Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Live from Koh Tao, Thailand

(Captions added 10 April)


Koh Tao's water is spectacularly clear during the dry season. Typical visibility is 15-20 meters, and in calm conditions you can often see the coral formations from shore.


Longtail boats are used extensively on the island to ferry people to otherwise inaccessible bays, and for transportation to the nearby island Koh Nangyuan. Propulsion is provided by an old automotive engine - often air-cooled VWs - mounted on a gymbal and driving a propeller at the end of a long shaft. To steer, the boatman moves the entire engine-shaft-prop assembly.


Ao Jun Jeua, the bay where Dawn and I stayed. This west-facing beach is perfect for watching sunsets.


Dawn and I at Moondance Bungalows' restaurant. Most resorts and bungalow operators have their own restaurants, and the food is just as good as the independent joints.


Our bungalow. Beautiful location, quick beach access, tastefully decorated - $18/night.


I think all the sunsets were this good. The cynic in me says that upper-atmosphere pollution has a lot to do with that.




Beautiful little bay on the south side of Mae Hat beach.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This will probably sound like a dumb question, but how did you plan this trip with regard to airlines? Were you able to non-rev across the pond? Did you have to fly stand-by? As an aviation buff from the outside looking in, this non-rev stuff fascinates me.

Sam Weigel said...

Non-rev on Eva Air Seattle-Taipei-Bangkok, will take Thai Airways to Tokyo and then NWA to Seattle. No problem getting here, hopefully going back is as trouble-free...

I'll discuss the non-revving a bit more in a post when we get back.

--Sam (that Sam)sam

Clint said...

non-rev is a beautiful thing...so are your pics by the way

~Rachel Mae~ said...

PSHT!!! and my parents say I'M spoiled! hehehe