[Seth] Karst Kayaking

We spent the last week on Phuket and Ko Phi Phi (and in the waters around Phuket and Krabi).  This is the part of Thailand that is on all the postcards -- limestone cliffs plunging into aquiline blue waters.  The karst geology of this part of Thailand is created by the erosion of limestone (once coral reefs hundreds of millions of years ago) due to the chemical weathering where acid rain, which produces carbonic acid, has dissolved layers of soluble bedrock. Karst landscapes feature limestone cliffs, caves, underground streams, and sinkholes.  The resulting islands, caves and cliffs are spectacular.  

We visited caves and secret interior bays at Phanak Island and Hong Island.  To visit the hidden interior, you needed to go by kayak through limestone caves that were so small that in places you had to lie on your back to get through.  

The tide had risen while we were in the interior lagoon, so getting out was even more challenging.  In some cases (not for us), the guides have to remove air from the kayaks in order to squeeze through the narrow gaps.

The interiors of the islands or "Hongs" were beautiful.  In a few cases, you can only visit these at high tide since they are mud flats during low tide.