Koh Tao, the island we couldn’t leave

We were sooo excited about travelling to the island. We were sooo looking forward to the beaches and relaxation 🙂  Finally we could rest, and we definitely needed it after all the walking in both Beijing and Bangkok!  

When we arrived in Chumphong, we had to take a bus, or at least we thought it would be a bus, but instead it was a car with a trunk with benches in it. It was crowded, and the driver didn’t exactly drive slow… We got of the “bus” and into a boat that took about tree hours . Luckily, we slept the whole time, because it was really wavy.We talked to some people who took another boat that only took 1 1/2 hours and everyone was throwing up in bags on that boat..There was a guy on our boat that offered us open water dive courses, and it included accommodation. Since Silje (blonde) wanted to take a dive course and Silje (brunette) wanted to refresh hers we accepted the deal. 

We talked to the diving center and looked at their accommodation, but it wasn’t anything we liked, so we took a walk and asked like 6 resorts if they were available. We were scared that we wouldn’t find anything, but luckily at the last resort they had a nice  and simple bungalow. It had a bed, a fan and a bath room.  

The bungalow

The Bow Thong resort was on the end of the beach so it was about a 10 minutes walk to the Sairee beach center. It was a nice walk on the beach:) The day we arrived it was cloudy so we were actually a little bit disappointed about the island. We both have been to the Caribbean, and Koh Tao couldn’t quite live up to the expectation of white beaches and blue-green water so we booked the bungalow for three days. However, we grew fond of the place fast and our expectations were fulfilled and booked for 4 more days, and then for 2 more, and another 2 more and at last one day more…hehe! We loved it here! The whole vibe of the island is so relaxed.  

We lived at the end of Sairee beach

Silje (blond) booked the course for Open Water diving at Davy Jones Locker, but before she did it she took a free dive in the pool to see if she could handle it, and she did 🙂 She took the open water certification with two boys from England, Sam and Russ. They were two quiet boys.  The teacher Franki was really awesome. He really knew what he was doing, and had totally control in the sea. Silje was so impressed!  

Our instructors Frankie and Neil are loading the boat

It was a 4-day course were 2 days was with theory, and pop-quiz,  and practise in the pool. The 3rd day we had the exam and dive nr. 1 and 2 in the sea. The 4th day we meet at 7 am, it was freaking early, and had dive nr. 3 and 4. At day 3 Silje (brunette) was with us in the boat, she was taking a review course. She had not been diving for about 4 years so she thought it was a good idea. It was great that we could be together on the first dive.  

The last day when Silje (blonde) walked the beach-promenade she saw a freaking tornado, it was scary! It was outside the island, probably in the sea, but she was thinking “are we really gonna go diving today!”  

The scary tornado!

We did go diving anyway, but it was really wavy, so Silje (blonde) got really seasick between the dives. It wasn’t pleasant. She was really thinking about not taking the 4th dive because of that, but it worked out fine. Silje (blonde) thinks that it’s beautiful to dive, all the nice fishes and corals. She loved the butterfly fishes! She also saw 2 blue spotted sting-rays…scary!  It was so amazing taking the course, and we both agree that we definitely recommend it to everyone!!  

When Silje (blond) was done with her course, we had finally time to relax and work on our tan 🙂 We had some relaxing days, and it was just lovely! 

Sairee beach

We were enjoying the days, tanning, eating, taking som beers and going to the beach bars. Our favourite bars were Fizz bar and Lotus bar. 

Thailand rock-carvings

Fizz bar was our pre-party place, were we sat in bean-bags. They were awesome!  

The relaxing beanbag at Fizz bar

Lotus beach bar was where all the action happened, a lot more party and dancing here than in Fizz. We had our bucket with drinks and just enjoying the place. It was such a relaxing place.

The Thai way: no beer, no drink, buckets!!

 All in all, we LOVED Koh Tao! We both wanna go back there. The best sunsets in the world, sets right in the sea..We can`t stop talking about Koh Tao…hehe  

A beautiful sunset on the beach

 Siljex2