Beach, Beach, Jungle

Beach 1 - Koh Tao

This is a diver’s island but you don’t have to be a diver to love it!  Koh Tao is mountainous and lush.  There are noises of insects that are almost deafening at times and birds and butterflies galore.  I met a person today who has lived here for 8 years, splitting his time between dive instructor here and ski instructor in Jackson Hole.  He said when he first came here, there were 5 dive shops; there are now 60!  The ‘village’ feels touristy with lots of shops and people, but you can hike up the mountain and it becomes a lot more secluded and actually the beaches don't feel that crowded.  This island is on the Gulf of Thailand and the sea is very calm.  My bungalow is across a walkway from the beach which is great for viewing sunsets and the snorkeling is pretty good right there with some nice corals and schools of fish. 



Three Sunsets

The restaurant connected to the place I'm staying is pretty good also but there is no shortage of good restaurants on this island!  Today I booked a snorkel trip around the island and had a very typical Thai experience.  I was supposed to be ready for the taxi to take me to the boat at 9:30 – I was ready at 9:15.  I waited and asked the hotel manager at 9:35.  “Don’t worry – he  come”, she said. At 9:45 I asked her again and she said, “Wait there.  He’ll be her soon.”  She then disappeared.  At 9:55 I asked the restaurant guy as she was still gone and he made a phone call.  Taxi came; I missed the boat.  The taxi driver, however, convinced another boat that was leaving to “catch me up” to my boat.  It was so silly!  The people on the "wrong" boat and I laughed about it and when I got dropped off, they all waved yelled Good-bye!  My ‘new’ boat people were already in the water, so I joined them and when I got back on the boat, the guide was totally confused that he now had an additional person.  Uh, so was I!  Anyway, it worked out and two of the places, Mango Bay and Japanese Garden, are really beautiful with great corals and fish.  We also spent some time on a small island very near Koh Tao called Nang Yuan Island - very beautiful.

Some Corals at Japanese Gardens



Boardwalk on Nang Yuan to View

Beach 2 - Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta is a very large island and it takes a long time in a mini-van and two car ferries to get here. There's a large Moslem population here, so many women riding motorbikes in Burkas - interesting.  In fact, there are lots of every kind of people, especially tourists riding motorbikes.  It seems to be the main method of transportation here and I don't do motorbikes.  It's a pretty island, fairly flat with lots of long beaches.  I happened to book a place that is not on the beach.  What was I thinking?  It got "fantastic" reviews and it's nice enough.  In fact, my room is great with views to the sunset, but it's a walk to the beach!  Duh!  This is also not a snorkeling beach.  Today, I put on snorkel and mask and swam out quite a ways and didn't even see one fish!  Where are they?

Relax Beach - Koh Lanta

It's a great beach for swimming though, getting deeper very gradually and it seems to attract lots of families and lots of people from Sweden - like everyone I have met here with one exception (Toronto).  Tomorrow I have booked a snorkel trip to Koh Rok which is supposed to be lovely.  Then a trip to the other side of the island (Old Town) to kayak in the mangroves.

A Happy Fish in Mango Bay

My 14" Roommate in Kho Tao

Jungle?
Then will begin my journey North with a stop-off at Khao Sok (the jungle) for a few days before the overnight train to Bangkok.  I have been to Khao Sok before, but it is an incredibly beautiful place with lots to do and a beautiful park in which to hike.  Photos to follow on that part.