Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao and back to Bangkok

Our stops in both Phuket and Ko Samui were both largely due to other people. Firstly we stayed with Richard and Susan for a couple of days. They are living at Phuket marina and, as well as providing us with some accommodation, were kind enough to chauffeur us around and take us to some of their favourite local restaurants. Next stop (after a forgettable rain-drenched stop-over in Ao Nang) was Ko Samui. It took us most of the day to get there via bus and ferry so we stayed the first night in the main, fairly charmless, tourist strip, Chaweng. For the next few nights we had got a special deal on a room at an awesome Relais & Chateaux hotel and were able to eat like kings there courtesy of a wedding gift from some friends. So thanks everyone, it was awesome to have a bit of luxury after getting used to staying in some pretty filthy places!

Real wine and posh food at The Scent Hotel

Phuket and Ko Samui are quite pretty but cursed in a way in that they have airports and therefore attract the package tourist. Our next stop, Ko Phangan, was much quieter. We spent 6 pretty lazy days on Hat Yao, on the north-west end of the island. We found a room right on the beach (although it meant going from our fantastic boutique hotel back to a shack with no aircon or hot water!) 

Our hut at Ibiza bungalows, Hat Yao

busy beach

For us, Hat Yao was awesome. Very quiet (unlike party central in the south-east) but there was still a 7-eleven for supplies and a few restaurants to choose from. It was meant to be the low season but was consistently hot and sunny, which was lucky because it had rained a lot in Ko Samui. We spent a few days lazing on the beach, and watched the sun set while tucking into the Thai whiskey most evenings. Probably my favourite stop on our journey so far.

Rocket fuel

hmm I wonder if the central line is busy today?

another day, another sunset

Our last island before heading back to Bangkok was Ko Tao. After a week without aircon we decided to splash out on a room with it at the north end of the main beach. Ko Tao is dominated by dive schools, but we decided to save our pennies for posh food in Japan rather than going diving (see next post). As a result we had 3 uneventful nights in Ko Tao, and in retrospect should probably have stayed somewhere off the main drag.

Sairee beach, Ko Tao

Last stop in Thailand before our visas ran out was a few more nights in Bangkok. It rained quite a bit, which was a good opportunity to do laundry, get on the internet and sort ourselves out for a busy couple of weeks ahead. We also tried to go to one of the exotic shows Bangkok is famous for, but accidentally ended up in a 'bar' where one chooses numbered prostitutes from a stage in the middle. Little bit awkward.

Soi Cowboy love you long time