Short, sweet escapes

We could all do with a quick break — one that’s just a skip and a hop away (and affordable too, thanks to budget airlines). We’re not talking about just popping over to Malaysia or Bintan. This time, we took a jaunt to Krabi and Mount Rinjani, and here’s what our writers had to say:

> SUN, SAND AND SEAFOOD

With direct flights — such as those by AirAsia — to Krabi daily, it’s certainly easy to make an excursion to this Thai destination. It certainly rivals its neighbour Phuket when it comes to sights: The gorgeous sunset by the beach of the Islanda Eco-Village Resort, for example.

No trip to Krabi is complete without an island-hopping expedition. Sure, they’re riddled with tourists, but Phi Phi Island, Hong Island, Poda Island and even Chicken Island (yes, it looks like a chicken’s head) all offer different majestic views and pristine beaches. You can soak in the sun at Poda Island or marvel at the calm waters overlooking the Phra Nang Peninsula. Those seeking a little adventure can also venture to the natural rock-climbing area on the peninsula and admire the view from a higher vantage point.

Just off the coast of Chicken Island is a popular snorkelling spot. We didn’t need to be asked twice — we dove in as soon as our boat stopped. The clear waters made it easy to spot schools of fish as they gracefully danced their way around us like a Walt Disney animation.

Of course, it’s not just about sand, sun and sea. We took off to the inner sanctuaries of Krabi’s forested areas to the Wareerak Hot Spring Retreat for some pampering. After a scrub down, we alternated between the warm and cool pools every three minutes before the therapists came over and started pounding our backs and necks while we soaked. We were initially surprised, but soon realised we could really get used to this.

Of course, if there’s one thing that makes Krabi stand out, it’s the food. Sure, you can have the usual dishes — pad Thai, tom yam soup, pineapple fried rice. But there’s something special about indulging in copious amounts of seafood that came straight from the ocean. And watching the fishermen catch the fish right in front of you at the resort’s restaurant is certainly something you won’t forget easily.

They keep you wanting more with each meal — especially the conch, or gong gong, which is one of the island’s most famous exports. You haven’t quite tasted Krabi until you have tried one of them. The town’s so obsessed with seafood that there’s a Mud Crab statue located at the river bank of Krabi Town. A popular landmark among the tourists, the guide said this statue celebrates the town’s close connection and, often, dependency on the natural environment.

Walking Street, the “heartbeat” of Krabi, offers cheap souvenirs, snacks and crafts. This night market street jam is open only on Fridays and weekend nights and packs everything that Krabi has to offer. There are even cultural performances smack in the middle of the area. Do yourself a favour and make your way to the corner of the infamous Ancient Ape Man traffic light cross junction, where you can usually find a crowd waiting in line for the popular sweet fried banana pancake. You can’t miss it — it’s another piece of Krabi you won’t forget.

Sun, seafood, spa and sweets — I couldn’t have asked for a better send-off back home. SAMSON LAM

This trip is made possible by AirAsia and Tourism Authority of Thailand.

> TOP OF THE WORLD

As an avid trail-running enthusiast, I’m often looking for new challenges; and I found one while sinking into the soft volcanic soil of Mount Rinjani.

Located in Lombok, Mount Rinjani is one mountain many serious hikers aim to conquer. When the chance came up last year to participate in the inaugural Mount Rinjani Ultra, I knew I had to give it a go. The goal was to complete 52km in 20 hours. While 52km doesn’t sound terribly difficult, finishing it was a lot harder than one might expect, due to the complex terrain of grass, rocks, volcanic soil. I’d never encountered such terrain.

The high altitude makes it tougher. Mount Rinjani stands at 3,762m above sea level and it certainly proved highly punishing. I was racing against the clock and the elements: It was bitingly cold, especially when we started at midnight. The last push was excruciating — it took me three to four hours to complete the last 1,000m climb towards the summit. Under normal road conditions, I could probably have tackled the 1,000m stretch in an hour. Not this time, though. For every few steps I took, I found myself stumbling backwards, my feet seemingly unable to lift themselves off the fine, powdery ground. It took what seemed like forever to get to the top.

However arduous the trek, nothing prepared me for the sight that greeted me when I reached the summit. I couldn’t believe how beautiful the sunrise was. I wish I had more time to appreciate the beauty of Mount Rinjani (to me, it’s more beautiful than the hike up Mount Fuji).

Of course, most leisure hikers take three to four days to climb Mount Rinjani so that they can spend time relaxing at the crater lake, set up camp at different points and soak in the dramatic scenery. There are not many mountains which are still active volcanoes that you can climb in this part of the world. And Mount Rinjani’s proximity makes this trip all the more accessible.

Many people associate Lombok with only beaches, but to me, the mountain makes all the difference. And, yes, you’ll feel like you’re on top of the world. WEE TECK HIAN