The Beach

We took an overnight bus from Bangkok to Koh Pha-ngan. In India, our experience with buses had been less than pleasant, but we had been assured that the buses in Thailand were “five-star all the way” so we decided to give it a go. We arrived at the bus station a little later than we planned, and didn’t have time to grab a meal before boarding the bus. We were hungry, so we made a quick stop at the bus stop Dunkin’ Donuts and took some pastries to go.

While I wouldn’t call the buses five-star, they were pretty nice. We were greeted at the door by the bus stewardess, who looked just like a 1950s airline stewardess with her little uniform and hat. She showed us to our seats and we settled in for the journey. Shortly after we left, she started the movie; a ridiculous French film that I couldn’t bear to watch. Halfway through the entertainment, it was juice boxes and boxed lunches. In the morning, we were given moist toilettes and coffee to wake us up before transferring to the ferry. The cost of the ferry was included in our bus fare. We spent the three hour journey roaming the deck to enjoy the view and napping in the comfy seating area. All this for the bargain price of $21 per person. Greyhound could take some lessons here.

Our hotel in Koh Pha-ngan was the perfect beach retreat. We had a secluded bungalow with a front porch that overlooked the pier. A hammock provided the perfect place to read a book or enjoy the spectacular sunsets, and a kitty that we named Honey came by every morning and evening to sit with us.

Our first day in Koh Pha-ngan we went to visit sunset beach, famous for the monthly full moon parties. The sand was white and soft, and the water seemed almost too perfect to be natural. The water was crystal clear blue, warm, and had not a single wave. We laid out an enjoyed the sun, with an occasional dip in the clear waters.
The next day in Koh Pha-ngan we went on a longboat trip around the island. Our first stop was a waterfall. We landed on the beach, and hiked about 1km to the falls. There was took a dip in the cool waters and climbed to the top of the falls to enjoy the spectacular view. Our next stop was Bottle Beach, a pristine area that can only be reached by boat. The remote island has no roads, and it is possible to lie on Bottle Beach as the only visitors. We were supposed to end our trip with snorkeling at Ko Ma, but a huge storm forced us to turn back. We hurried through the torrential downpour, huddling together to try and keep warm and as dry as possible. The rain stopped just as suddenly as it started, and we stopped at a nearby beach for snorkeling. Then it was home for a buffet of green curry, yellow curry, and sweet and sour vegetables.

Our fourth day on the island, Leon and I rented a scooter to explore the island. We had originally planned to head to Ko Ma for some snorkeling, but winds were high and the waters were rough. Instead we decided to explore the few roads that exist on the island. We found a great local restaurant, and saw some prawn farmers hard at work. It was interesting to see the local villages scattered between the areas that are dominated by the tourist industry.
Having seen the entire island, we decided to head across the country to see the Andaman Coast exploring the north. We found a bus the Krabi that left the following morning. As we boarded the ferry, we were relaxed, revived, and ready to explore.

Koh Pha-nagn