Looking for Langkasuka (PART 2): Lost Paradise Called LI PE

The strecth of beautiful white sand on Li Pe

My quest for the legendary & mythical ancient Malay kingdom of ‘Langkasuka’ next took me to another fascinating place. An ‘eden‘! A long-lost- and- only- now- newly found paradise! A small, immensely beautiful island called Li Pe. But my journey to this heavenly place had almost turned into a ‘nightmare’ …one that I would remember for a very long, long time…indeed.

A 'sampan' in the sea @ Li Pe

The eventful day started beautifully. It was sunny and bright when I took a ‘tuk-tuk’ from Pra Ae to the pier in LANTA town. And as scheduled, the ferry to Li Pe left Lanta sharp at 11 am. I was happy. Indeed, everything was so ‘honky-dory’ that I truly enjoyed the ferry ride till that moment…

2 Chao Lye (Sea Gypsies) kids playing swing on the beach

The ferry stopped at Koh Mok, and then again at Pak Bara (Satun) taking more passengers. I was later transferred to a smaller boat – more like a speed boat, really – in order to continue my journey to Li Pe. Luckily, the boat was almost half-empty. And I was the only Asian passengers, the rest being Europeans and a few Australians.

The beach-front chalet where I stayed @ Pattaya Beach, Li Pe

It started to rain when the boat left Pak Bara jetty. It was windy. Indeed, the wind was getting stronger as the boat went into the open sea. Not long after, the wind and rain became more forceful. I could see from the side of my window that the waves were as high as the boat itself! But the boat kept on moving forward.

View from the chalet's verandah

Now there was no more land or any island in sight. The sea was also cleared of any other sea-vessel. I was getting worried. The boat was rocked fiercely by the becoming-stronger waves. I could see panic and frightened look on other passengers faces, especially mothers with young children. Some of the kids started to cry. And one particular lady seated 2 rows behind me was crying while holding her 2 children.

Me in my newly found 'paradise'...

There were times when the boat felt as if it was about to be overturned by those choppy gigantic waves! Nevertheless, amidst all the suspense and confusion, the boat rode strongly cutting through the waves. When the boat fiinally approached Li Pe island and the rain and wind had subsided,  I thanked GOD that we had safely reached our destination.

And what a destination it was! It looked like as if we had stumbled upon a long-lost paradise after braving a deadly storm! Just look at these pictures… Li Pe is truly a gem in the Andaman Sea. If you have the means & time, I would strongly recommend you to visit this paradise island before it turns into another Phuket, Pattaya, Langkawi, Pangkor or even Sa Moi!

Kids at Chao Lye village in Li Pe

QUICK FACTS of LI PE

Ferries –

frm Langkawi (Malaysia): depart from Telaga Harbor/twice a day- from November to May/ other months – only on weekends/ 1 hr ride

frm Pak Bara (Satun): daily – all year round

frm Lanta: daily – from November to May only.

NO jetty/pier at Li Pe – the local Chao Ley will fetch passengers with longtailboats from the ferry/boat and take them to the beach. Be ready to wade the knee-deep water before reaching the beach. Fee: about 50 BHT.

NO ATM on the island, but some resorts and chalets do accept credit cards.

NO cars on the island, except for a few motorbikes. So, people go around by walking! Good for YOU! By the way, Li Pe is such a small island (about 2 – 3 km wide) that you can do a full tour of the island in less than 2 hours!

3 main beaches:

1) Pattaya Beach – the most popular

2) Sunset – the smallest

3) Sunrise – has small Chao Ley village