We wanted to try the overnight train because we have heard that it is a great way to travel and it means that you don't lose travel time. The destination was two islands in the Gulf of Thailand which get less rain than other parts during the rainy season.
It was the Queen's birthday weekend which made it a crazy busy weekend. Pictures of here are everywhere. This one on our taxi-light rail-tuk tuk ride to the bus station on Khao San road which is backpacker central. All trains sold out so we were travellin' by bus.
The number of people was crazy because it was also a full moon weekend meaning a huge party on the Koh Lanta which was in the same area. What looks like chaos often isn't.
Vince being edged out by a lady.
There's our bus. We were ushered to the bottom layer and I think the ticket guy felt that we night be better off away from the party crowd. We looked just a little older than the rest:)
That sticker on Vince's chest is his ticket. Do NOT lose the sticker.
4 am at the Chumporn Ferry terminal. We slept 8/9 hours of the bus ride so I would say it was a success. The new ticket/sticker for the ferry.
Sunrise at terminal
Coffee? Yes, please.
Lots of people and they just kept on coming.
On the ferry. A high speed catamaran to be precise.
Beautiful rugged islands
Stop #1: beautiful Naguan Island Dive Resort which is a stones throw away from Koh Tao.
There was a really neat bamboo walkway around the island but I had heard there was also one on Koh Tao called Jax Trak.....it would become a wild goose chase.
It's amazing where they can build.
We booked in at a guest house
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The view from our balcony. We thought we had a pool but it turns out the wall keeps the riff-raff (us) out.
Simple and nice and 3 minutes from the pier as promised.
Everything is either uphill or downhill and we saw so many bandaged scooter riders....ex-scooter riders. It's small enough to hike over the island and take a water taxi back. We went up and back but next time it would work. This hill is way steeper than it looks. In fact you are basically on your toes walking up. Vince is not resting....just posing for a photo.
We didn't find the viewpoint that we were looking for but this one did nicely.
It looks like it's under construction....
Day 2 was the search for Jax Trek which is a coastal trek. It didn't look at all as rustic as the images I found online but I realized that it has likely recently undergone a facelift to make it easier to walk. It actually weaves in and out of all the resorts and beaches which was super.
And so it began
The hike to beaches.....
The surface was cement.
Nice looking trash cans.
Super beaches. We will be back with snorkelling gear since it boasts some of the best diving/snorkelling in the world.
Complete with lamp posts.
Nothing gets in the way. This is how we knew it was knew. The tree hadn't burst through the cement yet.
We saw some pretty incredible places along the way.
Very well designed.
In walking out on a boulder I spotted what I think was part of the old trek. It must have been pretty rustic but beautiful.
....and more.
Proof......old meets new.
It's good to know where you are going.
Holding up the boulder.
Back to the hustle and bustle. This is the first time that we have seen a primarily non-Thai culture. Many Europeans.
A well-earned cold beer.
Longtail boats
Beautiful at night
After Koh Tao we took a ferry to Koh Samui which is a bigger island and we were doing a loop which ended in a flight home. This is where the fun began.
The ferry landed in Koh Samui and we went into the office to book our ticket to the mainland (Surat Thani) two days later so that we could catch our 1 pm flight. We were told that the ferry to Surat Thani leaves from another pier 15 km away. Same company but you have to buy the ticket at the pier. So, it 5 pm and off we go pier hopping. We buy the ticket and decide to rent a scooter right at the pier since we have to be back there anyway and may as well save on the extra taxi rides. Our hotel was another 15 km away near Lamai Beach called the Searine Samui Boutique Resort which we had on google maps without any problem.
Well, long story short.....within 1 hour we had search all over for it, asked travel agents, thought we were crazy......and when we were about to give up realized the headlight on the scooter didn't work. I left Vince with the scooter and went to the same travel agent and he said...well, there is the Serene Hillside Resort and Spa....similar so maybe they know something. Somehow, we find the only repair shop open late on a Sunday night and 10 min later are on out way ready to call it a day and find another place. We pull up to the spa (nice steep entrance) and are greeted with ah....you Mr. Vince? Soooooo, happy. She then said, we have good news and we have upgrade you....wonderful end to a day.
Our villa
Sweet!!!
Scooter trip the next day ended at a beach with lots of Russians. They were great but the one with 4 gold teeth kinda scared me.
Safety...although not sure about the standards.
One way to get to the beach is that you park here.....
Where it says "no parking".
But you buy a coffee and all is okay.
It pays to be on the beach by 8:30 am
Cocktails on the beach.
It's time to go.
Ladyboy bathroom?
The pier....chillin' before we head to the boat.
We learn something every time we travel here and the thing that comes across most often is that how kind and helpful people from Thailand are.
