Koh Lanta, Thailand

Here we go with another report on the adventures of Eric and Lisa! We have learned a lot on this leg of our journey and experienced even more. One of these days, we’ll start doing more filming and taking more pictures to share. Currently, we are busy relaxing and enjoying life. Koh Lanta, Thailand, was our next stop—home to some amazing beaches, wonderful people, great food, exciting excursions, and a lot of monkeys. We stayed in a humble hotel with staff who took great care of us. We rented a scooter here for a few bucks a day. (Lisa was even okay zipping around this island on it, unlike her full-on refusal in Hua Hin.) Life is as slow as possible here, and we found true relaxation for the first time.

Transportation: The 12-hour bus ride was my fault. I thought it would be an experience—it was, just not one we’re eager to repeat anytime soon. It was an overnight trip, and I thought we would just sleep—nope. We did make it, hopped on a ferry to the island from Krabi, and everything went well in the end. We used a scooter to explore this time, from the busier north side to the tranquil south side, to Old Town on the eastern shore. We could get from the southern point to the north in a short 20 minutes, dodging tourists, monkeys, and potholes.

The food: It was as good as we’ve ever had. The local cuisine is amazing. We ate breakfast nearly every morning at a little café across the street called Tuesday Morning. Our waitress knew our order by the second day, and we ate like kings for just $5. Lunch mainly consisted of smoothies—literally, on average, one fruit smoothie a day: banana for Lisa and banana-coconut for me. (Kung Fu Bar has the best on the island, maybe on the planet—not sure.) Dinner was a random adventure in exploration. The pork belly at Pad Thai Rock and Roll was a repetitive favorite, along with chicken fried rice from almost everywhere. The calamari at Bamboo Restaurant with yellow noodles (think ramen but way better) was delicious. Not to offend our Minnesota friends, but I may have had the best piece of fish ever.

As a couple of foodies, of course, we’ve been focusing on eating—not necessarily eating healthy—but the only way to eat here is just that. Both of us have gotten into better shape, dropped a few pounds and we feel much better, just by eating the local food. Even the chocolate cake at Diamond Cliff made Lisa’s must-try favorite list.

Sunrise at Tuesday Morning Cafe

The locals: The locals here are awesome; the tourists…well… Our hotel staff went above and beyond, even fixing a flat tire on the scooter in less time than it took us to finish breakfast. From the staff at the Kung Fu Bar and Tuesday Morning café to the owner of the Modern Bar, who made our trip extra special, the kindness of the locals was unmistakable. However, the tourists up north were often in too much of a hurry to appreciate it. 

Excursions: We took a few excursions, with our favorite being a longboat ride to visit four different islands: Koh Waen, Koh Ngai, Koh Mook (including the Morakot Emerald Cave), and Koh Kradan. All were special. The longboat ride and snorkeling were great, but the Emerald Cave experience was beyond expectations and descriptions. The National Park at the south end of the island was beautiful. A brutal 1.6-kilometer uphill march both ways through the jungle in 200% humidity was a memorable experience (not in a good way – but Lisa loved it!), but the views from the lighthouse and the beach made up for it. Old Town was a really cool place that highlighted the history and culture of the original inhabitants, and we scored some great swag.

Beaches: This island has multiple incredible beaches: Ao-Nuy Beach, Mu Ko National Park Beach, Bamboo Beach, Long Beach, and U Bay. It would take forever to describe the tastes, feelings, sights, and smells of these epic spots. Choosing a favorite was tough, but U Bay (with its great beach and the mighty Kung Fu Bar) and Mu Ko National Park Beach stand out as postcard-perfect moments. Check out this video as we navigate the crazy road leading to the hidden gem - Kungfu Bar! We spent most of our waking hours relaxing on the beaches, watching sunsets, and drinking smoothies. Ask Lisa about the waves or why she enjoyed napping under the palm trees. When we weren’t at the beach, we were discussing which beach to visit next.

Monkeys: Monkeys were everywhere—on the roofs of restaurants, outside our hotel, blocking traffic, and stealing whatever they could. Just don’t be that tourist who stops in the middle of the road to take pictures. Pullover or don’t, there will be plenty of opportunities to see lots of monkeys (and geckos too).

Anyway, that about sums up our month on the island. It was unanimous: we will be back, as it was an amazing experience! Next stop, Vietnam.