Sunday, October 5, 2008

Ko Samet

In keeping with my goals for living in Thailand, I'd planned to go to the beach on my day off again. I've been to Ban Phe twice now, and wanted to check out Ko Samet this time. Ko Samet is an island just off the coast, it's officially a national park but there are a bunch of resorts there. I wasn't quite sure what to expect but I had heard really good things about it. I took the songtheaw from Rayong to Ban Phe and wandered around all the touristy shops for a while, then got a ticket for the boat.
The boat is only 100B both ways, but admission to the island was 200B for foreigners. Only about $10 US... but my US $$ are slowly but surely diminishing. =/ I debated just going to Ban Phe again, but eventually decided it would be worth it to see someplace new.

I enjoyed the ride over. The ocean is really calm, and I just love the breeze on my face. I still don't know what those other little islands are called though.

About 30 min. later we reached Ko Samet... check out all the cute little bungalos.
The first thing I saw when I got off the dock was a 7/11. It kinda struck me as funny... not so much your desert island experience. But it was nice to have someplace to buy some water. It turned out that there were a LOT of shops - mostly selling touristy stuff, and places to arrange snorkeling trips etc. All along the beach there were hotels and restaurants.
Then, actually on the beach there were a few guys who would walk by selling food, fruit, chicken satay, etc. I bought some pineapple to snack on.


I walked along the beach for a while, trying to find someplace relatively free of people, and I saw this in a tide pool. At first I thought it was a banana peel, but then I thought maybe it was a sea star.... but then it looked a bit like a banana peel again. Opinions?


Sunthorn Phu is Thailand's most popular poet, and he wrote his epic poem Phra Apai Manee right here on Ko Samet. I haven't actually read the poem yet, but apparently it's something to do with a flute player & a mermaid. Intriguing.

The white sand was so fine, like talcum powder. The water, as warm as a bath, and so green today. There are even fewer waves here than on the mainland. It's like lying in a giant bathtub - so relaxing.


The beach from above... the restaurants set out chairs and tables all along the beach, I was just a few yards over, camped out on some rocks.


And here was a lazy fishing boat that just floated on by.

Overall, I had a nice time. I mean, any day at the beach is better than a day at the office - right? But I didn't care for the built-up nature of Ko Samet... or at least of the beach I went to. I saw more farangs than I'd seen in a while, and a lot of chubby Europeans in bikinis... no one really needs to see that. So for now, I think I'll stick to Ban Phe on my days off.


TAG - Code Mango

6 comments:

d said...

1. the beach there is gorgeous
2. that thing looks like a banana peel, no, wait a sea star, no wait a banana peel. no idea, dude. sorry.
3. chubby europeans? i always think of all europeans as being all skinny and dressed in black and smoking a ton of cigarettes. i know it's not true, it's just how i picture them in my head. stereotypes are hilarious.

Bezzie said...

I think it's a bananoctupus.

Hey, but now you can say you've been there and done that and it was...meh.

Ginger said...

The banana star looks like an octopus to me. I enlarged the photo and you can clearly see the body in the middle and the feeler things on the back of its legs.

Sarah Nopp said...

Octopus in my eye... looks like it is touching something or moving something?
By the way, I have to tell you how much I look forward to reading your posts about life. Especially on PacNW days like this- grey, wet, gusts. You know- October.
Thanks!

Rebel said...

d- 1. It really is.
2. I guess we're all going with Bananoctopustar
3. You need to go to Europe - that'll get your stereotypes sorted!

bezzie - it was far better than meh. But the particular beach I went to wasn't worth the price. I'd be willing to give the island another go & just try a different beach.

ginger - yeah, I looked as closely as I could and I did see feeler type things... but then it also kinda looked like rotting banana peel.

sarah - I'm glad you enjoy reading the blog... I enjoy reading your comments!! =)

Mag said...

That is one of those biodegradable condoms and I'd steer clear of it while it is biodegrading if I were you. ;-)