Trip to Thailand and Elephant Haven

On May 22nd, we took a taxi in the afternoon from Dambulla to the airport in Colombo. However, the three-hour journey turned into 4.5 hours due to heavy rains and some roads being flooded. The last three kilometers took the longest due to a traffic jam in front of a flooded road. The water suddenly rose so high that cars could barely pass through, and the scooters were submerged. Many people waded through the water on foot. We could hear the water sloshing along the vehicle's body. It was a bit eerie. Just before, I had mentioned to Simon that we could walk the last part since it wasn’t far and time was running a bit short before our flight.

Nevertheless, everything went well and we departed on time shortly after 11 PM local time, landing in Bangkok three and a half hours later.

The Air Asia aircraft was a slightly smaller model, so the backrest was a bit short, and especially my knees bumped painfully against the seat in front. Still, we managed to sleep a little, resting our foreheads against the seat in front during the meal service.

Entry into Thailand was quick and smooth as we had applied for the visa online in advance.

Next, we took a taxi to the second airport in Bangkok to fly in the morning with a small propeller plane to Koh Samui. The view was really beautiful since we were flying at a low altitude.

The small airport on the island is really nicely designed; very open, pavilion-like, with beautiful seating areas and ponds.

The accommodation, Reuan Phaolai, was just a short drive away, and after a quick stop for water at 7eleven, we could finally take an extended nap to catch up on some sleep.

In the evening, we visited our first attraction here, Fisherman’s Village, a shopping street with many cafés and restaurants. You can stroll leisurely here.

Overall, Koh Samui is quite touristy with many hotels and villas. However, you can find cafés and snacks on every corner and easily find a restroom. In Sri Lanka, everything was a bit more rudimentary, but there you could admire a diverse array of wildlife and plant life.

After a quiet and restful night, we set off for Samui Elephant Haven today. In fact, it was only at nine o'clock. In Sri Lanka, we were usually already on the move by half past seven, as you become quite aware when the Sinhalese neighbors and dogs wake up at half past six.

Despite the short hike up the hill, we were quite out of breath; the humidity is considerably higher than in Sri Lanka and thus more exhausting.

At Samui Elephant Haven, there is also a café that encloses an enclosure where one or two elephants are driven in so that visitors can enjoy watching them. The elephants are fed cut bamboo or can frolic in the water or get a shower from the waterfall before enjoying a sand bath. The animals seemed very relaxed and playful.

The food and drinks are not very cheap but also don't differ much from the other restaurant prices in the area. The proceeds go to the sanctuary. There are many coffee variations and cocktails, as well as dishes of all sizes. We had a very aromatic cappuccino, a peanut espresso, and a huge almond croissant. Everything was beautifully presented and delicious. Meanwhile, we could always watch the elephants.

It was definitely worth it for us, and the other guests seemed to be enjoying themselves too. We chatted with a German couple who are also planning to emigrate; they would like to stay in Koh Samui permanently. I sincerely hope they succeed. The bureaucratic hurdles are somewhat higher on both the German and Thai sides.

On the way back, we stopped at a small to-go café and enjoyed some nicely chilled Thai milk tea and Thai coffee. The café cat was very affectionate and loved being petted. It was really sweet.

In Koh Samui, there seem to be many more cats than dogs, and the dogs we've seen so far resemble pot-bellied pigs, they are so fat that they are fed.

Afterward, we visited a market and bought some fruits. Here, you can wonderfully try out all the exotic items (mangosteen, rambutan).

We spent the afternoon at the accommodation. Reuan Phaolai is located quietly on a side street and consists of several guest houses with green areas, a pond, and even a small pool, which Simon immediately tried out today.

The owner here is very nice and helpful and has already given us many tips on where to eat well and cheaply or what you absolutely must see on the island.