Blogs from Ko Lanta, South-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 5

Whoever would have thought that island life would suit us?! We decided to take a minibus from Krabi to Koh Lanta and return by boat a few days later. That was probably the right decision as it meant we got there a couple of hours earlier. The trip involved a transporter ferry which was fun, and a brand new bridge, only a year old. Taking the minibus also meant that we were taken door-to-door which saved a lot of hassle. Our first thoughts of Golden Bay Cottages were good. The cottages themselves were comfortable enough but they were a little expensive. We loved swimming in the pool and adored lying on the beach and splashing about in the Andaman Sea. The sunsets were to die for. We were having a very relaxing time. Two things tarnished ... read more

Jumping out of the taxi at Long Beach I walked 200m or so and found a sweet little bungalow right off of the beach. Cost - $500b ($16.66USD) negotiated down from $600b. This is where traveling alone is becoming a disadvantage. The accommodation costs are rising for me. If I had someone to split the cost with a price of $8.33US per night is much more palatable. But who am I to complain when dinner with a beer costs $4USD. And man the food here in Thailand is among the best of my trip to date. The sea here is so tranquil and unbelievably calm. With its shimmering turquoise gleam it is nearly impossible for me to imagine the carnage, destruction, and loss of life suffered here back in 2004 from the Boxing Day Tsunami. This ... read more

Koh Lanta! A lot more relaxed than the other places we've been so far, I can understand why people would come here for a couple of weeks holiday. The beaches are lovely! When we got off the ferry we walked the 15 minutes to the beachfront resort we booked. Upon arrival we were taken to our room and that's when it all got ugly. I have come to realise that accommodation standards over here are not the same as they are in other countries I've visited. I've also come to realise hotel websites lie! This room absolutely took the piss. The door didn't close properly allowing mosquitos in, there were electrical wires hanging out everywhere, there were cobwebs on every wall and ceiling and worst of all the bathroom smelt of raw sewage! I refused to ... read more

As we have already traveled to many parts of Thailand, the goal for this trip isn't to sightsee, but just to pick a spot to hang out in for a couple of months and experience daily life with the kids. But which island? Ko Phangan? Too much partying. Ko Phi Phi? Too overrun and expensive. Ko Samui? Too much sleaze. Phuket Island? No, just no! Ko Kradan or Bulon Leh? Nice, but not enough infrastructure for staying long term with small kids. We need access to medical in case something goes wrong, and a minimart for essentials - diapers, wipes, snacks... It had been ten years since we'd last been on Ko Lanta. We had good memories of it being at that right level of development. Not overrun by large concrete hotels, but with enough infrastructure. ... read more

After a day zooming around the island on the truck tuk we felt we'd seen a good proportion of the it. However as our truck tuk driver had taken us mainly to the well known tourist places we had noticed other interesting looking places that we would have liked to investigate more. Motor bikes are super cheap to rent on most Thai islands and are a popular way to get around. Ko Lanta is no exception. Bikes are less than £4 a day The roads tend to be in a bad condition, large potholes , mud patches and gravel. Stan's an experienced bike rider so I put my faith in his skills. Unlike most tourists, however, who tend to ride around in skimpy clothing or even swimwear I put on long trousers and a fleece. I've ... read more