Posts filed under 'Koh Mak'
Back in Bangkok again…left Ko Mak early this morning – first a 3-hour boat ride back to the mainland and then a 5.5-hour bus ride to Bangkok. I opted for a full-size bus instead of the minivan this time and was happy that I did – more room and a smoother ride so I was able to read a book during the journey.
Leaving Ko Mak was difficult because I was meeting some really nice people, especially this girl Sharon from the UK who used to work at Lazy Days 2 years ago and was back this time on holiday. We had some good conversations and good laughs too – a really nice, funny girl.
Yesterday was the owner’s son’s 5th birthday so there was a party at the restaurant last night and little Thai kids dancing to Thai music. Chris (from Canada), Sharon, and I started drinking beer at sunset and then Sharon had me try my first gin and tonic (with’ice and a slice’) and we went through a few more of those quite easily. Torsten (from Germany) and Rob (American) came back from dinner to join in on the fun.
I ALMOST decided to stay another day because I was having such a good time but I knew I had a lot of stuff to do in Bangkok and that I would be happy for the extra day once I got here.
With the limited electricity on the island (only 6 hours/day) and one internet shop which was only open sporadically, I was unable to check email or update the site for an entire week. Apologies to everyone who has been following the adventure. I actually forget that people are reading this stuff but after the worried emails from family and friends I was pleasantly surprised to know that people were wondering what was up. So if you are reading along well sorry about the lapse and thanks for taking interest in the site – definitely makes all the hard work that went into it well worth it!!
Here I am attempting to read Lord of the Rings
Enjoying the sunset from my porch
January 20th, 2002
The days seem to have passed here on Ko Mak and yes, I’ll be heading back to Bangkok tomorrow. It’s been a good week. I’ve met a lot of nice people here – being such an isolated resort on a small island it’s hard to not get to know your neighbors. Some nice evenings of card playing and good laughs for sure. Herman the German (from Holland), Rob (American), Torsten (German), Chris (Canadian), Sharon (British), and Richard (British) were just a few of the cool people I met.
There’s been a bit of drama going on with the owners of the resort – a British couple (with child) who started the business together but have since split up. Tension between them had been building for several days and finally last night was the big kick off – a huge bow-out between the ex-couple, ending with the guy packing up and leaving on the morning boat today. It was a crazy, crazy night with lots of yelling and then some violence between the ex-boyfriend and current boyfriend involving beer bottles and death threats with cleavers. The guests who had been here awhile were not surprised to hear such commotion but the poor souls who had just arrived were peaking out of their bungies wondering what the HELL was going on. How you could create such turmoil in the midst of such a paradise is COMPLETELY beyond me… but anyway we have decided to rename the place’Lazy Days/Agressive Nights’. We thought we were going to have to cook our own meals and everything during the height of the battle last night. Luckily no one was seriously hurt.
Even so it’s been a good time and I’m happy to have met some good people. Martin left this morning for Ko Wai (another island even smaller than Ko Mak) and tomorrow I’ll be heading back to Bangkok myself. Last ‘Lazy Day’ to relax in the hammock and enjoy the beach…
Martin hanging out in my hammock
Ko Mak crew – Petra, me, and Martin
Lazy Days with Rob and Martin and Petra
January 19th, 2002
So the sun came back today on Ko Mak. It’s been a perfect day – blue skies, nice breeze, and bright sun. It is quiet here – only a few people on our little secluded beach at any point during the day. I am in my hammock on the porch of my bungalow and the waves from the sea are gently crashing on the shore just 25 feet or so away. I finished a book yesterday (the third Harry Potter book which I found in Bangkok), started a new one last night, and finished that one this afternoon. I’ve been laying in the hammock or on the beach all day, taking swim breaks here and there of course.
Last night Martin and I went up to the road for dinner and when we came back we were walking along the beach and for the first time I was able to see the phosphoresence! Just a few little ones shining bright neon blue here and there, mostly right on the shore, but it was SO wild! I was really excitied. Martin said there are usually a lot more so I hope to see them again.
Well it’s Tuesday and I did not take the boat to Ko Wai or Ko Chang so I’ll be here at least until Thursday now, maybe Saturday. Two guys arrived here yesterday from Ko Chang and they said it was totally mad-crowded with all the backpackers fresh from Bangkok so it sounds like I won’t be missing anything if I decide to skip it.
I found two good card players last night – Torsten from Germany and Herman from Holland – we had a good game of Chinese Poker after I taught them both how to play. They said they wanted to play again tonight so I’ll be happy to get more card playing in while I’m here. (Martin is not into cards.)
Well the sun is beginning to set now and it looks to be a good one so I’m gonna put the journal down and put my full attention to the show.
Sunset on Ko Mak
Thanks for the good shot Martin!
Hi everyone!
January 15th, 2002
I escaped Bangkok!! Two days ago Martin and I managed to get out, on a minibus to Trat, a port town some 4.5-hour drive from Bangkok. It was a long day being jammed in a minibus with other backpackers, but well worth it to arrive to our destination. From Trat we took a 3-hour boat ride to our final destination of Ko Mak, a small island about 50 km from the mainland in the Ko Chang island group. It was a beautiful boat ride passing by the big island of Ko Chang and then many other smaller islands on the way to Mak. The sun was setting just as we arrived at the pier. With only 5 resorts on the entire island, it was not too difficult to choose a place to stay – we opted for Lazy Days – a quiet spot with wooden bungalows right on the beach at $3/night.
Our first night here was Children’s Day – a big national holiday in Thailand (similar to Mother’s Day and Father’s Day at home) and there was a big party and talent show at the school so we went to check it out. It was quite a crowd – I think every one of the 450 residents on the island was there. Great food and good entertainment too. An interesting welcome to the island that’s for sure!
Yesterday was indeed a lazy day, laying on the beach, reading the book, and relaxing in the bungalow. The clouds have been in and out the past 2 days so the weather has been iffy but it’s a nice break from the heat.
Now I’m in the process of deciding to stay on Mak for a few more days or move to another island, either Ko Wai or Ko Chang. The boats to the other islands are only leaving on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday so if I don’t go tomorrow then I will be waiting until Thursday.
My Bungalow at Lazy Days
Sunset from my hammock – what a life!
Sunset on Ko Mak
January 14th, 2002