October 17 - 19
We were craving some beach time like crazy, so we decided to spend a few days on the island of Koh Samet when we returned to Thailand after our time in Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, we had some really bad weather for half of our time there due to the typhoon that hit India a few days earlier. We did get to enjoy one full day of amazing Thai weather and reacquaint ourselves with the island lifestyle.
To get to the island of Koh Samet, you must take a local ferry which takes about 30 minutes. The ferry was crammed with people, and the weather was very rainy when we left the dock, but the seas weren't too bad (by our standards at least). All of the luggage was thrown on the bow of the boat and covered by a light tarp to prevent everything from getting wet from the rain. At about 10 minutes into the ferry ride, the waves began to build and the rain turned from a slight drizzle into a torrential downpour. All the passengers on the boat around us started screaming, and grabbing the life jackets above our heads. Gene and I were sitting in the back row and just laughing our asses off over the commotion going on and the desperation of the passengers to get a life jacket on. If this is considered bad seas and requiring a life jacket, we've been in some ridiculously life-threatening rough weather this past year!
We were craving some beach time like crazy, so we decided to spend a few days on the island of Koh Samet when we returned to Thailand after our time in Angkor Wat. Unfortunately, we had some really bad weather for half of our time there due to the typhoon that hit India a few days earlier. We did get to enjoy one full day of amazing Thai weather and reacquaint ourselves with the island lifestyle.
To get to the island of Koh Samet, you must take a local ferry which takes about 30 minutes. The ferry was crammed with people, and the weather was very rainy when we left the dock, but the seas weren't too bad (by our standards at least). All of the luggage was thrown on the bow of the boat and covered by a light tarp to prevent everything from getting wet from the rain. At about 10 minutes into the ferry ride, the waves began to build and the rain turned from a slight drizzle into a torrential downpour. All the passengers on the boat around us started screaming, and grabbing the life jackets above our heads. Gene and I were sitting in the back row and just laughing our asses off over the commotion going on and the desperation of the passengers to get a life jacket on. If this is considered bad seas and requiring a life jacket, we've been in some ridiculously life-threatening rough weather this past year!
Here are a group of guys from Sweden, life jackets on and ready.
Once we got to the island, we waited for a ride to our hotel. The taxis are all just trucks with benches in the back for the passengers. Doesn't work too well when it's pouring down rain.
This poor guy has to make his daily food delivery to the hotels on this tuk tuk in the torrential rain. The look on his face is priceless - not having fun!
Little river we cross via a foot bridge to get to our hotel.
This is the river facing inland
(previous picture is the river flowing out to sea)
We had dinner on the beach and noticed this little puppy asleep under our table, completely un-phased by the Friday night noisy crowd and music.
Massive tiger prawns!
Looking down the beach outside of Samed Villas where we stayed. The motor boats come right up to the sand and pull their motor up.
We had some entertainment during dinner - fire dancers, probably about 10 years old.
Gene launching one of the sky lanterns from the beach
Leaving the island of Koh Samet.
This was another ferry we passed heading towards the island with a view of the mainland int he background.
Fishing boats at he pier in Ban Phe
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