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rick-james-biatch t1_jd8ltyy wrote

Awesome photo! I lived near here for about 4 years (in a town called Khao Lak - but the entire region is called Phang-Nga). We used to go here fairly regularly, it's such a cool landscape but we never saw it from above like this. Thanks for sharing!

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[deleted] t1_jd8uzs1 wrote

I'm assuming it's a drone shot here right? Not a view point?

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rick-james-biatch t1_jd9aapz wrote

I'm guessing it is a drone. Either that or OP is one heck of a climber. Not impossible as Krabi (known for excellent climbing/climbers) is nearby. But drone is more likely.

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Cannabat t1_jd9no7n wrote

Dive instructor or Thai?

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rick-james-biatch t1_jda15qt wrote

Dive Instructor/Shop Manager

you?

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Cannabat t1_jdceivb wrote

Cool!

No diving for me - ruptured eardrum from being stupid freediving - but my partner has done a liveaboard or two with Sea Dragon.

We’ve also stopped by a number of times on the way to ranong/mu ko surin/ko phayam. Love the andaman side :)

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rick-james-biatch t1_jdcjzfz wrote

Freediving is awesome, but yeah, I tend to hurt my ears way more often freediving than with tanks.

Sea Dragon is a cool shop. Both my neighbors worked there. I was at BigBlue for most of my time there, but got recruited by Wicked for my last season.

Yes, the Andaman side has a lot to offer. Khao Sok rainforest was right in our backyard. I was seasonal, but I had some friends stay year-round, and just surfed through the rainy season.

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Cannabat t1_jdty7rq wrote

When were you instructing/managing? Any particular reason you’re not doing that still?

I was in the country when covid hit and eventually made my way back to my home country. Eager to visit again.

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rick-james-biatch t1_jduhklk wrote

I left in 2011.

I'd just turned 40, realized I'd planned to go to Thailand for 1 year and had already stayed for 8. Also realized I had no savings and if I did diving for another decade, I'd still be broke and my body would likely give out at some point. Was mulling all that over, and then my wife and I just decided over lunch one day that it was time to do something new, and that was that. We were gone two month later.

Covid hit that country hard financially. I have a lot of friends still there. Most live paycheck to paycheck, and when the divers stopped coming, it hurt. They're a tight community tho, and they helped each other out a lot. Most of the dive shops let staff sleep in the empty rooms, and everyone pitched in for food.

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xpatmatt t1_jdaltuk wrote

How was Khao Lak? I'm in Phuket now but have thought of moving up there for the surf and relative less touristy-ness.

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auxaperture t1_jdaqpkl wrote

Khao Lak is awesome, and a short drive to Khao Sok which is STUNNING, the lake at the dam is a sight to behold. Source: I live in Phuket and love travelling north

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xpatmatt t1_jdat0qn wrote

Do you know how the expat scene is up there? I'm guessing a bit smaller and more laid back.

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rick-james-biatch t1_jdcp692 wrote

Its def a lot less touristy than Phuket. There is a surf shop in Bang Niang - which is one 'town' north of Khao Lak. I think the surf starts picking up about this time of year (April-ish). There is an expat scene, but it's mostly divers. Most know each other from working together. There used to be a bar called the Happy Snapper where most could be found, but I believe it's closed down now. Not sure where the new expat hangout is, but it shouldn't be hard to find.

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