Rare pod of giant dolphins seen in the waters off the Similan Islands
Tourists on a boat trip out to Thailand’s Similan Islands were treated to a rare sighting of giant dolphins earlier this week. The Wow Andaman tour boat was approaching Elephant Head Rock on Wednesday when the so-called false killer whales swam up to the boat and enabled passengers to take photographs.
The skipper of the vessel shut down the engines so that the pod of 30 were not frightened away. The shutdown also enabled the tourists to mentally record what will probably be a once in a lifetime spectacle of giant dolphins frolicking just yards away in the sea.
False killer whales were given their unusual name as they grow to lengths of seven metres and bear more than a passing resemblance to real orca killer whales. In an interview later in the day, Doctor Kongkiat Kittiwatanawing, said seeing so many of the dolphins together was lucky as they do not usually travel in such large pods.
The marine-life specialist explained that this species of dolphin likes deep and warm seas and can be found both in the Andaman Sea and in the Gulf of Thailand. The Similan Islands are off the coast of Phang Nga province.
12GO ASIA offers streamlined travel choices when heading off for new experiences in Thailand. Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang are among the key Andaman Sea destinations we serve.
Last week saw the inauguration of a new flight route connecting central Vietnam and the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai. Vietnamese budget carrier Jetstar Pacific launched a twice weekly service last Friday which links the nation’s Quang Binh Province to the Rose of Thailand’s North.
Delegates from Thailand and Myanmar have marked the auspicious 20th birthday of a river bridge linking the two ASEAN nations. The ceremonies on Tuesday marked the official anniversary of the Moei River Friendship Bridge’s opening on 15 August 1997.
A heritage bridge spanning the Perfume River in Hue is to get a makeover to make it more conducive to 21st century tourism. The original Truong Tien Bridge dates from the French colonial era in the 1890s and is a 400-metre-long structure.
