3. Koh Tao, Thailand - Beaches, Beaches, Fire Shows and Beaches

So the island of Koh Tao was our next destination and to get there we had to catch a train, an overnight train, a very eventful overnight train...hmmm. The train was at 7.30pm, got there in plenty of time and got settled in our seats!

 

 

 We had purchased a joint ticket meaning it was a package of train (Bangkok – Chumphon), bus (train station to pier), and ferry (Chumphon pier – Koh Tao). The total cost was about 20 pounds ish but it was travelling for 13 hours in total so value for money definitely!

After setting off we thought we had two seats to ourselves until a stop later one (one of the few) and they took the seats opposite. They were lovely bless them and I offered to swap so both could face each other. But we were in for a big surprise, within about 20 mins of getting comfy a man was coming up the train carriage. He was changing the seats into beds, here are a few pictures of the process! He really must get really sick of changing them but hey, on his breaks he loved his candy crush, unfortunately didn’t get a picture of that sadly! Haha.

 

 

Here are few entertaining pictures for your enjoyment of us loving the train journey! The one where I look asleep is when I was desperate to leave the train for fresh air after running out of the onboard toilet...it was an experience...

 

 

 

 

 And here is us on the ferry over to Koh Tao, half asleep and looking a mess, but it was to be worth it upon arrival!

 

After the long endless journey, when we got to Koh Tao pier, all the tiredness floated away! It was gorgeous, the beaches, sand, palm trees...palm trees!! After checking into the hostel, which in the end was ex-SNORE-cellent, we headed straight to the nearest restaurant for food! It was so weird because being on a train, bus and ferry for a while you still feel like you're floating away on the sea whilst eating your omelette!

 

 

Over the 8 days we spent there, we saw the most amazing sunsets. It was great because the main area is on the west, therefore they get clear sunsets EVERYDAY! Here are a few pictures on some of them sunsets!

 

 

 

And here's me working hard!!

 

One of the nights we went to a fire dancing show which was amazing! They were brilliant and the first fire show we've seen. Especially when one went into the sea and did this amazing pattern in the sky with the fire! Nat managed to get a really good picture of it. Also he made us all have angel halos above our heads with the fire, it was so close but unforgettable!

In other news, here's a picture of me and Nat beside a strange looking 90 degree palm tree, very funky!

We went on a few adventures around the island, particularly to the south of Mae Haad which was where we were. One of these was to Sai Nuan Beach which was so lovely. A short walk, maybe 20 mins and you're in paradise.

 

 

 

Another day we headed to Freedom Beach, south again, to do some snorkelling! Snorkelling is amazing in Koh Tao, highly recommended. When we got there we realised the water was really cloudy so decided to head round the rocks to another area which turned out to be great! It was so cute here because there was a dog literally fishing for food and it turned out to the beach bars dog. We enjoyed yet another amazinggggg sunset here and enjoyed some amazing thai food (Nat’s food being a LITTLE too spicy...).

Side note: basically this post is all about beaches and sunsets....

We have got an underwater camera which got some good shots, here is one with me whilst snorkelling :)

Along Sairee Beach (which is the main beach on Koh Tao) there are numerous restaurants bursting with flavour and amazing spices. A couple of days before we left, we headed to one of these places for some food, which was actually delicious!!! However the next day it wasn’t so delicious! I had really bad food poisoning. That’s all you need to know.

 

Overall the island was amazing, the beaches gorgeous, and would highly recommend it to anybody!!

 

Next stop is Koh Samui, much bigger than Koh Tao but sure it'll be brilliant!

 

See you then? :)

 

Rach x