หวัดดี Thailand
Thailand has been amazing! We were able to visit a few big cities including Chang Mai and Bangkok and were lucky enough to see some great beaches in Ao Nang, Ko Tao and Ko Samui.
Ko Tao is a top beach destination to get to! The island is small and our Sairee Cottage was quaint. Jesse LOVED diving. He was able to complete his PADI Open Water Course and since he had a little extra time also completed his Advanced Diving course. His instructor Martin said he was like a little kid when he rose from his first dive. When he came home he couldn't stop talking about everything he had seen and how much he loved his teacher. It was pretty adorbs.
To the left of the top island is where Jesse and I took our first dives!
His instructor Martin originated from Scotland and was a prison warden for 20 years. He has been diving for most of his life as a hobby, but since retiring, Ko Tao has become his home.
Of course I didn't want to miss out on all the fun and although sitting on a beach is nice I figured when in Rome. I also joined an Open Water course and completed 2 of the 3 days. Jesse seemed to be a fish in the water, but I had a bit more nerves. My heart pretty much stopped on my first dive as I deflated by BCD (buoyancy control device) and started sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Once you get the hang of breathing under water it will be great... they said. The plan is to complete the last two dives in the Maldives, which has been recently added to our itinerary and after some time to breathe above water I am feeling much more excited about diving.
As a fun fact Ko Tao provides the most Open Water PADI certifications in the WORLD. Needless to say we couldn't have picked a better spot to explore the underwater world.
To the left of the top island is where Jesse and I took our first dives!
Of course I didn't want to miss out on all the fun and although sitting on a beach is nice I figured when in Rome. I also joined an Open Water course and completed 2 of the 3 days. Jesse seemed to be a fish in the water, but I had a bit more nerves. My heart pretty much stopped on my first dive as I deflated by BCD (buoyancy control device) and started sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Once you get the hang of breathing under water it will be great... they said. The plan is to complete the last two dives in the Maldives, which has been recently added to our itinerary and after some time to breathe above water I am feeling much more excited about diving.
As a fun fact Ko Tao provides the most Open Water PADI certifications in the WORLD. Needless to say we couldn't have picked a better spot to explore the underwater world.
After Ko Tao we took a short ferry ride to Ko Samui also located in the Gulf of Thailand. We spent three days here. Catching up on all of the planning needed to be done and accounting to make sure we don't run out of money. We are fully booked through July if anyone wants to come visit us along the way (itinerary has been updated)! More beach days and scootering to be had.
Our final day in Thailand was spent in Bangkok. We had heard mixed feelings about Bangkok in that it can be a bit overwhelming.. and people were right. It is such a large city that it is hard to narrow down what to do, where to go and where to stay. One of the big must see locations was the Grand Palace, which is apparently what every other tourist thought to do. When walking around you notice a lot of different smells, sights and sounds, but the most overwhelming part about it is the crowds.
Jesse's take on Thailand:
Overall I've been impressed by the country. I much prefer the rural areas and beach towns over the cites, but that general rule pretty much applies to everywhere for me. The cites have a lot of action and tons to see but also come with huge crowds, traffic, crappy air, trash, ect. Koh Tao was by far the best place for me in Thailand and maybe of the whole trip thus far. I loved diving and that took up most of the time but the island had nice charm and felt removed from the hectic-ness of mainland Thailand. It had beautiful beaches, the best sunsets, great waters for diving, tasty restaurants and bars set on the sand and the island vibe that embodied paradise for me. Finally, taking the scooter out for a tour has been a highlight here in Thailand. We both like taking the scooter to see the sights at our own pace and it is a not only a cheap way to get around but its the most fun way to get from point a to b. I think the scooter made the most impact in being able to explore and get a good feel for where we were staying. I am looking forward to Cambodia and Vietnam very much and see how they stack up!
Favorite Meal: Massaman Curry
Favorite Activity: Diving or visiting the Elephant Retirement Park
Favorite Beach: Sairee Beach, Ko Tao
Favorite Restaurant: The Rock Pool in Ko Samui
Libby's Favorites:
Favorite Meal: Green Curry
Favorite Activity: Cooking class
Favorite Beach: Sairee Beach Ko Tao
Favorite Restaurant: Savage Ko Tao
Thanks Thailand for a great stay!
Our final day in Thailand was spent in Bangkok. We had heard mixed feelings about Bangkok in that it can be a bit overwhelming.. and people were right. It is such a large city that it is hard to narrow down what to do, where to go and where to stay. One of the big must see locations was the Grand Palace, which is apparently what every other tourist thought to do. When walking around you notice a lot of different smells, sights and sounds, but the most overwhelming part about it is the crowds.
Jesse's take on Thailand:
Overall I've been impressed by the country. I much prefer the rural areas and beach towns over the cites, but that general rule pretty much applies to everywhere for me. The cites have a lot of action and tons to see but also come with huge crowds, traffic, crappy air, trash, ect. Koh Tao was by far the best place for me in Thailand and maybe of the whole trip thus far. I loved diving and that took up most of the time but the island had nice charm and felt removed from the hectic-ness of mainland Thailand. It had beautiful beaches, the best sunsets, great waters for diving, tasty restaurants and bars set on the sand and the island vibe that embodied paradise for me. Finally, taking the scooter out for a tour has been a highlight here in Thailand. We both like taking the scooter to see the sights at our own pace and it is a not only a cheap way to get around but its the most fun way to get from point a to b. I think the scooter made the most impact in being able to explore and get a good feel for where we were staying. I am looking forward to Cambodia and Vietnam very much and see how they stack up!
Favorite Meal: Massaman Curry
Favorite Activity: Diving or visiting the Elephant Retirement Park
Favorite Beach: Sairee Beach, Ko Tao
Favorite Restaurant: The Rock Pool in Ko Samui
Libby's Favorites:
Favorite Meal: Green Curry
Favorite Activity: Cooking class
Favorite Beach: Sairee Beach Ko Tao
Favorite Restaurant: Savage Ko Tao
Thanks Thailand for a great stay!
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