Koh Lanta

Our latest visitors were Jacob, Laura and cousin Ian. We had a great 2+ weeks with them. Laura is an old hand at Bangkok, having lived here and taught English several years ago, so tour guides were not necessary as she could barter with a tuk tuk driver as well as any of us could. Therefore, they were off on their own much of the time, exploring Bangkok as well as Chiang Mai largely on their own.

However, the group of us did take an extended weekend down to the island of Koh Lanta, nestled amongst a string of Islands of Thailand's west coast in the Andaman Sea. To get to paradise, however, required an epic journey of plane to coach to boat to taxi. Having three youngsters in tow complicated matters and by the time we got to our hotel, we were sorely in need of a dip in the pool and several beer Changs. However, we can now look back at the experience, if not with fondness, then with increasingly less bitterness.

There were some bright spots to the journey, though, such as the views from the top of the ferry.

 

 

And the grueling, un-air-conditioned camaraderie down below.

 

 

 

 

Once there, we were in a hotel full of Swedes, with a beautiful and large pool.

 And located just steps away from a beautiful beach.

Our first morning there, we walked the beach and helped Eliana grow her shell collection.

Once the sun was fully out, we grabbed a spot on the beach and played in the sand and the crystal clear water which had what very well could have been the perfect temperature.

(a second before Shane's first mouthful of sand)

We ate at beachside restaurants, our feet in the sand as we feasted on cheap and fresh seafood (and Jacon admired pictures of puppies).

 

Back in the hotel, the kids engaged in some cousinly bonding.

We went into the old fishing village where they were setting up for a festival.

And then, in the end, got back on the boat for the long ride home...