Day Four-Five - Koh Samui

My travel plan is to leave Koh Phangan at dusk when the last ferry departs to Koh Samui - which is popular for its jungles and vibrant nightlife. Leaving at dusk was an original issue I came across when deciding what to do for hotel and sleeping purposes that night, but after reading another tourist's blog about her stay in Koh Samui, she recommended that those who are able to do so should sleep on the beaches of Koh Samui. Large trucks that serve as shuttle services, or taxis, bring tourists from dock to the main beach area or designated drop off point. Along the water, which is where I am planning to stay, there are small hotels and hostels available for minimal prices. Even though this is my dream vacation and I would usually want to stay in a luxurious hotel, the idea of staying along the beach and being able to wake up, go into the water, and explore the land seems much more enticing to me.

Upon my arrival, I plan on travelling to and staying at Chaweng beach, which is the largest resort area on the island. Not only is this beach beautiful, it is the beach with the largest selection of shopping for tourists. Aside from the material items available for purchase along the beach, there is a huge market place, many places to dine, and adventure opportunities such as diving and hiking through the jungle. From what I have researched, it seems as though Chaweng has the best night life on Koh Samui and although the beach extends for 6-7 kilometers, I am hoping to conquer the entire thing. The next day will be devoted to exploring the shops and taking in the culture. I am also hoping to do some scuba diving during this day, and there are plenty of dive shops along the beach that I will check out and compare prices to find the best one. I am looking forward to the bustling streets and busy beach filled with tourists and locals. At the end of the day, I will make the trek south from Chaweng to Lamai - which is the second largest beach in Koh Samui.

In Lamai, we will be staying at the Silvadee Pool Spa Resort. Since we have not stayed at any luxurious places yet, I feel that this will be a good opportunity to relax and enjoy ourselves within the resort. During our fifth day, I plan on renting motor bikes to take a small tour of the city. The remainder will be spent relaxing and getting ready for the next portion of our trip - Krabi!



http://samui.sawadee.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ko_Samui

Day Six-Eight - Krabi

Since my siblings and I are very interested in scuba diving, visiting Krabi will be a great experience for us to open our horizons and explore the islands. Krabi is made up of many islands, most of which are big tourist attractions - especially for those who are interested in diving and snorkelling. We will arrive by ferry as well as a taxi. Since we are spending three days exploring the islands of Krabi, I plan on doing three dives - one per day.

During our three day stay, we will be exploring the Ko Lanta National park which has some of the more well known diving sites. I am very excited for this aspect of the trip because it will allow me to explore other areas that I find interesting, such as diving and the underwater world, which not many people ever get to explore.

Something I would also like to do while in Krabi is rock climbing. After reading some reviews about this area, many people have said that the rocks that seems to erupt right out of the ground are perfect fom rock climbing right over the ocean. Another thing I find very appealing about Krabi and a reason I am intrigued to go is that there are many closed in bays and secluded coves. The aspect of privacy is very appealing to this tourist location and a big reason I would like to travel there.

http://www.tourismthailand.org/where-to-go/cities-guide/destination/krabi

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krabi

Day Nine-Eleven - Phuket

I will be spending three days with my siblings in Phuket. Since we have ample time to explore, I plan on dedicating two of the days to tourist attractions and one day to relax and enjoy the beach. While there, I would like to visit the temples to get an idea of what Phuket Thai culture is about. I would also really enjoy doing a sea kayaking tour. The kayaking takes you through caves that are only accessible at low tide.

In researching areas that I would like to explore, I cam across this video that got me very excited for the kayaking in Phuket:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo1hwmnTcxA&feature=related

The temples represent a historical part of the Thai past, and understanding more about the culture is something I am very interested in. One of the most interesting landmarks in Phuket that I hope to see is the Big Buddha. It is said that from this site, you are able to have the most spectacular 360 degree view of the entire island. Although many tourists are contempt sitting by the beach or pool and relaxing all day, I am more the type who wants to see the landscape and adventure through the unknown land. So far, my dream vacation has offered just that!
http://www.phuket.com/tours/
http://www.phuket.com/magazine/big-buddha-today.htm

Day Twelve-Thirteen: Ko Samet

The stay in Koh Samet, which is one of the smaller Thai islands, will be on the east coast of the island. The reason I am choosing to stay in this area is because it is the most popular destination filled with tiny beaches, restaurants, bars, and spectacular nightlife. I am choosing the more populated area to go because I am a social person, as are my sister and brother, and making friends while on vacation is always exciting - not only are others helpful in giving suggestions as to what you should see and do, if you like the people enough, you begin to plan future trips with them, as I have experienced before.

The seafood in Ko Samet is said to be delicious, and I am hoping that we get to experience the "taste of Thailand" before we head back to the mainland. Along the east coast, there are many restaurants, and since this is our last destination before Bangkok, I am hoping that we get to go to a few restaurants and have smaller meals as opposed to a full meal at one restaurant. After dinner, I would love to enjoy watching the sunset while sitting on the beach and reflecting about the trip thus far.

During the day, I hope that we are able to relax among the many beaches. The reason for this is that, once we are in the big city of Bangkok, the hustle and bustle will keep us busy all day with the sights to see.

Thus far, my dream vacation to Thailand has been adventurous, yet relaxing. I have been able to see the beautiful islands, celebrate with the Thai people, explore the land, and learn about the culture. The last lag of my trip will be the most busy part yet - Bangkok!

http://www.travelfish.org/location/thailand/eastern_thailand/rayong/ko_samet
http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Samet

Day Fourteen-Seventeen: Bangkok

This is the part of my dream vacation I have been waiting for. I've heard from other travellers I know who have been to Thailand that the islands are great, but being in the busy city is like nothing else. Once again, since this is my dream vacation, I am choosing to stay at the Mandarin Oriental Bangkok. While on my island trips, I chose to reside along the beach and in hotels that were as luxurious, Bangkok is an inner city, and a major metropolitan city, so luxury is what I am looking for!

The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok is rated the number one hotel in Bangkok, and has one of the most beautiful spas in the world. This hotel is also conveniently located in the heart of the city which will make getting around and visiting tourist locations much easier.

From the hotel, there are a wide variety of tours offered. Since I have about three whole days to explore the city, I am planning on taking full advantage of these tours. The first one I plan to take part in is the Floating Market Tour - specifically, the Damnoen Saduak floating market. I've always been interested in the floating markets from seeing them in movies and TV shows, and to be able to experience one first hand would be amazing. The markets are like living museums - boats are filled to the brim with fresh fruits and vegetables. I will be sure to bring my camera on this adventure to capture the true culture of what life was like in Bangkok before consumerism took control.

I also would be interested in taking a dinner cruise tour. The boats take the passengers out on the river around the city at night which allows people to see the the dazzling lights. I think that this would be a different way to have dinner while in Bangkok - as opposed to a sit down meal at a restaurant.


I believe that I am somewhat used to the big city - I grew up in the heart of Toronto. But looking deeper into my stay in Bangkok, I think that a city with 11 million people will be somewhat overwhelming - and I welcome it. I am looking forward to what a truly busy city is like, with mass amounts of people congesting the streets at all times. Public transit will be something to get accustomed to, and knowing my sense of direction, I will be sure to get us lost. This being said, I think that having a tour guide with us to show us the most important things within our three day stay will be a beneficial aspect to our trip.

I am also hoping to fit in a show or two during my stay. I am very interested in musical theatre and would enjoy a night out in Bangkok seeing some of the local talent. I think that ending my trip in Bangkok is a smart idea. After doing all the travelling from island to island, scuba diving, rock climbing, and relaxing on the beaches, being in the big city to take in a different aspect of Thai culture will be a different and informative way to round off an incredible adventure. Although my stay is only three days long, I am hoping to make the most out of it. I understand that I will be sleeping minimally and be on my feet all day, but I think that is the price to pay for a vacation of a lifetime.

We will be catching and evening flight back to Toronto from Bangkok airport. From our hotel, we will call a taxi service which is able to bring us there. On the long ride back to Canada, I will use the time to reflect on the trip.

http://www.bangkok.com/orientalbangkok/tours.htm

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangkok

Reflection

After two and half weeks spent in Thailand, there is much to be grateful about. Having the opportunity to travel for such an extended period of time truly is a dream and something that I will never forget. On the plane ride home, I will look through all the pictures I took on my camera and reflect on each of the different places we travelled to. I will remember the people we met also, hopefully some of which become long-term travel partners. If my sister and brother do not fall asleep, I presume we will reminisce about our favourite moments and replay them in our heads.

I think that once I am back in Toronto, I will put together a slide show of all our pictures and make copies for my siblings so that we each have a way to remember the trip. I also plan on creating a scrap book with photos, brochures, and little things we picked up along our travels. I know, no matter what, that this trip will be very successful and live up to my expectations.

Main Photo: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/images/0706/thailand.jpg

Side Bar Photo: http://files.myopera.com/freerider/albums/2524241/phi-phi-thailand.jpg