Day 26: Koh Tao -> Bangkok

Time flew by on Koh Tao. The 3.5 days were a good mix of diving, exploring the island, relaxing, and socializing. It was one of those places where you could easily spend two weeks or more. One of the reasons for that was the incredibly pleasant hostel with an amazing atmosphere and vibe. And of course, the natural beauty of a small island in the Gulf of Thailand.

For its size, the island had surprisingly high mountains, which could mostly be overcome on good roads. It's incredibly fun to ride the scooters up the sometimes steep sections of the curvy road. Once you reach the top, you'll have a view of the vastness of the sea all the way to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan. You can also admire the many coves from a bird's eye view and observe the interplay of blue water, white sand, and dark coral reefs.

After a steep descent, you arrive at one of the mentioned coves, and often the entrance leads through a resort, where you'll find a well-maintained path to the beach. The smaller beaches are usually only visited by hotel guests, so it's pleasantly quiet. The water invites you with a temperature of 29 degrees, and with the help of a diving mask, you can explore the breathtaking underwater world. Many small, colorful to inconspicuous fish are surrounded by many larger, equally colorful animals at the bottom.

The fish are initially quite trusting, so you can relax and watch them graze on the rocks. Every now and then, you find yourself in a school of small fish, which surround you and only flee when there are frantic movements. There are also rainbow fish, pufferfish, and yellow fish, as well as countless other species. Some animals grow to about half a meter, and the narrow, long fish that resemble pike even reach almost a meter.

After the many impressions in the morning, I took the ferry in the afternoon and headed to Bangkok. After the ferry, we had to wait three hours for the bus. I passed the time at a nearby night market. Mostly locals were there, which was clearly reflected in the prices. I paid only 15 Baht for a pancake with banana and chocolate, while in the tourist areas, it costs 50 Baht or more.

The bus to Bangkok was crowded, and at first, it was questionable whether there would be enough seats for everyone. But once everyone was accommodated, we set off on the seven-hour journey to the capital of Thailand. The bus was theoretically very comfortable, with seats that could be reclined far, a footrest, and a blanket. However, the person in front of me also reclined their seat far back, so the space was quite limited. But if you managed to arrange yourself, it was a somewhat comfortable space, and I was even able to sleep for a few hours.

Arriving in Bangkok at half past five, it was time to find the hotel. On the way there, I had some fried balls from one of the many street food stalls as breakfast and started my search for accommodation. After some time, I finally arrived and was greeted very warmly. I was provided with a shower, and I could rest in the common area. The hostel has a modern, rustic look with black, wood, and metal, which made a positive impression right away. And of course, there's the central location, a gym, and a pool, all for an unbeatable six euros per night. I'll definitely make good use of the latter before heading into the city in the cool morning hours and then back to the hostel for a midday nap. In the evening, I'll explore the culinary delights of street food.