We were up early this day, donned our backpacks and hoofed it through jungle paths along to the other side of part of the island to stay.
As we wandered, we came to this resort called Tao Thong Bungalows and decided to stay there.
What a great decision!!
It is probably one of the last authentic feeling hut/bungalow resorts left in this area and it was perfect.
We had a free standing hut with a small bathroom and fan, overlooking the ocean. Nothing else around.
After a swim in the ocean, we walked on to the village of Chanok and had lunch. From there we headed back (sweating profusely the whole way!) and had another swim.
The resort had a small kitchen so we had our dinner there and then spent the evening in the hammock on our balcony, giving foot massages and listening to nothing but crickets and waves. Nothing else! And no lights, only the moon.
Best. Night.
If you ever get to Koh Tao, you have to stay here!! So beautiful!!
The next morning we had a bit of breakfast and rented some snorkels and masks and swam around the two beaches at the resort. So many gorgeous fish to see and the water is so clear and bluey-green! A great start to the day.
After that we walked to Chanok again, had lunch and talked to some people about E doing his open water certification! Im so excited to have a dive partner!!
From there we walked across the island back to Mae Haad Bay and did some more wandering and then, back to the resort for another quiet night, reading and listening to the waves.
And avoiding mosquitos of course. They are definitely around!
Monday, October 29, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Oct 24 - Chumpon to Koh Tao: Words
So... that train ride was great! But the ferry! Oh the ferry.. and I dont even get sea sick!
We arrived in Chumpon and waited for the bus to take us to this ferry. E had requested the slow ferry as he does get sea sick.. When people started moving to a bus, we thought it was for us, but it turned out it was for the fast ferry. They all got a nice, double decker posh bus.
Ours came shortly after. It was a truck that looked like something that you pile your troops into while deploying them.
Did I mention it was pouring rain? Cause it was.
So we jammed way too many people in that truck and trundled off to the ferry.
The rough looking seas were enough to kill any hope we had for a smooth sailing. Once we were underway, the fun really started. Both the upper and lower inside rooms reeked of engine exhaust and they wanted an extra 30 baht to stay in the AC room. And outside was pouring! And of course we were rocking all over the place. We held it together though!
After a little more than 3 hours of this (!) we landed at Koh Tao and headed straight for the nearest place to stay. It was 9 am or so, but we were soaked through and didnt care. We ended up at a place called Ananda Villas just in the village at Mae Haad Bay. For 400 bt (about $13-14) we had a queen sized bed, fan, tv and bathroom. We then proceeded to pass out til 4 pm!
Once awake, we headed out for some lunch/dinner at a small place that over looked the water and watched the sun go down. A small wander about the little town and we were done for the night. We headed back to the room/hut and watched a couple movies and crashed out.
We arrived in Chumpon and waited for the bus to take us to this ferry. E had requested the slow ferry as he does get sea sick.. When people started moving to a bus, we thought it was for us, but it turned out it was for the fast ferry. They all got a nice, double decker posh bus.
Ours came shortly after. It was a truck that looked like something that you pile your troops into while deploying them.
Did I mention it was pouring rain? Cause it was.
So we jammed way too many people in that truck and trundled off to the ferry.
The rough looking seas were enough to kill any hope we had for a smooth sailing. Once we were underway, the fun really started. Both the upper and lower inside rooms reeked of engine exhaust and they wanted an extra 30 baht to stay in the AC room. And outside was pouring! And of course we were rocking all over the place. We held it together though!
After a little more than 3 hours of this (!) we landed at Koh Tao and headed straight for the nearest place to stay. It was 9 am or so, but we were soaked through and didnt care. We ended up at a place called Ananda Villas just in the village at Mae Haad Bay. For 400 bt (about $13-14) we had a queen sized bed, fan, tv and bathroom. We then proceeded to pass out til 4 pm!
Once awake, we headed out for some lunch/dinner at a small place that over looked the water and watched the sun go down. A small wander about the little town and we were done for the night. We headed back to the room/hut and watched a couple movies and crashed out.
Oct 22/23 - England/Bangkok: Words
Ok well I guess I better get this going! Im still not sure how it will be to upload pictures but we can start with words, right? right..
So, Monday (Oct 22) we got up at 5 am and caught a taxi to Heathrow for the first of our two flights. We were about 20 min late in take off making us late to land of course. Then having a few planes in our way in Mumbai, we had to wait on the tarmack to disembark. Not great when you are already late arriving and have a connecting flight to catch in an hour and a half!
I'll pause for a quick moment to say that we flew wtih Jet Airways and really, it was great. Tons of leg room (even in the cheap seats!), great selection of shows and movies to watch and the food was pretty decent! Not fabulous but not terrible either. I'd say on par with what I would get from a starbucks, ya know? Pre-packaged, and not what you crave, but it will do. And better than most airline food for sure! All in all: would fly again! (and we will..)
Where was I... right! Mumbai airport. So we finally get off of our plane, board a bus to the terminal, run to our next gate.. to find a security check. That was not moving. There were a bunch of us headed to Thailand and a bunch more headed to Hong Kong on a flight that left 10 min before ours. And slooooow security. After a time, we finally got through and rushed to our boarded flight. After another wait (!) on a bus to get to the plane that is... This second flight was only 4 hours as they got us in 30 min early. Usually a good thing but as we already had the day to kill in Bangkok, not great.
Not a terrible amount to report from there.... Took the train to the metro to the other train station and bought our ticket to Koh Tao. And then had to decide what to do with the next 12 hours! It was super hot and we had our backpacks, even if they are small. We wandered to a shopping street, got some street pad thai, changed some money and wandered some more.
Oh, I bought harem pants. For all that I made fun of them in Denmark (and probably other places) I have some. These were all black. Just so much lighter than the cargo pants I was wearing, good for the beach (and sleeping in turns out) and well.. yeah. I cant say much more. But there it is.
After some hours of wandering, sitting on benches and almost getting lost, our super long walk got us back to the train station where we had some snacks and drinks and all but passed out in our seats while we waited.
At last our train arrived and we were able to board. It was a sleeper train so after about an hour (I suppose, i was sleeping sitting up, which I usually cant do..) the train... guy... came and pulled the beds down...
And that, was day 1! I'll write more in a bit concerning our arrival and adventures from there.. and see about getting some pictures up. This particular computer keeps making ticking sounds so Im betting this wont be the one...
So, Monday (Oct 22) we got up at 5 am and caught a taxi to Heathrow for the first of our two flights. We were about 20 min late in take off making us late to land of course. Then having a few planes in our way in Mumbai, we had to wait on the tarmack to disembark. Not great when you are already late arriving and have a connecting flight to catch in an hour and a half!
I'll pause for a quick moment to say that we flew wtih Jet Airways and really, it was great. Tons of leg room (even in the cheap seats!), great selection of shows and movies to watch and the food was pretty decent! Not fabulous but not terrible either. I'd say on par with what I would get from a starbucks, ya know? Pre-packaged, and not what you crave, but it will do. And better than most airline food for sure! All in all: would fly again! (and we will..)
Where was I... right! Mumbai airport. So we finally get off of our plane, board a bus to the terminal, run to our next gate.. to find a security check. That was not moving. There were a bunch of us headed to Thailand and a bunch more headed to Hong Kong on a flight that left 10 min before ours. And slooooow security. After a time, we finally got through and rushed to our boarded flight. After another wait (!) on a bus to get to the plane that is... This second flight was only 4 hours as they got us in 30 min early. Usually a good thing but as we already had the day to kill in Bangkok, not great.
Not a terrible amount to report from there.... Took the train to the metro to the other train station and bought our ticket to Koh Tao. And then had to decide what to do with the next 12 hours! It was super hot and we had our backpacks, even if they are small. We wandered to a shopping street, got some street pad thai, changed some money and wandered some more.
Oh, I bought harem pants. For all that I made fun of them in Denmark (and probably other places) I have some. These were all black. Just so much lighter than the cargo pants I was wearing, good for the beach (and sleeping in turns out) and well.. yeah. I cant say much more. But there it is.
After some hours of wandering, sitting on benches and almost getting lost, our super long walk got us back to the train station where we had some snacks and drinks and all but passed out in our seats while we waited.
At last our train arrived and we were able to board. It was a sleeper train so after about an hour (I suppose, i was sleeping sitting up, which I usually cant do..) the train... guy... came and pulled the beds down...
And that, was day 1! I'll write more in a bit concerning our arrival and adventures from there.. and see about getting some pictures up. This particular computer keeps making ticking sounds so Im betting this wont be the one...
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