James Bond Island, known originally and locally as Ko Tapu or Nail Island, found fame through the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". The film starred Roger Moore and Christopher Lee (as the three nippled arch-villain Scaramanga) but it was the scenic topography that helped make the film into a firm Bond favourite. It also turned the previously unknown Phang Nga Bay into a major tourist attraction.
James Bond Island Introduction
James Bond Island, known originally and locally as Ko Tapu or Nail Island, found fame through the 1974 Bond film "The Man with the Golden Gun". The film starred Roger Moore and Christopher Lee (as the three nippled arch-villain Scaramanga) but it was the scenic topography that helped make the film into a firm Bond favourite. It also turned the previously unknown Phang Nga Bay into a major tourist attraction.
The island as a tourist attraction
Everyday tour buses packed with thousands of tourists leave Phuket for the daylong sightseeing trip driving two hours to Phang Nga Bay, often stopping at the popular Monkey Caves (Wat Suwankuha) to see the large reclining golden Buddha inside the caves and the large flocks of monkeys outside.After this the bus takes them to Phang Nga Bay where they travel by long tail boat for lunch at Koh Pannyi, a floating Muslim fishing village that is referred to by some locals as "Bin Laden Village". After exploring the floating fishing village everybody gets back onto the long tail boat and heads for the prime attraction, James Bond Island.
A 15-minute boat ride later and the island comes into view.
The island that you disembark onto is crowded with stalls selling seashells and trinkets but unfortunately nobody has taken the initiative to create or sell anything of interest to Bond fans. No replica golden guns, no postcards of the film, not even a DVD of the film. The people on the stalls are pushy but easy to avoid, just don't go near them.
Beer is pretty expensive on the island at double the market price but it is not available at the Muslim fishing village so this is the place to get it if you fancy a can. Confusing signs are placed around the island that try to explain how the rock was formed but these are written in "Tinglish" so make very little sense. The tour guides normally give you 30 minutes on the island; just long enough take some pictures, have a drink and go to the toilet.
Sunset Cruises at James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay
While the tour bus and long tail boat trips are more commonly promoted in tourist areas it is companies like June Bahtra that offer more exclusive and enjoyable trips. In fact fans of the film may prefer to take the trip they offer as you take a Junk similar to the boat that Scaramanga had. They offer sunset cruises that are famed for their romantic atmosphere and are hugely popular with those that want a more relaxed tour.
The Tsunami
According to some reports online the island was said to be extremely hard hit by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, although I have found no reports of casualties. When I visited in 2006 there was no visible damage nor mention of fatalities or even injuries.
The Man with the Golden Gun - The Film
Released in 1974, the Man with the Golden Gun was the ninth film in the EON Productions James Bond series and was Roger Moore’s second outing as Bond. In the film Bond comes up against Francisco Scaramanga, the world’s most expensive assassin who charges US$1 million per hit. Each time he uses his golden gun and never needs more than on golden bullet. A chase through Hong Kong and Bangkok leads Bond to a duel on the now famous James Bond Island, said to be in Chinese waters.
Geographic errors and film trivia
According to the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) Scaramanga’s flying car is meant to have been found "200 miles west of Bangkok", which would actually have put it somewhere off the coast of Burma.
Added to that the island they end up heading for is said to be about eight hours' sail from Hong Kong. That is at least 1,000 miles from Bangkok in the other direction.
Also of interest is the fact the film was nearly made in Cambodia a few years earlier but had to be postponed due to the Vietnam War. Had that terrible conflict never happened perhaps it would be some island in Cambodia that would have benefited from the millions of dollars in extra tourism.
Added to that the island they end up heading for is said to be about eight hours' sail from Hong Kong. That is at least 1,000 miles from Bangkok in the other direction.
Also of interest is the fact the film was nearly made in Cambodia a few years earlier but had to be postponed due to the Vietnam War. Had that terrible conflict never happened perhaps it would be some island in Cambodia that would have benefited from the millions of dollars in extra tourism.
Tomorrow Never Dies and James Bond Island
Interestingly Tomorrow Never Dies starring Pierce Brosnan was also filmed in the area of Phang Nga Bay (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120347/locations), although after looking carefully for it I could not see James Bond Island anywhere.
The Man with the Golden Gun lyrics
Although they do not mention James Bond Island I am posting the lyrics to the films theme tune. For posterity (and because they are funny) here they are:
He has a powerful weapon
He charges a million a shot
An assassin that's second to none
The man with the golden gun
Lurking in some darkened doorway
Or crouched on a roof top somewhere
In the next room, of this very one
The man with the golden gun
Love is required whenever he's hired
It comes just before the kill
No one can catch him, no hit man can match him
For his million dollar skill
One golden shot means another poor victim
Has come to a glittering end
For a price, he'll erase anyone
The man with the golden gun
His eye may be on you or me
Who will he bang?
We shall see. Oh yeah!
Love is required whenever he's hired
It comes just before the kill
No one can catch him; no hit man can match him
For his million dollar skill
One golden shot means another poor victim
Has come to a glittering end
If you want to get rid of someone
The man with the golden gun
Will get it done
He'll shoot anyone
With his golden gun
He has a powerful weapon
He charges a million a shot
An assassin that's second to none
The man with the golden gun
Lurking in some darkened doorway
Or crouched on a roof top somewhere
In the next room, of this very one
The man with the golden gun
Love is required whenever he's hired
It comes just before the kill
No one can catch him, no hit man can match him
For his million dollar skill
One golden shot means another poor victim
Has come to a glittering end
For a price, he'll erase anyone
The man with the golden gun
His eye may be on you or me
Who will he bang?
We shall see. Oh yeah!
Love is required whenever he's hired
It comes just before the kill
No one can catch him; no hit man can match him
For his million dollar skill
One golden shot means another poor victim
Has come to a glittering end
If you want to get rid of someone
The man with the golden gun
Will get it done
He'll shoot anyone
With his golden gun