Haad Khom

After several days of really bad weather, the sun finally came out yesterday and I was eager to do something. Darshi didn't feel like it, so I set off alone to Haad Khom, a small bay east of Chaloklam.

Spontaneously, I decided to first look for an even smaller, undeveloped sandy bay behind Haad Khom that I had seen from the boat 2 years ago on my way to Bottlebeach. I parked the scooter at the end of the road and followed a path down to the sea. It was very hot. Although I was wearing my cap to protect my head from the sun, I soon felt its intense radiation. After about 300 meters, the path disappeared into the wilderness. So I took an almost invisible trail into the thicket. Someone had tried to block or at least hide the entrance to this path with a fallen branch, but they hadn't succeeded. The path was hardly visible, more like a guess. But at least it was shaded as it led through low trees, tall bushes, and shrubs. Nonetheless, it was very difficult to find a way through the thicket. I had to step over ferns and other unknown plants, some of them with sharp or pointed leaves, and I was only wearing shorts. My shoes were not suitable for this terrain either. Nonetheless, I continued to struggle, my curiosity and sense of adventure outweighed my common sense. To secure my steps, I picked up a suitable stick from the ground, which would also protect me from any snakes by hitting it forcefully or scare them off. Eventually, the thicket opened up and I stepped onto a clear clearing that offered a view over large boulders down to the sea. There was no path here anymore, unfortunately, and no beach. With proper equipment and clothing, I could have made my way down, but I gave up on this plan, especially since the sandy bay was not to be found here, only rocks. And I didn't have any drinking water with me either. So, sensibly, I made my way back up the slope to my scooter.

I drove the few hundred meters back to the beginning of the bay, where I had seen a paved path leading almost all the way down to the beach. So far, I only knew a very rocky unpaved path at the end of the beach. I parked the scooter and walked the few meters to the water, where there was a barely visited simple beach bar, which didn't interest me further.

Haad Khom is an approximately 300-meter long, fairly narrow beach with very fine sand, although it is quite sticky in many places. The sea is calm and the shallow waves gently splash against the shore. Behind it are towering trees that provide a lot of shade, but also shed a lot of leaves. There are only a few palm trees. I walk up the beach almost to the end, where I eat a snack in a restaurant and quench my thirst. I was quite exhausted from my trek through the wilderness and the heat. Originally, I had planned to take a boat from here to Bottlebeach, but the previous adventure had drained too much of my energy, and I felt completely exhausted, so I sensibly decided to forget about that plan for today.

After resting and refreshing myself, I walked the few meters to the end of the beach, passing a beautiful all-white restaurant, and looked for a way to the small undeveloped beach. One of the boat operators had told me that it was possible to walk there. When I asked him about it after my unsuccessful search, he said I would have to climb over the rocks. Well, thanks, but no thanks, not today.

Instead, I walked back along the beach, found a shady spot, and jumped into the water. It was high time to cool off. Lying on my back, I enjoyed the pleasant temperature of the water and the gentle, barely noticeable rocking, surrendering to the silence and weightlessness.

The swim had done me good, but I didn't waste any time and immediately started my way back. I didn't even make a stopover in Mae Haad, where I could have visited my dog friend. I was simply too exhausted. It was a beastly hot day.