
well. Temperatures range between 70ºF and 90ºF (20ºC to 33ºC).
During September and early October we start to remember our umbrellas.
This makes an ideal time to visit abroad. One consolation for
those who remain is that the beaches, outdoor restaurants and
streets are relatively uncluttered by visitors. And even at this
time, we still get long intervals of sunshine between the heavy
showers. Anyway, plenty of lowseason activities, both water- and
land-based, still offer themselves in Krabi during this wettest
part of the summer season.
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