Heading out to the new bus station south of Chiang Rai
On March 20, Wan and I decided to escape the smoke and the smog here in the north of Thailand, and head south for cleaner air. We set out by motorbike to the new bus station, south of Chiang Rai. There we caught an overnight bus to Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal. The ride took about 12 hours.
The overnight VIP bus from Chiang Rai to Bangkok's Mo Chit bus terminal
We arrived at Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal (Mo Chit) at around 5:30 on the morning of the 21st. From there we took a taxi to Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal, where we caught a second bus to take us to Koh Samui.
The VIP bus from Bangkok to Koh Samui
The Bangkok to Koh Samui bus left at 7:30 a.m. and arrived at the ferry terminal in Don Sak in Surat Thani Province at around 6:00 p.m.
The ferry from Don Sak to Koh Samui
We got on the ferry, and our bus got on the ferry as well. The ferry ride to Koh Samui took around 2 hours. We were really starting to get frazzled by this point. Once we arrived at the ferry terminal on Koh Samui, we got back on the bus and drove for about half an hour to a bus terminal nowhere near our intended destination of Lamai Beach. So, we got in a taxi and rode another half hour to our guest house near Lamai Beach. From the time we set out until we arrived, 28 hours elapsed.
The view from the ferry from Don Sak to Koh Samui
The first day on Koh Samui we went to visit a place I had last visited in 2003, The Mummified Monk.
We also visited the Big Buddha on the northern end of the island.
Wan at Big Buddha on Koh Samui
We took in an awesome Elvis show.
Wan with Elvis impersonator, Ritchie Newton
And and awesome monkey show.
Monkey harvesting coconuts on Koh Samui
Wan at the monkey show on Koh Samui
We rode our motorbike way up the mountain to Santiburi Golf Course to enjoy the view and a cool, refreshing beverage.
Wan at Santiburi Golf Course on Koh Samui
And, we also rode our motorbike up an even steeper incline to the Jungle Club Resort to enjoy the view and a cool, refreshing beverage.
Lots of scenic beauty on Koh Samui, both up in the hills and down at the beach.
After six fun-filled nights on Koh Samui, we headed for Bangkok. Near the same guest house we stayed in last year on Sukhumvit Soi 19, Bangkok’s newest luxury shopping center, Terminal 21, has opened.
We had a chance to visit with Wan’s youngest daughter, who is a policewoman in Bangkok.
Wan and Gaye at Terminal 21 in Bangkok
We also visited the Jim Thompson House.
Wan at the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok
And, we enjoyed the hustle and bustle, and the sights, the smells and the sounds of Bangkok.
Bumper to bumper traffic on Sukhumvit Road in Bangkok
Street vendor selling Durian in Bangkok
Street vendors in Bangkok
