Paradise on earth; Ko Tao

I can’t not believe it. The place i’ve always dreamed of exists! The place I have combed through continents for years searching for, exists! The gorgeous beach, crystal clear water teaming with colorful fish, dotted with bamboo bungalows and hammocks; developed just enough to have running water, not hot water, not AC, a bungalow on the beach with very few other tourist around. You can lounge in beach front chairs for free, borrow a snorkel from the woven basket for free, walk 5 minutes into town and rent a motorcycle for $4.50 a day without singing a waiver, buying insurance or providing a drivers license. 

It’s like going back in time where everything is cheap and simple, no regulations, no permits. 

Our overnight boat arrived at 5:00am- still dark out. We hopped in a tuk tuk to Sairee beach where we were dropped at a cluster of bungalows. Nothing was open yet so we wandered down the beach until we found ones we liked the look of and ran into out new Dutch friends we made on the boat who were also waiting for the bungalow keeper to awake. We were all thankful she had bungalows available, but I was not surprised, things were going to smoothly so far, why would they stop now. People are so accomodating in Thailand! We had to pay 800 bahts (Approx $24 USD) instead of 600 because we were only staying one night, and we had to take the old bungalow that had not one but two igunas in it, but who cares!? We are in paradise and lizards eat big spiders. 

We secure a hut and brush our teeth, THANK GOD, throw on swim suits and stroll to the beach for a recovery nap and some breakfast. Next, we grab a snorkel and dive in to the crystal clear water just long enough for Jason to cut his stomach on coral:( Decide it's time to take a break from swimming and get a motorcycle to explore the rest of the island. Ride to the top of a mountain, drink a coconut shake, snorkel on the other side of the island. Eat a fabulous meal. Return to our side of the island. Go for an evening stroll on the beach, oh look, thai massages on the beach for $7USD, sold. Feeling limber and restored, we continue our walk to thinking this day couldn’t get any better yet it does. Fire throwers and dancers lining the beach, we score a beach front seat on the sand with a triangular pillow to lean again and order a beer. CHANG. I’m learning to love Chang mostly for the price tag. 

Ko Tao is paradise. I love the vibe on this island. I never want to leave.