The Ko Tao posts are going to be pretty long so I’m breaking them up a bit, here is the first

After Bangkok I set sail for Ko Tao…

This was not as easy as it should have been. I basically woke up on Khao San Road, packed my bags and headed for the train station… only to be told that most of the trains were full to Chumpon and I could only realistically take the rubbish train at about 6pm, that got me there at 3am, to get the early ferry… I decided against and got a taxi for the bus station.

This bus station (the Southern Bus Station in Bangkok) was easily the most civilised I have ever been it. It had facilities rivaling airports! A great place to chill out until my cheap bus to Chumpon arrived… and it was worth it as this particular bus was great! Comfortable seats, lots of legroom, was on the back so I could recline mine without inconviencing anyone, the works.

Anyway, 7 hours later I’m in Chumpon… I get some food at the nightmarket and then a main at the Fame Cafe… who tell me I can get a midnight ferry taxi with them for 150THB… bit of a rip off according to the LP, who say pickups will take me there for 20THB… but it didn’t seem like a rip off when I couldn’t find one of the pickups!

Upon returning to the Fame Cafe, suddenly the midnight ferry had decided to leave 1hour early… and the Guesthouse owner just insisted I took a room there for the evening at the (genuinely) discount price of 200THB, then get a ticket + pickup from him.. I’d leave at 5:30 the day after.

The day after arrives, and I’m woken at 4:30! I get down stairs and this guy tries to sell me 2 hours worth of breakfast!?!! The bloody pickup doesn’t arrive until 6:30.

Anyway, finally I’m on the ferry and will only be 3 hours behind the arrival time of the midnight ferry…

Anyway, I was at Mae Head peir, when I got there I took cover from the frensy of guesthouse/dive resort hecklers at the pier by going to the Safety Stop Pub for a bit… also giving me a chance to check out Wikitravel’s Article on Ko Tao to get some leads on accomodation. I decided the best move was to set off North up the beach. Eventually I came across a name I recognised, Big Blue. Struggling a bit with the heat, the bags and the lack of sleep, I let one of the instructors talk me in there, sit me down with a pineapple juice and then sign me up for Discover Scuba Diving the next day (which I wanted to do). I got a fan room for 200TBH (half price!).

Ok, went for a walk and it’s photo time again!

Yeah, landed on my feet here!