Have I mentioned how I love the convenience of being picked up at my hotel?! Well, I do. I was picked up again for another early morning to catch a boat out to Ang Thong National park. It was a beautiful hour plus boat ride with the sun shining on turquoise blue water. We arrived at the first island for a short hike up to a natural lagoon in the middle of the "mountains." The hike was actually a stair climb, with stairs practically vertical at some points - but well worth the climb to the lookout! (To get from the big boat to the beach, a longtail transported us. These boats are cracking me up! There is literally an engine on the back with an 8 foot stick and a propeller on the end.)
We jump back on the boat to head to another island, with an even higher lookout point. This climb is super steep over limestone slabs (not easy to walk on), with a rope guiding you the whole way up (thank goodness for that rope!). It took about 30 minutes to get to the top, for a fantastic view of most of the 42 islands that make up the national park. We get a few sprinkles of rain on the way up (which is actually quite refreshing) and the clouds that are rolling in only help to make the water colors that much more brilliant. After a very careful hike down (again, thank goodness for the rope!) it's time for a swim! Yes - I actually went for a swim....and a snorkel!!!! I could hardly believe I did it myself. :) AND I stayed in for more than 5 minutes (more than 15 for that matter!). Too bad the water wasn't totally clear....
Besides for the 10 min. downpour we had on the boat ride home, I enjoyed most of the ride up on the sun deck taking in my surroundings. :)
Tomorrow I am off to Koh Phi Phi! (rated the 3rd most beautiful island in the world by some book, that is still recovering a bit from the tsunami)
lots of love!!!
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Enjoying the up dates and your experiences take us back. There is so much to see and isn’t it interesting how geography and local culture influence every day life. Our first trip to Koh Samui was thirteen years ago. It was just beginning to open up to tourists and most everything was within three blocks of the boat landing. We rented motor bikes and toured the island. Obviously we survived but on one occasion just barely.. Second time was about five years ago. Much had changed and “modernized”.
Where to next?
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