Greetings from Koh Tao! It feels like I just got back, which makes it bizarre that I’m already packing for a trip off the island. It’s for a damn good reason though — I’m heading to Bangkok to speak at the first ever Asia edition of TBEX.
In reality, by the time I board the ferry off the island, I’ll have been here for two whole weeks. They were busy ones — house-hunting (success! I signed a six month lease and move into my new apartment the day I return from the conference), bike-hunting (still looking), catching up with old friends and catching up on a literal avalanche of work that’s built up in the last few whirlwind months.
I’m already loving having a home base again. When I pulled out a bag to start packing today, it was just a little carry-on, rather than everything I own. When I meet people on the road and they ask where I live, I’ll have an actual answer, rather than just squinting and pointing to something in the distance to avoid admitting I’m homeless (it’s my specialty). When I say goodbye to my friends on the island, it will be for just ten days, instead of ten months. But don’t worry, this travel blogger isn’t going to stop traveling — I’ve already got a growing list of little trips both Thailand domestic and Southeast Asia international on the docket. The difference, at least for now, is that I’ll have somewhere to come home to. Here’s a little peek at the last week on the island I love to live on.
Photo A
My afternoon reward for a morning of productivity
Photo B
Island accessories
Photo C
Shark Island, my favorite dive site
Photo D
Hiking with Goodtime Adventures
Which photo is your favorite?
Definitely photo A. Autumn is my favorite season, but these recently cooling temps are just a reminder that winter is almost here. I’d love to be sunning myself on that beach right now!
It’s actually coming into the monsoon on this side of Thailand, and so we’ve had more rainy days than sunny ones lately. Which means I went straight outside to seize this one when I saw clear blue skies!
A — I would be so very happy on that beach right now. Instead, I am preparing to move to drizzly, beach-less London. What?
WHAT! Does this mean you’re going to be… Canadian in London?
Lol, you wouldn’t believe how many people ask me that. Actually maybe you would. But yes, a Canadian in London I shall be, provided the fine UK government approves my visa application. Please? Pretty please with clotted cream on top?
Crossing my fingers for you!
Glad you’ve found a little piece of paradise to call home… For now! 😉
Me too LC! This is just what I need right now, at this point in my life.
Ugh Alex it looks absolutely awful, why would you choose to make a base there? 😉 Got to go with A- such a gorgeous beach and water!
Yeah, I know, it’s hard to imagine 🙂 What can I say, I’m a sucker for delicious food, reasonable rent, and beautiful beaches. What a weirdo. 😛
Choosing that little island to settle-in says a lot more than a photo.
Considering all the places you’ve traveled and enjoyed this is quite an endorsement of Koh Tao and Thailand. I take note, and it’s now on the top of my list. Enjoy enjoy.
Rick
One of the main things that keeps bringing me back to Koh Tao is the amazing community of expats. I’m sure there are other places around the world I could be equally as happy, but none of them have my little Koh Tao family.
All of the photos are my favourite because i’m so happy you listened to your heart and have gone back for a much longer while! xo
Thanks Amy. It was time!
Photo A! I miss Koh Tao so much-so jealous that you get to call it home for a while!
Just realized that I left pretty much the same comment on last week’s photo of the week post haha. Clearly it’s time to make another visit there!
I’m pretty pumped, I have to admit! Hopefully I will have plenty of posts to tempt you back soon 🙂
Sounds like bliss!
Photo A- the sea looks beautiful.
It’s even better from below the surface 🙂
I love the trek photo. I like a reminder that nature is bigger than us and those trees do that!
Me too! I am trying to focus on writing more about the non-diving activities on Koh Tao, and that company offers some great ones.
Photo A! It really captures the laid back vibe that flows throughout Koh Tao.
Beach photo for the win it seems, this week 🙂
KOH TAO!! I miss it so much.
Looking forward to reading more of your Thailand adventures!
Thanks Laryssa! Already plotting some trips to corners of the country I haven’t seen… it’s exciting stuff!
I am SO upset I can’t go to TBEX! I had my ticket and everything. Would have LOVED to meet you and hear you speak. Oh so disappointing. Good luck and have fun! Glad you’re back on this side of the world 🙂
Oh, that’s a bummer Jennifer. I would have liked to meet you too!
Love photo B! I’m going to be there next year! Can’t wait! It looks amazing!
You’re going to love it. Hopefully I’ll have plenty of posts to keep you excited between now and then 🙂
Photo B for sure. Coconuts are seriously my favourite thing. Definitely what I miss most about Thailand.
I’ve been having them in every form lately! Coconut water, coconut shake, coconut curry, coconut ice cream… the list goes on.
Photo B – Because there are few things as good and refreshing in life as coconut water 🙂
Tell me about it. I have to have my one-a-day!
Ohh I loved that little beach! Went snorkeling there one day. Come to think of it, that was the only place I snorkelled in a whole month on the island. Fail!
Well you went to the best one 🙂
I love A & D! I can see you love Thailand so much. I can’t wait to visit next year. 🙂 And oh, I hope you can squeeze in Philippines in your SE Asia itinerary. There are so many places here that you’ll love. 🙂
I loved the Philippines! I definitely do plan to return there someday. I only saw a tiny sliver!
I’ve gotta go with A. It makes me yearn for the days when I lived within walking distance of the beach! Yay, TBEX! I can’t wait to see you speak 🙂 I’m headed to Bangkok in a few hours!
Ahhh, awesome! Very excited to meet you, Justine!
I choose Photo A – that looks like a nice beach.
It’s one of my favorites on the island!
Definitely A – if I’m not mistaken it’s Tanote Bay, where I myself spent two weeks of Thailand bliss some 3 years ago 🙂 And it was AWESOME.
cheers from chilly Switzerland!
Actually, it’s right next door at Aow Leuk! Both beautiful beaches though 🙂
photo a… that beach looks inviting!
I only hope I get more sunny days like that one, even through monsoon!
Photo C! I’d love to go dancing there!
Diving! That was either a Freudian slip of the tongue or an autocorrect issue 😉
Ha, well appropriately enough it’s a great island for both!
Photo B! You are doing amazing things with that new Canon, I love it.
SO happy for you that you’re ‘home’ 🙂
Thanks chica. Come on over so I can repay your amazing hospitality!
Congrats on the apartment! I’m sure that’s an awesome change of pace after months of backpacking.
Loving Photo A. That water. Sigh.
Indeed it is. Fully unpacking and putting the suitcase under the bed is an amazing feeling.
Photo B – don’t we all need those island essentials? 😉
A coconut a day keeps the melancholy away!
Ahhh I love Koh Tao! Photo A is definitely my fav! So bummed I wont be at TBEX and then when I saw you were speaking I was even more annoyed I didn’t book a ticket! Have an amazing time!
Maybe the next one, Sally 🙂
I love A & C! Beautiful…
Thank you!
Yay, how good does it feel to have a base for such a long time! Also, 6 months? I’m totally visiting, pencil me in!
Get your butt back over here! I’ve got a futon!
Gahhhh You’re making me want to go back to Thailand (for a 3rd time!)
Oh man, I’d have to count up which trip this is for me. I’m a Southeast Asia addict!
Tucker wants a holiday!!!! Oh, enjoy KT and your ‘family’ there. Plenty of hot, cute guys around but I’m sure BB is somewhere, and you will be on ur best behavior. 🙂
He is indeed here with me as well!
I love photo A, almost makes me feel like I’m transported there for a second.
Just to let you know, on your destinations page, the link for El Salvador points to your Honduras posts!
Thank you Siobhan! Just fixed that — appreciate you letting me know!
I like photo D. It’s easy to forget many islands have activities other than beaches. Do any of your upcoming travel plans include Bali? We just moved here and plan on being here until late May / early June so you’ve got a lunch date if you want one!
Unfortunately I don’t know if I’ll be making it back to Indo this trip. But you never know… I might hear it calling to me!
I’m choosing photo A. Give anything to be on a beach now.
Fingers crossed we get more sunny days through monsoon!
Can’t really complain about setting up home base in Thailand 😉 Picture A is definitely the winner in my eyes, just set me there with a coconut drink in one hand and a book in the other, please?
Indeed! Although I begrudgingly admit that for me it would be a Kindle now!
How beautiful the photos are! This photos are so much beautiful and catching especially the coastal area. Also the outskirts are so wild that seems like an ornamented nature. This is looks like a total wild and coastal and natural package for traveling with friends and family.
It is the perfect island! Thanks for reading and commenting.
“When I meet people on the road and they ask where I live, I’ll have an actual answer, rather than just squinting and pointing to something in the distance to avoid admitting I’m homeless.” HA! I can so, so relate! Whenever people ask Tom and I a seemingly innocuous question – like where we live, or how long our “trip” somewhere is, we get all shifty-eyed and cagey and then just try and switch the subject. It’s even worse when people ask us these questions when we are apart and we find out late our answers didn’t match! The thing is, where other people have neat, concise one word answers we have long, rambling stories…
I know! I feel bad but I’m often just too tired to have that conversation once again. So I try to stay vague. I tell my story all the time here — when I’m in person, I’d rather hear someone else’s!
We will be in Ko Tao in December. Do you recommend staying on the east or west coast? Wasn’t sure how hard it is to get by road to the east coast? and whether it was better to just arrange a longtail trip round the island? Do you have a favourite place to stay?
Hey Ali! I recommend staying on the west coast if you want to be close to restaurants, nightlife, and other conveniences, and the east coast if you JUST want a beach vacation — but the roads are very bad so you will be quite isolated. I wrote a review of Aminjirah that you can find on my site — have a look, and enjoy your trip!
I really miss Koh Tao! I was there just a couple of months ago to do my Stress and Rescue course. I haven’t had a chance to dive since, but the Philippines are coming up soon! Very exciting! Love your photos by the way 🙂
Awesome. I did some of the best diving of my life there! Enjoy!
My favorite photo is the c beautiful
Thanks for voting!
Koh Tao is a great place to call home base! I used to live there myself, a few years ago while I was working as a dive instructor, and even though I have left I keep finding my way back even if it is for a few days to visit and say hello.
Although it may not be the most brilliant place in the world for diving, there is something about that island that keeps calling me back. The atmosphere, the lifestyle, the beautiful beach and clear blue water… I don’t think I will ever be able to stay away for too long.
I agree… this island is like a magnet to me! I love it dearly!
Finding out that you who have traveled to so many places in the world decided to settle down in Koh Tao (albeit only for 6 months) reassures me that my decision to go there next year during my precious, hard-to-come-by break is a great decision!
Quick question: I’ll have an half day to kill in Surat Thani. During that time, should I
1. take a tuktuk to the city centre to experience the Thai culture, or
2. go the opposite direction and spend the day exploring the Central Plaza and the surrounding area?
I’m not big on shopping but I’ve been digging around and it seems to me that the night market is pretty much the only attraction worth visiting. I’ve also found a monkey training school some distance away but it’s not open for visiting on the day I’m at Surat Thani.
Is the city life in Surat Thani similar enough to that on Koh Tao and Koh Samui to make no matter whether or not I experience it? Thanks!
Hey Jael! Unfortunately I have never spent time in Surat Thani (only transited through) so I have no suggestions to offer you there. You’ll find tons of tips for Koh Tao here on this site though 😉 Enjoy!
Congrats on finding your new home! Sounds great…I like all the photos but A is my nr. 1! Enjoy Thailand!
It is so great, Tereza. Couldn’t be happier to be here.
Never got around to Koh Tao, it’s still certainly on the list
My favorite island in Thailand! Hope some of my posts inspire you to visit someday.
Not entirely sure how I missed this post. Whoops! Looks like you arrived just after I left – sorry to have missed you, but happy you’ve found a home base 🙂
It’s good to be back, Lucy! Sorry I miss ya.
Awesome!
Thanks Jenn 🙂