Koh Tao: We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

The very safe looking (not) pier

You’d think after my journey to Bangkok, I’d be done with traveling, but just short of 48 hours later I was back in transit. Justine and I grabbed night bus down the coast, and 11 hours in the smallest most cramped bus of my life later, we arrived in Chumphon. We waited two hours for the 7 am ferry, fought of sea sickness for another two hours, and then arrived, bright eyed and bushy tailed on the island of Koh Tao.

Home sweet home for three weeks

The island, only 13 square miles, has one main pier, Mae Haad, where Justine and I are staying. To the north runs the largest and main beach, Sairee, which is where most restaurants and shops and nightlife are situated. Along the opposite coast are the isolated, picture perfect beaches people come to Thailand for.

It did not take long upon arrival to die of culture shock.

1) In place of fast food there is street food, in place of cars there are motorbikes, in place of movie theatres there are beach bars and people watching. In place of television, there is this crazy thing called conversation. I think my parents have mentioned it from their childhoods.

2) Flush toilets do not exist. I stared at my toilet for ten full minutes before calling Justine over from her bungalow to explain to me that you used a little bucket dipped in a big bucket of water to manualy flush the toilet. Also, shower heads are in the middle of the bathroom, and dispense cold water anyway. Luckily, this is a relief from

3) The Unbearable Heat. I have never felt a heat like this. It is brutal and relentless and I have grown accustomed to being covered in a perpetual layer of sweat. The one respite? The island’s one superstore, 7-11.

The mystery bathroom!

For a happier ending, the pineapple plant in my front garden