Thailand – Ko Tao, Ko Phangan, Kho Suk National Park
Hello All,
Been on the ground here for about five weeks now and things are going just fine – I can’t believe how fast the time is going. When I last wrote, I was headed to Ko Tao – a small island in the gulf of Thailand for a few days of diving. Ko Tao was a great place – but the focus there is definitely diving with over 30 different dive companies on the island. I dove three separate days – the reefs were in pretty good shape and saw lots of marine and different types of coral – Blue Spotted Rays, Jenkins Wip Rays, Barracuda, Tuna, a pair of Moray Eels, Angle Fish, Parrot Fish, Butterfly Fish, Trigger Fish and lots of others – definitely a worthwhile stop – and cheep. A boat dive cost about $20 including all equipment compared to about $50+ in Monterey Bay and the rental equipment was in good shape.
From there I headed to Ko Phangan another island just to the south with really nice beaches, cool people and great night life. I stayed on Had Rin beach on the south part of the island – a nice wide stretch of fine white sand – bordered by mountains and palm trees, along with a long line of clubs right on the beach. Had Rin is home to the full moon party – considered to be one of the top ten parties in the world. Every month when the moon is full, about 10,000 people show up to celebrate the event and dance the night away on the beach. I got there about six days prior to the full moon, and it was interesting watching the excitement build for the big night with more and more people arriving everyday. The night of the full moon, the beach was packed, and all the clubs were pumping out all different kinds of music – very fun. I ended up staying out all night until the sun came up over the ocean at which point the party got a second wind, and continued well into the next day. I called it quits around 9AM and caught some sleep in my air-conditioned bungalow. I stayed on Ko Phangan about 12 days in total, a few days after the party, things quieted down and it was a very chilled out place. I am still not sure how all those days went by so quickly.
On Feb 22nd, I left the islands behind and went west back to the mainland for five days to check out Kho Suk one of the Thai National Parks located among tall limestone spires and tropical jungle. For once I didn’t show up to a new place all on my own – Sharon a friend I made in Ko Phangan is from London and also traveling on her own and she decided to come with me to check out the park. Did lots of hiking through lush tropical jungle – most of the hikes were three to five miles long and all ended at a swimming hole under a waterfall – I can’t describe in words how satisfying it is to leave the hot muggy jungle behind after a long hike, and dive into a cool pool of water – wonderful. Saw lots of lizards and monkeys, my fair share of spiders and snakes, and an unknown number of insects making all kinds of strange noises both day and night. Sharon even had her first leach experience, but held up pretty well considering she’s a city girl 😉
Now I am off on my own again, cooling my heals for two days in Surat Thani at a hotel with a pool, getting my laundry done, and catching up on email. On the 28th, I am headed to Chaiya for a ten day meditation retreat at a forest temple – during this time, I will not have email access till about the March 11th, so feel free to email me, but you may not hear back from me until then.
Hope you all are well…
Matt