The Islands

Koh Phayam:
On the Andaman Sea, near Burma, no cars, not as 'touristy' as some Thai islands, beautiful pristine beaches, not great snorkeling but there are HORNBILLS! Yes!  That's the basics.  We took the 'Normal' boat to Koh Phayam (two hours carrying supplies for the island as well as tourists).  My friends stayed at a place down the beach from me but it turned out that both were owned/run by the same family.  Initially, it was difficult to figure out how to come and go between our places, especially at night so my daughter started referring to it as the Fire Swamp (from the Princess Bride).  It was almost that bad:  My first try I sank in quicksand and scratched up my leg pretty good.  I thought it would be better to do the road because of the rocky outcroppings on the beach in the dark but was informed by the owner that cobras liked to lie on the road at night to warm themselves.  Yikes!  We finally figured out a walking me partway home (past the quicksand) after visiting the hippie bar and having dinner.  The Hippy bar . . . don't even know where to begin.  It is a work of art - a place that looks like it shouldn't be standing but it is and it's big with lots of strange seating areas, a bar, a pool table, a stage and dance floor!  Photos don't do it justice. 
Anyway, after 4 super relaxing days on Koh Phayam, I left my friends who are gradually heading North and then to Vietnam, and took a 'taxi' (someone driving a motorbike with your suitcase between their knees and you on the back sans helmets), took the speed boat (40 minutes and you probably shouldn't do it if you have a bad back) to Ranong.  From there, it was a taxi to the bus station, a two-hour ride in a minibus and a 30 km ride in a soorng taao (not sure of the spelling but it's a little truck with two long seats facing each other in the back) to Lomprayah pier outside of Chumphon which is where the ferry for Koh Tao departs.
Chumphon:
Big city, surrounding area is mountainous, flatlands are a shrimp growing region, fishing, area near Lomprayah Pier is nice beach with mostly locals.  Nice area, at least by the pier where I stayed in a really nice place called Magic House.  The hosts were very nice and the food was great!  I was super disappointed to find out that the national park near there which I hoped to visit is closed (no reason) until late April but On took me sightseeing to a couple viewpoints and some of the most bizarre places I have visited.  It looked like a wat but was actually a tribute to the son of Rama V who started the royal Thai navy and is considered a very special place by Thai fishermen.  Not the national park, but interesting!
Koh Tao:
Rocky (big huge chunks of granite), populated, dive capitol of Thailand, good snorkeling, bad roads.
I have now arrived on Koh Tao which has become more populated since my last visit.  The ferry stopped at NangYuan Island which is a snorkel spot and, while very few people got off the ferry, LOTS got on - mostly destined for Koh Samui after a day snorkeling.  Arriving at the Mae Had pier after that was also mayhem, but after a taxi ride over a mountain on a road that shouldn't exist, I am here and it really is incredibly beautiful.  The walk to the beach from here is every bit as treacherous as people described in their reviews: steep, funky stairs and wooden walkways with boards broken and missing and I agree with them - you wouldn't want to do it drunk and in the dark!  Mental note of things not to do but during the day to snorkel . . . . Sure!

A Thunderstorm from the Plane

The Slow Boat

Bungalow on Koh Phayam and View Below from the Bungalow

 
Some Sunsets . . .

 

Some Hornbills



Chuck Admiring the Hippy Bar

Our Hippy Bar Perch

An Interesting Shot - Design on the Beach (Inspired by Paulette)

Some Monkeys in Chumphon

On Getting Coconut Ice Cream

View of Chumphon Fishing Village and Shrimp Fields

The Very Bizarre Wat/Memorial to the Thai Navy

View from Room in Koh Tao

The Snorkeling Beach

The Way to the Snorkeling Beach

Sunrise from My Room and . . . Some Fish

After one more full day here, I begin the journey North to Bangkok and home with an overnight in Hua Hin.  Time flies when you're having fun!