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Published: December 13th 2007
Samui Sunset
I found this great little cafe right on the beach with a view of spectacular sunsets.November 26th - December 4th:
I started my trip in Thailand visiting the north section and my plan was to return to the southern coast after the rainy season ended to soak in the sun and rest and relax for a few weeks before heading stateside. I hopped on a plane from Hanoi, Vietnam and flew to the beautiful island of Ko Samui where I stayed for a few days before island hopping to the slower paced Ko Pha Ngan.
Ko Samui is comprised of golden beaches, hidden coves, an inner forest grooved by creeks and waterfalls, a picturesque ring road that takes you around the island in a one hour drive, the tranquility of the resorts contrasting with the jazziness of the night life, the convenience of full-scaled tourist services that have not yet completely destroyed the primeval atmosphere - all together made it a great starting point for my island hopping excursion. Still feeling the effects of the virus I picked up in Vietnam and the antibiotics running through my veins I wanted to stay away from the hectic and party beaches of Chaweng - think of Wildwood, NJ with a tropical island flare - so I
Lazy Days
A wicker hammock where I found myself spending the majority of my days in Ko Samui. headed to Hat Maenam. A quiet, relaxing section with a small crescent-moon shaped beach I found a bungalow on the beach with a hammock and a view of the surrounding islands. I was the only person staying at the guesthouse that was completely secluded from everything and everyone else and in my fever filled nights I convinced myself I had malaria and if something was to happen to me nobody would ever know. Two-months of solitude finally getting to me! Luckily my fever broke and I was on the meand after a few days filled with long sleeps, daily naps and many advil and bottles of water. As soon as I felt better it was time to move on.
Ko Pha Ngan is the smaller sister island to Samui and has a simple atmosphere with inland mountains and rugged granite outcrops along the coast. Famous for it’s Full Moon parties, which weren’t taking place while I was there, it’s a pilgrimage for ravers. Still in the low season the island was quiet and somewhat desolate with many of the bungalows and guesthouses still closed. I headed to Chaloaklam, the largest bay on the North, protected by a coral reef
Rainbow Bungalow Sunset
Wathcing the sun set from the steps of my bungalow in Ko Samui. that shelters the beach from the tides providing turquoise colored waters that splash against sun-bleached beaches. I found another bungalow that sat right on the beach and settled in for a few days of laying in a hammock, strolling the white sand beaches, exploring the small fishing village, hiking the trail to secluded Bottle Beach (sorry Ben but everything there was still closed), dining on fresh seafood at beachside cafes while watching stunning sun sets and doing a whole lot of nothing.
After a week of doing nothing and feeling 100% better it was time to head to Koh Tao and take in some scuba diving.
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Larry
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Virus BGone
Alan: So glad you're feeling better. I'm sure those days of feverish solitude and lazy stumbling from bungalow to hammock (to beer bucket and back) will be the mellow blur you'll remember about these months. Keep the photos and journal entries coming until you step off the plane in the U.S.! In fact, 'm thinking you should continue the Smoovey journal well into your retirement years: "And here's a photo of the paper clips on my new office desk. The yellow ones are particularly bright against the cool backdrop of the steel grey ink blotter." Just a thought. Be safe, be well, bedazzled.