It has been an emotional week on Koh Tao. At one point, my dad reminded me of a wise quote from a community recovering from tragedy decades ago. “We will laugh again, but we will never be young again.” This island is dusting itself off from a great blow. For me, the solution to working my way out of the fog I’d settled into since waking up last Monday morning was switching offline and plugging back into the real world. So this weekend, I turned off the news and shut the laptop. I hiked, I dove, I paddleboarded, I went to yoga and to Muay Thai. I called my family. I spent quality time with dear friends. I reminded myself of all the reasons why there’s been a Koh Tao sized stamp on my heart since the first time I stepped foot here in the summer of 2009.
And so as the media continues to swirl with ridiculous stories and speculation, I want to remind the world that this is a special place and a heartfelt community that won’t be defined by the actions of one. Koh Tao may never be young again, but we will laugh again – we’re starting to smile already.
Photo A
Hiking high over Sairee Beach
Photo B
An afternoon pedicure date
Photo C
Scuba diving days
Photo D
Beautiful underwater patterns
Photo E
Local kids playing at sunset
Which photo is your favorite?
Crazy Jelly fish! But my money is on photo E. There’s a cultural essence captured in that photo.
RE: Koa Tao. I don’t have the words.
Yes, I’m struggling to find them as well. I’d like to write more about it someday but I’m just not sure where to start.
Beautiful words on a horrible tragedy! I’m hopefully visiting SE Asia for the first time in December (solo) and your thoughts have encouraged me despite some worry after hearing about this incident. I particuarly love Photo E in this post – I’m a sucker for sunsets!
I’m really glad to hear that Bethany. You’re going to have an amazing trip — my first solo journey to Southeast Asia changed my life!
I think I’m going to go with Photo A this time…there’s something simple and beautiful about these shots. Love it!
Thanks Justine! My friend who came with me has lived here four years and that was her first time on that trail. We loved it!
Wonderful photos this week! I vote for E, it really hits home on your message about community on the island. I’m still in shock about Koh Tao…
It is starting to sink in but I would say I’m still in at least some state of shock as well. It really is a tragedy.
Sounds like it’s been pretty rough for Koh Tao these days. Not holding me back, though. Love C!
Glad to hear that, Emily. Koh Tao has lots of love to give still.
That was a beautiful sentiment. Glad to see you enjoying a place that is so special to you! So my favorite is E, but I pick B this week because I can’t wait to get a pedicure and massage in Thailand!
I’ve been hitting the massages pretty hard lately. They are such a treat! And an affordable one, here 🙂
Once again, beautiful pictures! I love the jelly fish photo. Any idea what kind it was?
And I really can’t stand the media, whether my local newspaper or the national news. Urgh, now I’m turning into my paranoid father!
Stay safe and living your life! 🙂
Hm, I’m not sure what kind it was. Let me consult Wes, Alex in Wanderland’s resident fish expert for more info 🙂
Eek! Is Photo C a jellyfish?! (And is it a stinging one?) My vote is for E! Those colors are stunning.
It is a jellyfish indeed! I’m not sure about the stinging status but I tried not to find out 🙂
That quote seems quite fitting for the current situation and I like the hint of positivity. And I vote for Photo E!
Yes, so much wisdom in a few little words, and reminds us of the perseverance of the human spirit. I’ve thought of it a lot lately.
I agree with you – sometimes unplugging from the world can really help!
As for the photos, this is a tough one between D and E for me, but I’m going to go for E! Beautiful!
Yes, especially when the news and media are so infuriating, sometimes committing to a detox is the best thing one can do! I know it’s happening, and I have to deal with it eventually, but for now… a little break.
Glad to hear that your oasis is starting to smile again. My favs are C, D, and E. Love them all
Thanks girl. We are working on it.
Beautiful sentiment. I love that quote. I am glad you got grounded after such shocking news. The last one of the kids is my facourite! Take care x
Thanks Sarah. My dad always knows what to say! The grounding is an ongoing process but I’m working on it x
I love photo D. I’m glad to hear that Koh Tao is beginning to recover. I love that little island!
It’s such a special place. Glad you agree x
You’re not making this one easy, Miz A. But if I must, E b.c. it’s classic Thai to me.
Your sentiments remind me of how I felt post-9/11. Like we’d lost our innocence… & while there have undoubtedly been many good times since, I feel like we’ll never go back to that feeling of naive invincibility we once had. I’m so sorry for what’s happened.
Yes, there are a lot of parallels there indeed. I’ve been writing a lot and finding it very cathartic, though it’s not all quite ready to be shared with the world yet.
It’s a horrible tragedy and I can’t imagine how it must feel to be there right now. Keeping your mind busy sounds like the right way to move forward and I’m sure Koh Tao will heal in time. It might take some time, but it’s still a very special place that has made a great impact on many people. That won’t change.. not for me at least.
Thanks for this lovely comment, Miriam! As painful as it is to see the island itself victimized in the press, it warms my heart to hear from people like you who get it. Much love.
Woah, that jellyfish is crazy! I pick C! I would have been terrified to get that close!
The pursuit of an amazing photo gives me some serious bravery I don’t normally have!
Everyone knows the correct answer is D! {:->
The Murder rate in the USA averages 40 per day. There are vast statistics on this throughout the world, but Koh Tao has a very low rate and is a very safe place. I am sorry there has been no progress on the investigation.
Glad I could share more diving photos 🙂 Hoping to get back out in the water again this week.
I absolutely love these photos and that quote! Amazing!!! So inspirational!
Monique xx
Thanks Monique. I think it summed up post-JFK America so well, even though I obviously wasn’t there to experience it myself. And now it applies over and over again to tragedies all over the world.
Photo E is beautiful.
Cannot imagine how is has felt to be on Koh Tao this last week. Nature heals.
“I’ve Never Found Time Spent Amongst Nature To Be A Waste of Time”
Another beautiful quote, Martha — thanks for sharing.
Always love your underwater shots, but this week pic E is for me!
I must say, I actually didn’t have any idea about the Koh Tao tragedy until you mentioned it…
Hope everyone over there pulls through okay and this doesn’t hurt the tourism market!
Unfortunately the media seems hell bent on making sure it will… but crime sells, and stories of beautiful, peaceful island and life affirming travels do not!
C!!!
What is that kind of jelly??
I actually don’t know! Clearly I need to do more research for my underwater posts 🙂
regarding my work I was in koh samui for three months but I took out a week for me to explore koh phangan and koh tao islands… All these three islands have something different to offer but when I reached koh tao I really felt like I am on an island. After two fun dives at koh tao I rented a bike and explored some parts of island but most relaxing experience for me was seating on soft cool sand next to unique shaped coconut tree at sairee beach and looking at colours changing sky and parked fishing boats… All were making my island evening perfect… It was amazing trip…
Thanks for sharing these happy memories of Koh Tao, Pankaj. It is a special place and it sounds like you got to experience some of it yourself!
I can’t decide between photo B and C. Love them both. Your pictures from underwater world are always amazing 🙂
Thank you so much! I am excited to have more of them to share soon… need to take advantage of the diving while I’m here!
Hi Alex,
On Koh Tao, just finished Scuba course ! – thanks for all your scuba inspiration 🙂 What has happened is the latest in a series of ongoing law and order issues on Koh Tao and from such utter tragedy hopefully some of those issues will finally after many years begin to be addressed.
Vote for D – reminds me of a recent dive !
Hey Mike, congrats on your diving certification! As for Koh Tao, I hesitated to publish this comment but I’ve never censored the comment section here and I don’t want to start now. Still, this made me flinch because this kind of vague commentary on Koh Tao’s perceived lack of safety is exactly what the island doesn’t need right now at this very delicate time. As a long time visitor and some time resident of Koh Tao, I can assure you I have always felt comfortable and safe here. I’d love it if you could be more specific when you mention something like that, otherwise it can just cause unnecessary panic. Again, congrats on the diving and hope you keep returning to Koh Tao for more!
As usual I love them all! Usually I go a little more cultural but b is my favorite. Thank you for this great post- I definitely want to go now.
Thanks Racheal! Don’t worry, Thai massages are a very cultural part of any trip to Koh Tao 🙂
Photo E. I’m a sucker for sunsets. I love your dad’s quote on the situation, very true.
It couldn’t be more appropriate. Who know a quote about post-JFK America could so perfectly sum up what is going on in a tiny island in Thailand right now…
Sorry for the late reply. Currently in Kaunas. I am going for E. Love those sunsets.
I had to look up where Kaunas was, Steve! Looks beautiful — enjoy your trip!
Wow – hardest week yet to pick a favorite picture. Really tough choice between C and E for me, but I just can’t resist a good underwater wildlife shot, so it’s gotta be C.
So sorry it’s been such a tough week for you and the Koh Tao community. It’s actually been an emotional week over here in Virginia for the UVA community, as well. Such a strange feeling when a tragedy rocks a place you love and consider to be home. But it is uplifting when you’ve got a special community filled with great people who can all try to get through it together.
Yes, in the darkness you learn to squint hard and look for the light. And there is so much of it here. Sending you lots of love all the way to Virginia!
Oh it’s really hard for me to choose between B, D and E. But I guess I have to choose, so I go with B 🙂
Another winning iPhone picture 🙂 Thanks for voting Stef!
Thumb up to jelly fish picture photo C ! Any tips for underwater marine capture ?
Practice, practice, practice! I look back to photos I took years ago and I’ve improved so much, not because I took any classes or read any books but just because I shoot whenever I can and I spend a lot of time looking at my photos after and analyzing what worked and what didn’t and thinking about what I want to try next time. Also, editing software to sharpen and color correct helps too 🙂
Your photos are getting more incredible with every post! I’m going with photo C this time.
I have never been to Koh Tao, or even Thailand, but thank you for this post. Traveling and especially backpacking seems to be getting some bad rep in the media these days, because of these horrible and tragic killings.
People fail to understand that this could just as well has happened back in Britain or the US, and it’s good to read an ‘insiders’ take on it.
Also, lovely pictures!
Thanks Caroline. I agree, media sensationalist seems geared at keeping people at home. We know better — fear is no reason not to see the world.
Gotta be photo D. 🙂
And re what’s happened: It’s awful. The locals must be shattered too. But from the sounds of it, there seems to be far more good people on the island than bad. Hopefully they find the perpetrators really soon.
Thanks Karyn, we truly hope so. The future of this island will hinge on it, I believe.
my sister and i are going to thailand for three weeks any tips would be helpful ran into your blog when looking up the tragic incident in koh tao, still plan on stopping by there despite what we have read glad i saw this (: if anyone else will be there in dec (:
So glad to hear you haven’t changed your plans Stephanie. Koh Tao will be delightful in December! You are going to have a fabulous time.
Koh tao is beautiful, by far my favourite Thai island, it will be back on it’s feet, such a shame what has happened, for the families, locals and island in general.
Photo e is beautiful, love the Thai kids theyr so fun 🙂
Great blog
Thanks Rachel. Koh Tao definitely has my heart as well. I think these photos show why!
Is there a place to get a bikini wax?
I’m not sure if this is a serious question or not, but I will answer in case it is 🙂 Yes, you can get waxes at spas all over Koh Tao. Majestic in Sairee is my go-to spa for massages!
Unfortunately it was a serious question!
Well than I’m glad I could help 🙂 Sometimes comment trolls leave me on edge, ha.
Photo E without doubt! ….you definitely have a knack for taking amazing sunset shots Alex …… this photo reminds me of the the amazing time that I had spent in Thailand….truly an unforgettable moment ……
The sunsets just call to me! There have been many cloudy days since I arrived but we’ve been blessed with some beauties.
Are there any places in particular you recommend (anywhere in Thailand) to do Muay Thai. I’m sure they are all over, but I would like to try some of the better spots when I’m there.
Hey Beth! I loved checked out Bee’s Training Camp in Pai. That would be where I’d head if I was going to seriously train. Good luck and hope that helps!