Where did the past seven weeks go? I can’t believe that tomorrow I’m back on a ferry, waving goodbye to Koh Tao again. However, I have a suspicion the next seventeen days traveling around Thailand are going to fly by. I am really looking forward to the trip ahead, which is going to be filled with friends, favorite old destinations and one very highly anticipated festival. There’s something special about the exotic becoming the familiar, and that’s very much how I feel now — like Koh Tao is home, and I’m taking off on another road trip around my big beloved backyard that is Thailand.
And um, no, those aren’t sentimental tears you guys! I just had some salt water in my eyes from the ocean!
It’s been a beautiful week here on Koh Tao, with moody storms, gorgeous drives through the jungle, more sunset paddleboard sessions, live music at treehouse rasta bars, and one stunningly technicolor beach day.
Photo A
Visiting a friend’s house up in the hills — love how small my girl Anna looks in the big jungle
Photo B
Pretty much a postcard paradise, no?
Photo C
Live music at Baby Rasta Bar
Photo D
Sunset with my paddle pals at SUP Koh Tao
Which photo is your favorite?
You are going to have a blast! I’m glad to hear that things are positive with you Alex!
Oh – and I choose B…makes me want to get back to Thailand sooner than later…sigh!
Yeah, the weather has been off the charts beautiful lately — even when it rains 🙂 B really shows both sides!
It’s so hard to say goodbye but I’m sure you’re going to have a blast revisiting our old stomping ground! Oh, and I love photo D…the two fit together beautifully! Happy travels 🙂
I am very much looking forward to a little vacation within a vacation 🙂
I’m so excited to hear about your upcoming travels and see photos of Yi Peng! It’s definitely high on my list.
I love photo C this week. Such unique colors and textures.
I’m going with my photographer friend, so hopefully together we bring our A game! We can’t wait!
Photo D! Love that palm leaf and sunset.
So jealous you’ll be in my old hood, give Chiangers and Pai a big hug and kiss for me. Eat at the Swan in CM if you haven’t, it’s the most amazing Burmese fusion restaurant and by far my favorite in the city. xx
Nice! I am going to look through your Chiang Mai posts before I arrive. I’m doing a leather workshop there that I’m super excited for.
Can’t say I’ve ever heard of a leather workshop, excited to hear what that involves!? I haven’t written much on CM since the blog came about after the fact…is it weird to write retro posts? Cause I think I want to eventually!
Not at all! I thought you had a great Chaing Mai advice post on there, no? I remember it was filled with great info!
Hi Alex,
My Chloe should be on the ferry tomorrow morning. Look out for a long haired blonde lovely about 4 ft 10. She’s her dads dinky toy! 🙂
The sunset for me every time!!!!!!
I had a look, but I didn’t see any other short blondies around! Funny we were on the same ferry 🙂
I LOVE the idea of a place where sunset paddle boarding exists, regularly.
It’s one of my most constant routines! It doesn’t hurt that I’m friends with the guys who started the paddleboard business 🙂
Photo D- I love that palm leaf!
Me too! I was taking that photo in the middle of a busy beach and people were definitely looking at me like I was crazy. But the results were worth it!
D bc of your optical trickery! At first I thought the palm leaf was rows of paddle boards — the beauty of abstract shots.
I love that juxtaposition 🙂 And the fact that I really did take the photos one after another in a set like that1
Photo B
I truly enjoy all of your posts, accompanied by your professional-level photography. But it is a little disheartening to see that almost everyone who comments on your blog is another professional who’s trying to promote his/her blog. There’s got to be a way to elicit more comments from the amateurs who are not in “the biz.” I’d much rather hear from someone who’s visited a place you’ve been and has things to add or to disagree with, rather than the “Rah rah!” you get from your fellow professionals.
I’d love to hear from those people too! It’s something I’ve thought a lot about, read a lot about, and discussed quite a bit with my peers. Unfortunately, non-bloggers are just much less likely to comment — they might not be used to the blogging format, or might be shy, or just might not be interested in sharing their thoughts publicly. Sometimes I get comments from people who say they’ve been reading loyally for years, and were only just inspired to comment for the first time! These are the people I often get emails from instead. I do encourage them, in my responses, to chime in any time in the comments 🙂
Interesting remark. I’m a non-blogging reader and I’m sure there are many of us 😉
I just stumbled upon this fabulous blog a week ago, and I felt a strong desire to write a positive comment. But scrolling down other posts made me wonder if it was still relevant or “necessary” to comment if there werere already 100 comments (which is a compliment of course). I’ve never been to Thailand before and I’m more a kind of India-expert, but now I feel inspired to check out South-East Asia, and I promise I’ll share my experiences 😉
Fantastic photos and writing Alex!
Hey Sigrid! No matter how many comments a post may have, I always love to read more! Please chime in any time 🙂
I am choosing C this week. There seemed to be a lot going on in the photo.
There is indeed — if only you could hear the live music 🙂
The answer is B of course! Look at the Gin clear water! I have to agree that Koh Tao is a great place to live.
I love that description… gin clear 🙂
Photo B makes me wanna hop on a plane to Thailand right now!
See ya soon then 🙂
Hey Alex, all of them are pretty nice but 2nd one is my personal favourite, the postcard paradise.. Thanks for sharing
You’re so welcome, Peter! I love sharing the beauty of Koh Tao around the world.
The rasta bar looks like love! So cozy.
It reminds me a lot of bars in Northern Thailand, specifically Pai! Love it there 🙂
Rasta bar for me this week!
Looks so cool and rustic 😉
It’s one of my favorite little hidden gems on Koh Tao 🙂
Oh, the bittersweet goodbye. Have a great trip around Thailand <3
Thanks Miriam! It makes it much easier that I’m coming back in a few weeks. Not ready for the big goodbye yet.
I vote…all.
🙂
Love Photo B! So beautiful, paradise! x
🙂 And that’s why I can’t quit Koh Tao!
WAIT. You’re gone already? You just got back!
Seven weeks flew by! I’ll be back in seventeen days, though (not that I’m counting!)
How did end up on your first journey to Thailand? Was it from watching The Beach (Leonardo Dicaprio)? 🙂
Ha, well I’ve definitely made reference to that being the exact reason I went elsewhere on this site, Julia! I loved that movie, and it definitely gave me Thailand fever!
Awesome 🙂 Just for a bit of topic, maybe you can do a mini segment featuring how to wear thai fisherman’s pants. Haha, do you own a pair?
Nope, I don’t 😉 I think I’d have to figure it out for myself before I could write about it!
That baby Rasta bar looks so cool! I wish I had known about it when I was on koh tao, guess that just means I’ll have to pop back when I’m next in thailand 🙂
It’s pretty hidden away… a true gem! And definitely a reason to return 🙂