Where are you? Ko Lipe.

After the hubub of Bangkok we were ready for the beach. We left the big city on an express train travelling for 14 hours overnight in a first class cabin. The cabin slept two on a long seat that converted to bunk beds, dinner and drinks were served in the cabin.









On board the train there is a toilet at the end of every carriage. Before the trip I had researched the Thai water closet and was expecting at some point to come across the traditional squat toilet, however not this soon nor on a moving train! After peeing on my flip flops several times, I later discovered that when I had asked the steward where the toilet was, he had failed to mention that there were both a squat and western facility in the carriage. A mistake I was to make again at a later date although by this time my aim had improved!

After a rather pleasant journey we arrived in Trang a transit town in the south of the country. When I finally made it off the train with my pack, travelling companion (TC) had already procured us passage to our final destination, Ko Lipe, an island described as the Maldives of Thailand.

We were ushered into a car by a well dressed middle aged woman and driven to her nearby travel agency. She went through the different options and priced up the best tickets for us. I was struck by her familiar almost maternal manner. When she asked our names we replied and I asked hers, "Joy" she said. I gasped as TC mentioned that is in fact my mother's name and declared now I have a Thai mom. Joy gave me a big hug and sent us on our way.

Clutching our tickets we ambled off to grab some breakfast before taking a mini bus for 2 hours down to Pak Bara pier and then boarding a speedboat bound for the tiny island of Ko Lipe.









It turned out that this was not a direct service, in fact most passengers were on a day trip of island hopping. Lucky for us we were able to sample the delights of Ao Pante Malacca and Ko Khai along the way. At the latter, I leapt off the boat scattering the Greman and Japanese tourists, eager to set foot on my first Thai beach. Man, it was worth it, the water was crystal clear and the powder soft sand shimmered with pink flecks. I was overcome with joy and gratitude when I spotted an archway formed by the rocks further along the beach.









What can I say? Our home for the next 3 days is everything you could want from a tropical island. The shallow waters meant the speedboat had to dock off shore and we and our baggage were transferred to the beach by longtail boat, from where we had to haul them through the sand to reception.










There is nothing here, homely hotels made up of individual cottages are strung along the beach, competing reggae bars nestling amongst them. The Ko Lipe Walking Street acts as the "town centre", I use the term loosely, this one barely paved road offers a selection of travel agencies, restaurants, souvenir shops, dogs and forms the route towards the tsunami shelter.








After showering and donning a fabulous little dress which complemented my flip flops, de rigeur footwear in these parts! TC and I ventured along the beach and into town. I dined on the finest shrimp yellow curry I have ever eaten as TC was equally impressed with her chicken noodle salad.








Sated, we headed back to the beach and the reggae bar next door to our cottage. What's not to love? Seating is mats and cushions on the sand, the bass is pumping and the rum punch is flowing, bliss!

As for beauty treatments, there were no massages this time, instead I opted for a French pedicure to complement my tan and new toe ring.









Ko Lipe was an idyllic multicultural utopia with chow lair (sea gypsy) children flying kites running through the sand amongst the Japanese, English, German, French, Italian, Finnish... tourists. In this situation one may expect a particular national to live up to a negative stereotype or perhaps some rivalry. The only badly behaved were a group from Ibiza screaming and shouting, using their native language to insult traveller and local alike, disregarding local culture and customs. Having chosen to make Spain my home, I was visibly dismayed.










After 3 days of white sand, clear blue water, picture postcard sunsets and Bob Marley soundtrack I wanted to stay forever. However the lack of single men and abundance of mosquitoes meant it was time to move on.










TC and I packed up our stuff
(again) and boarded a longtail boat out to the platform then a very bumpy speedboat back to Pak Bara from there we will continue to Ko Lanta.

Ko Lipe will be a hard act to follow.

- Posted from my iPhone