Koh Tao - A Place for Foreigners

As per my previous entry, I have decided to go Koh Tao directly instead of staying at Koh Samui. Ok, let's talk about the journey to Koh Tao from Suratthani train station. 

Enough waiting, I left the train station and start searching for buses to the pier. I have done online booking for return tickets to Koh Tao via Lomprayah ferry. It was actually a joint tickets of bus and ferry. There was a local bus station located just next to the train station. I asked the driver if they are going to Lomprayah office, but they showed me the way to the travel office which is only 200 m away.

The departure time showed in the ticket was 9.00 am. I was a bit confused whether it was the bus departure time or ferry departure time. They asked me to wait for the bus until 8.30 am.

It was a only a table in a restaurant functions as the counter. I didn't order anything for breakfast and quite starving actually. I was sitting alone while waiting for the bus. There was a local man with a very fluent english which is quite entertaining keep on talking with the tourists. He never talked to me, but some of his stories were very interesting. He talked about Russian movies, some interesting places in Thailand, and I was most attracted to his stories about the protest and political situations in Thailand.

The bus finally arrived around 8.30 am. The staff will check the tickets and gave us stick and tag for our bags based on our destination. The journey from Suratthani city to Donsak pier took about 50 minutes. We reached there around 10.00 am and the ferry left almost 10.30 am.

Lomprayah provides high speed ferry to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. It was air conditioned ferry with 2 deck. Upper deck is open air for the passengers to enjoy the view. It took more than one hour to reach each island. There was a small counter selling foods and drinks. I bought something to eat for breakfast. The ferry was full. A German passenger with beautiful green eyes sat next to me. We talked about a lot of thing during the journey. His stop will be at Koh Phangan. 

The current was strong on that day. I started to feel uncomfortable and going to get sea sickness. The staff gave us a plastic bag and I couldn't help myself to vomit everything I ate this morning. The ferry first arrived at Koh Samui one hour later and continue he journey to Koh Phangan after the passengers get down. Before reaching Koh Phangan, I vomit one more time. 

Everybody has to get down at Koh Phangan and change ferry to go Koh Tao. We arrived around 12.30 and wait for another our for the next ferry. I bought some fruits at the jetty while waiting and at least to eat something after I threw everything on board. 

Again, before we reached Koh Tao I vomit 2 times. I was totally flat and headache. Once we stepped down at Koh Toa pier, there are a lot of local people awaiting for us. Most of them offering taxi to our accommodation. I known the island is small and there is no way for them to charge us high. Unfortunately, as I was alone I have no choice than to take a taxi for 300 baht to the hostel that I booked which only about 5 minutes driving. However, I'm glad I finally reach there safely.