Ever since I booked our accommodation on Ko Lanta, a beautiful island in the Andaman Sea, I’ve been dreaming of staying in our little beach bungalow. So when we arrived a few days ago, and I got to actually see where we were staying, I smiled from ear-to-ear and did the happy dance!!! It was beyond my expectations!
Our proprietor, Mr. Pong, who understands my English much better than I can understand his, is a lovely little man with a wonderful warm and friendly smile. He is so proud of his six-bungalow hotel on a gorgeous beach of pure sand. He’s only been open for 4 years, but he has meticulously taken care of every detail of creating large beautiful bungalows just steps from the beach. Although it’s not a private beach, it does feel like it, because there are so few people around…though other hotels and many restaurants are everywhere.
And the sunsets are just beautiful from the patio of our bungalow…Ko Lanta was to be some of the “chill time” part of our adventure, and it certainly is as we are enjoying much relaxing time at our beach bungalow…including early morning swims in that same 85 degree water!
Also love eating at restaurants where my toes can play in the sand while I eat, and the sound of the waves is a ever-present melody.
We went on another long-tail boat trip yesterday, and we loved that the boat was filled with people from all over the world… Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Holland, Finland, Morocco…and only one other American…a lovely young woman from Seattle. We thoroughly enjoyed our swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful clear and warm waters of the Andaman Sea!
But our favorite part of yesterday’s boat trip was swimming into a cave with amazing turquoise water that truly looked phosphorescent…then we continued on and swam into the very small pitch black cave with a guide (who spoke minimal English) occasionally shining a flashlight…eventually…we swam into an opening and into an amazingly beautiful tropical lagoon! Of course there were too many people there, but the scenery and experience overwhelmed the distraction of the presence of the other tourists. It was spectacular, but without an underwater camera, I have no photos…though Jessie from Seattle promised to email me some of her photos from her waterproof camera.
We’ve really been enjoying the Thai food, also…haven’t found anything too terribly spicy, but I may not be that adventurous! We are also amazed at the beauty of the food at the marketplaces…
and sometimes the way it is presented at restaurants…like the following photos of carved watermelons:
Meeting travelers from all over the world continues to be a special part of our journey. As does connecting with the gentle and friendly Thai people everywhere. I particularly love interacting with the children, and I’ve brought a supply of colorful pencils, stickers, small toys, balloons to twist into animals, and even some candy to share with the beautiful children I meet.
We’re preparing to start our journey to Bali, which can’t be bad, but we will absolutely miss Thailand and hope to return someday!