My friends from back home sometimes ask “Roni, what did you do this weekend?” Living in Thailand, I can think of many different stories of adventures and experiences to share. But I am going to start at the beginning and tell you
about my first trip to an island.
The last weekend in July was the King’s birthday. Thus, my first four-day weekend. I went with three other teachers to Ko Samui, an island on the Gulf of Thailand within close proximity to Hat Yai, the city where I live. Our trip began early Friday morning for a much-needed holiday. It was a short trip to the island, but stops at 7/11 getting tuna and cheese toasties definitely add time. A drive and a ferry later, I felt a rush of excitement as we came to Nathon Pier, Ko Samui’s port. I could not wait to see the white sandy beaches, blue water, and relax.
We stayed at a hotel near Chaweng beach which is only a fifteen minute walk to the beach and ten minutes to walking street. When we put our bags down, we hit the town and sought out dinner. We all agreed on Italian food. After not having pizza for several months, it tasted like five-star dining. After dinner and some wine, we strolled around the island, eventually making our way to the hotel.
The next day we went to the beach! As my feet touched the sand, I knew it was going to be a great first day. Except that I got, maybe, the worst sunburn of my life. Fair warning, if you are from the west, wear a lot of sunscreen! Thailand’s sun is very strong. I didn’t and was surely regretting it the following weeks. We ended our first day with a beautiful sunset and a panoramic view of Ko Samui.
The following night was the Full Moon Party. I could not have prepared myself for this night even if I researched and watched the whole event on Youtube. Let me tell you, Full Moon Parties are a ton of fun. When you arrive at Ko Phangan, you are greeted by glow sticks, loud music, and buckets of any kind of drink you can imagine. As you move along the street, you can’t help but get excited by what awaits. Music is blasting, people are giddy, and everyone is in good spirits. We lasted until dawn and took a ferry back to Ko Samui. On Monday, we set off to Hat Yai. The ferry got delayed five hours. It had us all questioning whether we should stay in Ko Samui forever. Of course, we had to go back, but we were sad to leave. suffice to say, it was a holiday well spent.
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