Hongs by starlight?????

Hi all,

I was just wondering...on my next trip to Phuket I was wanting to do the hongs by starlight, but I am a little claustraphobic. Are there a lot of confined spaces or should I just give it a miss?

Thanks, Jenny

Hongs by starlight?????

Hi Jenny, Go for it Girl!!! go with John Gray its a really great trip went last year will be going next trip in Feb 09. the caves aren%26#39;t that small and the guides in the canoues with you will look after you The caves you do in the day will get you ready for the starlight one. It%26#39;s an experience in this world you shouldn%26#39;t miss. So go on give it a go.

Hongs by starlight?????

Hi Jenny

I did both the Hongs by Starlight tour and Captain Marks tours about 3 weeks ago. Whilst yes, the Hongs by Starlight tour was very good, you do have to lean back in your canoe whilst travelling through narrow caves in the dark. Some of the caves through to the Hongs are about 100 to 200 metres. You might freak out temporarily but its good to see light at the end of the tunnel. Anyway depends on how phobic you are. If you think you might freak out too much, go with Captain Mark, When we went with him he didnt take us through so many long and narrow caves. And was a bit more personable.

Hi Jenny,

We have done the sea canoes a few times and it all depends on the tides as to whether you will have any tight squeezes.Also it is not all the hongs that are like that.

I did not like that part at all my first time so close my eyes now and it doesnt take long to go through at all. Everything is very safe and the guides are very careful etc.

I have a few photos of a tight squeeze on the link below. Go ahead and do it, you will not regret it.

cathyandgarystravelpages.com/john_gray_sea_c鈥?/a>

Cathy

Hi

I%26#39;m a bit like you, I get claustrophobic in confined spaces and it%26#39;s a feeling that unless you%26#39;ve experienced it, you really don%26#39;t know how awful it can be.

I chose to do captain Mark%26#39;s trip instead of John Gray%26#39;s primarily for this reason...I knew I wouldn%26#39;t be able to squeeze through tight spaces.

Mark took us in his canoe into a cave and I was fine until it became completely pitch black and I couldn%26#39;t see any light coming in from any opening. Even with torches, I started getting this horribe feeling of not being able to breathe and I started getting palpitations, so I had to ask Mark to get us out.And he did, and I was fine we had a great time, it%26#39;s a lovely trip.It only lasted a couple of minutes but it%26#39;s such a scary and horrible sensation.

My advice to you is to think about what affects you, it%26#39;s not a question of being brave or having a go. If you can%26#39;t go into confined spaces, don%26#39;t do it, there%26#39;s plenty of other things that can be enjoyed whilst on holiday!

Just to let you know, the hongs are open caves with no ceilings, just passages to pass through/under to get to the opening. Inside, they%26#39;re like an auditorium. You won%26#39;t be feeling claustrophobic for too long, if you do get affected.

Athena, I see what you mean, but those few seconds of being in a confined space are just awful.

It%26#39;s not a case of putting up with something you don%26#39;t like for a bit, it goes beyond that. Someone who gets claustrophobic will panic.It%26#39;s hard to describe, it%26#39;s a feeling like something is taking away your ability to breathe and it%26#39;s a very stressful situation. I wouldn%26#39;t wish it upon anyone.

I could understand someone being claustrophic not being able to do it at all, especially as sometimes the roof is inches away from your face. It would be terrifying for them. In that case I would recommend Marks tours for them.

But for someone who is just a little bit panicky and a bit of a chicken like me, its bearable and over quickly.

Cathy

I have only been through hongs on our dinghy, not been with Mark or with John, so can%26#39;t say anything about how their tours are, but the hongs we went into weren%26#39;t bad - and I do suffer claustrophobia a little, as does my mother, who was with us. Neither of us have a problem, but I guess it depends on the tide height and the hong itself.

Thanks everyone for your advice. I think I will look into Captain Marks as I am keen to do it.

Thanks again, Jenny

natural instinct