on the islands of Thailand

As the first stop, I traveled to Koh Chang after Chiang Mai. 13 hours by night train, 7 hours by bus, and half an hour by ferry. From door to door, about 27 hours, so not recommended if you don't have much time. I had to wait for 3 hours for the bus because the first 2 were already full, and then there were tuk-tuk rides from the train to the bus station and from the other bus station to the ferry, blah blah. Just a long journey. I was glad when I finally arrived on Koh Chang. It's also a pretty big island. I think it's the third largest in Thailand. It is located in the east of Thailand, just before the Cambodian border. The water here is not as turquoise, but it's still quite beautiful. The island wasn't really on my list, but I couldn't or didn't want to go to the south of Thailand because the weather has been bad there for 2 weeks, even though it's not the rainy season. But it was good because they celebrated the Thai New Year big on Koh Chang. Songkran. Every year on April 13th, and it lasts for 3 days. It is celebrated with water battles. Originally as a sign of purification and to wash away sins..
It was so much fun. Such an amazing New Year! :) I was completely soaked! Everyone was completely soaked. Everywhere on the roadside, loud music was playing, people were celebrating, laughing, and buckets of water were poured on passing/walking people or sprayed on with water guns or hoses. It was particularly mean when they had giant blocks of ice in their containers and the ice-cold water ran down your head and back.. It was definitely the only day so far where I didn't sweat:p
Otherwise, the island is rather relaxed and there are many waterfalls and beaches, of course;)
After 6 nights, I continued to the south to Krabi. But this time only 6 hours by bus to Bangkok and then I flew:) From Krabi, I took a day trip to the small island of Koh Poda. Beautiful turquoise clear water and beautiful beaches. Perfect for relaxing. At least in the back part of the island. In the front part, around noon, 200 Chinese tourists with their life jackets and selfie sticks arrive as part of the day tours. But the island is still worth it, and you can go directly from Ao Nang Beach in Krabi with a longtail boat.
Then I went to Koh Lanta in southern Thailand. Unfortunately, the water here is also not turquoise, but the island was still quite nice. From there, I booked a snorkeling day trip to Koh Rok with a speedboat. It was really cool and totally worth it. Snorkeling was fun there, turquoise water, dreamy empty beaches.. Another day, I booked a day trip to the Phi Phi Islands! Disaster! It was my worst tour/day trip ever! I had booked the 'day tour' from Lanta. I had to take the public ferry there, then I was picked up and rushed through the Phi Phi Islands for 20 minutes just to wait for half an hour at the meeting point and get a bad breakfast. The 'half-day tour' started at 10:30 am! In a longtail boat with huge waves. Even though I had booked a speedboat. The viewpoint was not included, which was exactly why I chose this tour. The snorkeling spots could not be reached because 'too many boats already!' The alternative spot wasn't much better. You snorkeled among all the other boats 'but watch out for boats'... it was not good at all. Finally, we went to the famous Maya Beach! Surprise, it was also crowded. Luckily, we all agreed on the boat that we wouldn't squeeze onto the beach and pay 11€ for the national park fee. So we went to a quiet beach opposite. It was over at 1 pm and no one knew how to get back to Koh Lanta. There were only 3 of us who came directly from there.

The two Chinese girls couldn't speak any English and followed me the whole time :) I had to discuss with the organizers all the time until we somehow managed to get back with the public ferry without paying again. Oh man, it was so poorly organized, and I just found the Phi Phi Islands to be way too crowded. I'm glad I didn't stay longer there, even though the tours from there are obviously easier and the water looks amazing there. If you're looking for a party island, it's probably great:p
Oh, so don't book with 'U-Rip Boat trip'. That wasn't even the name of the organizer I actually booked with..
My last stop in Thailand was the largest island, Phuket. Actually, I never wanted to go there because it has a reputation as a sleazy party island, and I thought the whole island was like that. I didn't know yet that it's such a big island and that there are also beautiful areas there:)
I stayed in Phuket Town for the first few days. Right in the old town with all the colorful houses (Sino-Portuguese architecture, if anyone is interested):p Sooo cute! I really loved the town! I was completely in love. It's my absolute favorite city in Thailand. And the Sunday market there, right in the old town (from 4 pm) is the best I've seen so far. I've bought way too much here again. At least there's not so much junk, but really nice stuff and things you don't normally see. And the food there is amazing.. so many delicious things, even the mango sticky rice looks better presented than in most restaurants! There was live music, cotton candy, fresh juices.. everything:) and then right in the most beautiful colorful street♡
From the old town, local buses also go directly to the beaches. One day I went to Karon Beach, but I didn't like it that much. It was too touristy for me. A huge beach that is normally beautiful for Thailand and full of sun loungers. All the restaurants have their menus in Russian and English... the journey takes about 40 minutes and the buses run about every 30 minutes. There's no schedule, and the bus terminal is just on the street 'opposite the bank':) see photo. But for only €0.90, it's good, and you mostly sit with locals, and sometimes monks get on the bus too:) They always radiate such peace. I love it when they're around:) I feel so much more relaxed immediately:)
My highlight was my day trip to the Similan Islands. A national park made up of small islands. Absolutely beautiful. Amazing turquoise water, beautiful beaches. Snorkeling was good too. But everything is quite deep, you're not so close, but there are a lot of fish that I haven't seen before. And lots of parrotfish. Oh, they shimmer so blue like mother-of-pearl in the sun and are so colorful. The trip was definitely worth it! I spent the last 2 days in the north of Phuket. At Naithon Beach. It's pretty nice there.

This time I uploaded a lot of photos.. unfortunately, 90% were taken with my phone because I didn't take my camera with me on the boat trips and I rarely bring my camera backpack because it's just too hot with it.. but luckily, my phone takes pretty good pictures. They would have been even better with the camera, of course, but at least you can see what it looks like there. And the order is not always correct. The website/app is not perfect:)

Wow, only 2 months left! But I also have to say after the 4th month that I'm starting to look forward to going home.. I love traveling, but very slowly I'm getting excited about Germany again. And about being able to cross the street in regulated traffic, about my bed, about my loved ones, about cheese, real bread, Kinder chocolate, licorice...

3 months would have been too short, I think 6 months is a good time, at least when traveling alone. If you're traveling with a partner or something, 1 year is perfect. But I think 6 months is enough for me alone. Especially now, I don't feel like staying in hostels anymore. It's just annoying in the long run. You always have to consider others, can't spread out, the air conditioning is always set to Arctic, and some people are just inconsiderate.. I've already had really great hostels and met many cool people. But in the long run, it's not for me. The problem then is that you hardly meet people when you stay in bungalows, etc.. But in Malaysia, the hotels/bungalows are probably a bit more expensive, so I will stay in hostels more often there.. I'm looking forward to the next country..:)

Before that, I'll treat myself to one last massage. Ever since my Thai massage course, I've become really picky. Sometimes I lie there and just think 'wow, you're doing it wrong', 'that's not how it's done!' You can really tell who was well trained here and who just does it on the side. Sometimes they even massage under the eyebrows. The other day, one of them almost dug out my eyeballs🙈

So tomorrow morning I'm going to Malaysia. I'll get in touch from there again:)