Falling for the oldest tuk tuk scam in the book, good fortune played in our favor by sending us to a tropical paradise.
Thailand is home to some 1400 islands with one of the best beaches in the world. “Koh”, short for island in Thai, each one unique with their own climate and entertainment. Looking to stay clear from the tourist horde, we ended up on a tiny dot in the Gulf of Thailand by the name of Koh Mak.
Our journey took 6 hours by bus from Bangkok all the way down south east to the Boonsiri docks. An additional hour would go by catamaran sailing to the island. Once there, our host from Good Time Resort picked us up in the back of a rusty pickup truck and drove us to our bungalow.
Arriving in the late afternoon, the sun was settling, stimulating us to quickly go explore the nearby beach. After a short walk we found ourselves on the pristine white sands we read so much about. It was exactly like the postcards. A blue skyline camouflaged by palm trees, clean sand extending beyond the horizon jutted with huts, and caressed with a body of water reflecting the sunset. Following yet another flavorful Thai meal, it was time to retire, longing for the next day.
The subsequent week was enjoyed in a slow paced routine. Starting with a generous homemade breakfast overlooking the island. Ran my usual morning 5k to go workout at a Muay Thai gym nestled in the jungle. Maheen did her freelance work on the terrace. In the afternoon we spent lots of beach time and drank delectable fruit cocktails.
Our host Mr. Peak went above and beyond to make sure that our stay was as comfortable as possible. As we sat down for a friendly chat, we realized how important and involved he was for the community. He told us stories about how he coordinated with local rescues during storms, and how much he enjoys his work for the last 12 years. This mayor man seemed to do the jobs of an entire team. From sunrise till late night, he moved customers back and forth to the piers, cleaned the pool, replenished inventories, handled all the bookings, and attended to all his guest’s caprices. All this without ever breaking a smile and always abundant with energy.
At the beach we kept a repeat visit to an eatery operated by a lovely Thai lady named Bonnie. Her family owned business (Baan Chailay) served THE MOST savory food of our entire trip to Thailand. Her warm smile and gentleness was reminiscent of our mothers serving a comforting meal after a long day. Sitting there on exotic colorful tables and chairs felt like a cozy picnic with palm trees and sand. Not too far off, the sounds of House music filled the air like the chill breeze.
Between the sweeping landscape, to the exquisite food and the relaxing massages, Thai islands are the definition of paradise on earth. Did I mention free roaming cats and dogs that you can play with? And the great mobile data reception? We made a friend of Mr. Peak and surely a special place in our heart for this little gem to return to.
To get there from Bangkok: https://boonsiriferry.com/en
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