Hello everyone! Internet was a little scarce, again, in our hotel so I wasn’t able to check in online at all. I never realised how much I rely (and love!) the internet.
So, we arrived in Koh Phangan from Koh Tao on Saturday 19 December. We got a ferry, organised via our hotel in Koh Tao, with a company called Songserm. I’ve been known to read up reviews regarding companies, notably the buses to Sapa, and this company was no different in terms of positive and negative feedback. Some reviews online claimed that some items went missing from their luggage and to make sure all items of importance were kept on you. We generally did this anyway but I guess there’s no harm in being reminded of it.
Our hotel in Koh Tao had two ferry options. According to the agency Songserm took 3 hours to reach Koh Phangan for 350 baht each, whereas Lompraha (high speed boat) who we travelled with when getting from Bangkok to Koh Tao took 1.5 hours for 500 baht. With funds running a little low we decided on the cheaper option. Plus we weren’t exactly in a big rush anyway.
We were picked up by a taxi (organised by the travel agents and included in the ticket price) at 9.15am and the ferry was to leave at 10am. The ferry only arrived in to the pier however at 10.06am therefore by the time everyone on board had collected their belongings, alighted and the new passengers boarded it was 10.25am before we actually left. Our bigger bags were taken off us and thrown (yes, thrown!) in to a storage room. Boy, was I glad I kept my important items on me now. We took our seats and were on our way. The journey was a little bumpy to say the least; poor Jamie was getting terrible motion sickness and cold sweats. Thankfully we arrived in to Koh Phangan around 12 noon, taking just over 1.5 hours. I couldn’t help but thing ka-ching $$$ big 150 baht savings there my friend for the same length of time as the speedier ferry. I’ll take that thank you very much!
We hopped in a taxi outside the main pier which was heading with another group of people to the same area Haad Ring Pier which is about 20 minutes by taxi. It is still only about 6km away however the roads are not great so they drive that little bit slower, well sometimes anyway! We arrived at our hotel; Coral Bungalows around 12.45pm and checked-in straight away. The resort is quite nice however a little dated I must say. A friend of mine from college, a fellow Jean actually, recommended this place and I am so glad she did. The pool is fab and the hotel is literally on the beach! It’s great. The only thing is the Wi-Fi, or the lack of same should I say. It works in the public areas (sometimes) however not in the bedrooms. Ah well, not to worry! I can catch up on some writing or maybe even talk to Jamie!
We relaxed for the remainder of the afternoon by the pool getting lunch, having some cocktails and finally a little stroll to 7-Eleven up the road for some snacks!
Blue Lagoon & Mer du Sud
The sun setting in Koh Phangan
Sunday 20 December 2015
Twentieth of December already, I can’t believe how close to Christmas it is. If we were at home we’d be donning the Christmas jumpers and joining in the festivities! But in the land of heat and sweat sarongs and flip flops it is!
So today we decided we would rent some mopeds from the hotel. For just 100 baht each we got a nice speedy Honda bike. We also purchased 50 baht of petrol from them and made our way to the nearest petrol station to fill them up completely. They filled for about 70 baht (E1.78). We scooted around the town for a bit and visited a lovely little bakery called Nari’s Bakery which has been operating on the island since 1985 imagine. With three locations on the island Haad Rin which is near our hotel and two others; Thong Sala Pier and Baan Tai, we also popped in to the one at Thong Sala Pier later on in the day.
I'm looking uber-tired in this one!
Cappuccino, orange juice and marble cake! #instaworthy
Making our way around the island
Quick stop for some photo taking and a juice
This looks almost like a postcard!
The island is pretty small therefore you’d reach anywhere within the hour easily I would imagine although it’s best to take it slow on the roads. The town at Haad Rin is quite dainty; the roads on the map you think are long stretches however turn out to be only a short distance every time. We were considering changing hotels however it turns out the one we are staying in is the best value at 300 baht/night (yes, just E7.64) so we’ve decided to stay here another two nights until we leave for Koh Samui on Wednesday.
We visited Koh Phangan National Park in the afternoon and saw two beautiful waterfalls; Phaend Noi Waterfall and Than Nam Rak Waterfall. It was around 4pm by the time we got to the National Park therefore we spent only about 45 minutes here trekking up to the waterfalls and back in that space of time in order to make our way back to our hotel before dark. Although we did have a quick pit stop in Nari’s, Thong Sala Pier for a coffee and cake! We reached our hotel at 6pm!
We had received vouchers from our hotel when checking in on Saturday for either a free pad thai or a free drink at the bar. Therefore we used those tonight, Jamie getting vodka & coke and I vodka & sprite. We also availed of one of the specials that night; fish & chips for 60 baht (E1.52). I still can’t get over the price of things. Imagine less than E2 for dinner! Anyway that’s it for now!
Enjoying a cold Chang beer