This past week we decided to move across the country to the Gulf side of Thailand and explore the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan.  It was one hell of a journey and took multiple means of transportation to get us here. After 2 boat rides, 2 taxi rides and 1 double decker bus ride later, we made it to our first island in the middle of the Gulf…Koh Samui.

We chose to stay in what is called Fisherman’s Village.  It’s everything that you would picture in your head, except for the fact that there really aren’t any fishermen…or fishing boats! Okay, so maybe not exactly how you would picture a typical fishing village, but the narrow walking street lined with weathered wooden buildings could really paint the picture of what was once a busy working port.

Fisherman’s Village has gained a reputation for being the most elegant and well-preserved place on the island.  The walking street is lined with a mix of old wooden Chinese shophouses and tasteful modern buildings, giving it a real eclectic feel.  The street runs along Bophut Beach making the calm ocean just a hop, skip and a jump away.  Boutique browsing and sun bathing all in one day … YES PLEASE! We loved how quiet and calm the village and beach were during the day.  We really felt like we had just been thrown into a community’s every day life.   It was a good mix of paradise and just normal life.  For the first time we felt like if we really didn’t want to go back…we could live here for a while and make it a temporary home.

 

Just a 30 minute boat ride further into the gulf and we reached Koh Pha Ngan, a smaller island notorious for throwing the epic Full Moon parties. Visiting just 3 days after one of these ragers, the island felt much calmer than one would expect.  We chose to stay on a property tucked way up in the hills, giving us a 360 view that almost seemed fake. 

For the past 3 nights we have been staying in a simple wooden bungalow surround by nature.  We wake up and fall asleep to singing birds and noisy bugs that sound like cicadas…well this morning we actually woke up to a lizard scratching around on the walls and roof!  It basically feels like we are camping…which we both kind of like.  Our days on Koh Pha Ngan have been spent on a little beach we spotted from our resort (I use this word VERY lightly).  We had every intention to explore other parts of the island but the moment we stepped foot on to that beach, those intentions rushed out with the waves.  Quiet Mae Haad Beach is seriously a little piece of exotic paradise.  It’s exactly the scene I had created in my head when I day dreamt about the beaches of Thailand.  Shady coconut trees, crystal blue water and beachside massages.  This serene scene is exactly the reason why we haven’t done a damn thing for the past few days!

We both agreed before starting our journey through Thailand that we were ready to slow things down a bit.  As our adventurous summer is coming to an end, we have decided to visit fewer places in Thailand and spend longer amounts of time at each destination.   The past 2 months have been a whirlwind and the last 2 weeks have been the perfect time and setting to just take it all in…All we’ve done, seen and experienced.  It’s given us time to think about this incredible adventure we have embarked on and what happens next.  So here’s to the next few weeks of our bucket list summer…LET’S LIVE IT UP!! 

xo Brittany