Travelling to Ko Tao

Took a catamaran to this beautiful island. YUK! Three and a half hours of sickness! - ending with me (along with half the boat) filling up a sick bag and handing back to one of the attendants ha ha! How Chloe kept it in I don't know! Horrendous journey. Landed finally in Ko Tao, had to search amongst hundreds of backpacks and suitcases to find our luggage ourselves. It had all been dumped in a pile. Couldn't find Chloe's holdall! Got some lovely boys to search the decks and finally found it outside! Phew.

Landing in Ko Tao

Luckily Chloe knew how to barter pricing. First quote of a taxi was 600 Baht. Chloe got him down to 200 and off we went to try and find some accommodation. This was a little island, so we couldn't book online ahead of arriving. The taxi driver took us around to places we had seen in the travellers guide - no joy. Finally he told us of a good place (his cousin ran it) just out of town (about 5 mins walk down). We stayed there - it was a scuba diving school. We spent one night there. We strolled into town and looked around. Lots to do: Shopping, bars, ladyboy shows, beaches with beachside bars/restaurants. A really nice place (my favourite). Had a good meal at an Irish bar, which had live entertainment every night. Good atmosphere and they served cider! A crowd of Irish girls kept us entertained also with their big buckets of drink (BOGOF). Had a rude awakening the next morning at 9am - we had to leave the accommodation!! Charming! All booked up - no room! The girls left me at a café with all the luggage and a cuppa (nowhere that we stayed had tea making facilities). Off they went to find digs. They came up trumps, found a lovely place right on the beach at the end (see pics). It was a bit pricey at 1500 Baht per night (£30), but a perfect position. Stayed there for 3 nights. Had some good days and evenings here. Weather not so good, but this meant we could walk and sightsee. First day we climbed up the mountain through the trees, to try and see The Golden Pagoda. But the climb and the heat beat us! Almost there and a man came down on a moped, told us it wasn't worth the next steep climb to see it. We did take some photo's of the views, which were stunning over the town to the beach. Once back down we did the walk to Mae Haad (next town) and did some 'window' shopping with Liz ha ha. Walked halfway back but then cheated with a taxi. Just too hot!!. That night we ate on the beach, very romantic settings - cushions, waves, candles and music (must go back with Paul next year). Next day we went trekking again - walked along the island and saw how the locals lived. It started raining so we went over the road to a random place (run by a Lancashire man), bowling green, ten pin bowling and petanque. Played Petanque for an hour (yes in the rain) (see pics). I think Chloe won!! It was a lovely day. We saw the kings 'mark on the rock', stopped by a hippies place - Big Tree Gallery and looked at his artwork and jewellery. Purchased a ring for Laura. He gave the girls a couple of free trinket bags which he makes up from old saris. Found a lovely beach further on, with a restaurant over the sea. Here we also saw the Buddha shaped into the rocks (see pics). Saw lots of other things (see pics). That night when we got back and changed we treat ourselves to a Thai massage. Me and Liz had the full works - ouch! And Chloe had a pedicure and manicure. Only £6!! So goodJ We then ate and went down to the beach to watch a fire show - really good (see pics). Liz left the next morning to attend the Full Moon Party (to get drunk and go crazy!) and me and Chloe went on a snorkelling trip. OMG a really good day (best). I'd never been snorkelling before. It's like being in a different world, very quiet and lots of beautiful coral and fish (see pics). We had taken sea sickness pills, so we could enjoy it. After lunch (they forgot Chloe's vegetarian meal!!) we travelled to another island and had a couple of hours to relax on the beach. We had booked a night boat to leave the island to head to Kamala beach in Phuket. So we had to leave our belongings in the booking agents the next day. Thankfully the weather changed on the last day there and so we relaxed on the beach and topped up our tans.