The three processes

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This photo demonstrates all three processes as mentioned

in my previous blog here.

The Ice is floating on the crust of the earth (blue plate)

It is obviously melting.

There are even some sharp cracks.

Except for the lack of the sea stack, this ice come very close

to resembling Koh Hong.

See you on the water,

Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey') AKA John Caveman Gray

Phreatic caves

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At Koh Hong you see a perfect example of a cross-sectioned phreatic cave. The eventual disintegration of these caves is the basic process in forming the islands of Phang Nga.  The Hole in the wall is at least 400 meters above sea level.  It slopes down toward the camera and is about 15 meters wide.  The hole in the ridge is all that remains of an extensive drainage system that was higher than the hole  and extended at least a kilometer beyond Penak's West Coast of today.  

Before they became islands, Phang nga Bay was a mountain range whenever the sea levels sank (as much as 120 meters).  Fresh water rivers ran through the forests and marshlands, attacking the limestone when it was far above the sea.   

See you on the water,

Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey')  AKA John Caveman Gray

             

Limestone is like ice in 3 ways

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Imagine a block of ice and the damage a sledge hammer hit creates.  The ice block shatters in all directions.  Then take a garden hone and let the water fills the cracks. Then keep the garden hose on the ice.  Water fills the cracks and melts them until they are larger.  Call this a phreatic cave - a crack willed with water.  When the water finally melts its way through and fresh water runs through the crack, call it "percolation".  Watch the ice melt and fall into itself, forming an open cylinder surrounded by ice.  Call that a "Hong" - Thai for room. 

All limestone, especially marine, melts every time it rains.  Marine limestone is also impacted by the tides, who cut away the cracks with mechanical action every times the tide changes.  No chemistry here, limestone and sea water are about the same pH. (acid-alkaline content).    

Occasionally, I use our trip book to explain a concept better than I can format in a blog.  We now include this book in every van transfer on the way to the pier.  All the Trip Book content comes from our guides' trip scripts. 

See you on the water,

Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey')  AKA John Caveman Gray

             

Phang Nga Bay

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Phang Nga Bay is one of the most interesting examples of marine limestone on the Planet.  Vietnam's Halong Bay is bigger, but not nearly as beautiful or complicated.

Unfortunately, Phang Nga Bay is terribly mismanaged by the Thai Government, especially National Parks.  Draw your own conclusions why the official visitor count is about 50,000 people a year, when in fact something like 6,000,000 people per year visit the Bay.  It is terribly understaffed and there are no rules. 

Unfortunationally only one sea kayaking company maintains international standard quality - the one in this Blog!  If we were not international standard, I would not put my name on the company. 

You will notice many "Amazing" names, but none of the owners can be proud of their operations, whose real value is about B1,000/person- all are speedboat operators killing the Planet with 2-stroke pollution.....  Because we set the price and quality standard by spread sheets, the other owners jack  their price up to B3,000 and above to look professional.  In fact, they receive a windfall profit of B2,000+/booking.  Much of that goes into corruption and tour counter kick-backs.

Thanks to Mathieu Rouanet, World Paramoto Glider Champion for his stunning aerial photos of Phang Bay seen in this blog.

See you on the water,

Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey')  AKA John Caveman Gray