Koh Samui 12th-14th April

പ്രസിദ്ധീകരിച്ചു: 15.04.2019

At a non-holiday-like time (6:45), we left the resort in Railay. Once again, we were kindly provided with a delicious packed lunch including pancakes, jam, fried eggs, and toast :) However, we realized that when planning and booking transfers and accommodations, we should have coordinated everything better. We paid dearly for it: the long-tail boat to the mainland only departs when there are 8 people. But since we were the only ones at the pier so early, we had to charter a private boat for €11 per person (for a 10-minute crossing, non-negotiable...). Many combined trips (van and boat) offer a hotel pick-up service, but that was not included in our package. Fortunately, a van from the same travel agency took us from the pier to the starting point in Krabi Town for an extra fee of €3.

Typical vans
Typical vans

We traveled by bus for 2.5 hours to the province of Surat Thani on the southeast side of Thailand.

On the bus towards Koh Samui
On the bus towards Koh Samui

We took a giant catamaran to the famous holiday island of Koh Samui. During the journey, I had an interesting conversation with a German fellow traveler about travels (destinations, perspectives, experiences, ...). I think there are relatively few Germans in Thailand due to the season, so it's a pleasure to meet some and be able to exchange experiences :)

High-speed catamaran
High-speed catamaran

We arrived on the island almost on time and once again had to pay for transportation to the hotel...(transfers are expensive here). We finally arrived at our hotel 'Floral' at noon. The design of the hotel truly lives up to its name, and it was the best hotel we had in 2 weeks: beautifully furnished cottages, clean, friendly staff, great breakfast, and a very green area.

Our hotel
Our hotel
Flowers everywhere
Flowers everywhere

However, we didn't get the location quite right, as we would later find out. We had lunch at a beachfront restaurant owned by a Swiss expatriate. The western beach, which was on the opposite side of the resort, had been recommended in my travel guide as beautiful and peaceful (most tourists are on the eastern side in Chaweng), so we wanted to stay there. However, it turned out to be a coarse-grained beach with many algae in the water, which did not meet our ever-increasing beach expectations. Unfortunately, we often only go to the beach in the slightly cooler afternoon hours, so we always miss the high tide, and swimming becomes nearly impossible...

Beautiful, but algae and coarse sand
Beautiful, but algae and coarse sand

At least the western location gave us a dream sunset!

Amazing sunset in front of the hotel
Amazing sunset in front of the hotel

We had planned to go to a nice market in a nearby fishing village in the evening, but it failed due to lack of transportation options. Pick-up buses only ran hourly at undefined times, and taxis demanded an overpriced night rate. Fortunately, we found a cute restaurant on the beach for dinner. We were greeted by a 3-year-old who clung to my leg, wanted to be picked up, and then didn't want to let go at all :D I had a delicious Thai soup with coconut milk, ginger, vegetables, and lemongrass, as well as a coconut shake served in a coconut.

Coconut shake
Coconut shake


The next day, I slept until 9 am while Lisa was already at the pool (she came back excitedly because she saw a snake). This is actually rare because so far we have only seen some insects, geckos, and lizards. We were welcomed with flower garlands at the delicious breakfast because the Thai New Year festival 'Songkran' was taking place for the next 3 days.

The beautiful flower garland
The beautiful flower garland

In addition to January 1st, the Thais also celebrate the date that the ancient peoples believed to be the New Year (April 13th-15th). During this time, the Thais clean everything and 'wash away the bad of the previous year'. We bitterly experienced this when we wanted to ride our rented scooter (the main means of transportation in Thailand) to a beach in the south. In the villages, there were huge water battles with buckets, pools, water guns, hoses, loud music, and locals and tourists celebrating wildly. Unfortunately, as a scooter rider, you have no protection, so we were soaked to the underwear within a few minutes. We had to constantly stop, get soaked with buckets of water, and have baby powder smeared on our faces. I really liked the atmosphere, even though it was dangerous to drive on flooded roads, sometimes not being able to see anything spontaneously, or being thrown off balance by vigorous water masses... Lisa, who was already unhappy being on the back of the scooter (too fast, too wobbly, ...), wanted to turn back at some point because everything was cold (with the wind...) and wet.

Soaking wet
Soaking wet
Almost as cool as mine at home
Almost as cool as mine at home
Baby powder
Baby powder
Being a good boy driving 40 km/h:D
Being a good boy driving 40 km/h:D

However, arriving back in the city was not an option, so we finally arrived at a beach, took off everything to let it dry, and lay down in the warm, shallow water. The beach was coarse-grained, but picturesque with palm trees, large rocks, and a small restaurant next to it.
Touristy picture 1
Touristy picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 2
Climbing - there
Climbing - there's still room to go higher
Who put the coconut there...
Who put the coconut there...
Soaked through
Soaked through

During lunch, we received a lot of support, which is often the case in Thailand: there are many cute dogs and kittens that sometimes live on the street or 'unofficially' belong to a restaurant. Sometimes you have a pet for the time at the beach, which walks and lies next to you and even goes swimming with you :D
Cool restaurant
Cool restaurant
Fluffy
Fluffy
Animal support
Animal support

On the way back, we got just as wet, and Lisa refused to ride the scooter again. So the planned Songkran party in the east and the visit to the fishing village and a temple were canceled. We separated for about 2 hours, and I rode alone with water shoes and a bikini through the next villages (finally faster than 50 km/h ;) )
With a water tank by the roadside
With a water tank by the roadside
Super cool Thai woman
Mega cool Thai woman

By the way, you can refuel either at the gas station or at random shops on the roadside, which sell (presumably adulterated) gasoline in bottles.
Nice fuel prices (35 THB = 1€)
Nice fuel prices (35 THB = 1€)
Or at the roadside
Or at the roadside

I spontaneously celebrated for half an hour with a small group on the way back and finally got to soak someone else!! In the evening, we had dinner again at the Swiss restaurant on the nearby beach. We shared a delicious fresh sea bass with garlic and pepper for less than €8 per person.
Yum
Yum
That was the end of our short stay on the popular holiday island. As a farewell gift, we received cute elephant pendants from the hotel :)
My new companion
My new companion


By the way, I have to mention that it was a good decision not to buy a SIM card and hence have internet connectivity at all times. I learned to appreciate Wi-Fi (available in every accommodation and almost every restaurant) and became much more relaxed during the times when I couldn't be reached. You have to check or ask for directions and other information beforehand (in tourist areas, many Thais speak English).

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