Happy New Year from the Beaches of Southern Thailand!

Hello Everyone!

{Disclaimer: I am well aware that it’s freezing cold in most of the Western Hemisphere. I actually do feel bad posting pictures of the beach and tropical fruit. Thankfully, this website has posts that can help you collect miles so YOU can also escape winter, if you please, to a tropical location next year. So don’t hate us too much.}

We have spent the last two weeks in Southern Thailand. We have been enjoying beach days, getting some actual work done (we need to make some money to pay for the trip!), playing endless games of cards with friends, eating fresh fruit and pinching ourselves to make sure we aren’t dreaming.

We started out in Krabi for 10 days hanging out with our friends David and Sharon. We rented mopeds because we were staying 25 minutes away from the beach. We decided to get a hotel room for $18 instead of $100 near the beach, the prices were all increased because of new years. At least the ride was scenic.

Aurelien looking super dorky with his helmet.  Safety first!

Food in Thailand is amazing. We love the curries, noodle dishes and  have been enjoying all of the fresh fruit. There are fruit markets, sidewalk vendors and smoothie stalls everywhere you look.

While in Krabi we would visit one of  two beaches: Ao Nang and Railay beach; both stunning beaches but with crowds.

Ao Nang Beach

More Ao Nang

We got to Railay beach by a 30 minute boat ride. There are no vehicles in this area.

At the end of Ao Nang beach you can go visit monkeys. They come out in the afternoon to hangout and get handouts from the crowds. I don’t think feeding the monkeys is a good thing, but alas people were doing it. It was so much fun hanging out with the monkeys. They were sweet and harmless, unlike the monkeys I encountered in India.

Hungry and want roasted corn on the cob? No worries, Kee walks up and down the beach and grills corn for you. Also being sold is water, drinks, beer, towels, mats, jewelry, beach toys and countless other things. 

After 10 days of fun we parted ways with David and Sharon and boarded a ferry to Koh Lanta, an island two hours by boat. Koh Lanta is not as built up as Ao Nang or Railey, which means the beaches are less crowded. It feels like you have the beach to yourself. I’ve enjoyed swimming laps, walking along the beach at sunset and exploring the area on our moped. Koh Lanta attracts families with young children and we have discovered that the prices here are more expensive. We have been spending about $40 a night on a hotel (though we are practically on the beach, unlike Krabi!) and food is more expensive. Our plan is to get a scuba diving certification this week (as in the day after tomorrow, eek!), and then we are headed to New Zealand and Australia.

Sunset in Koh Lanta

Expansive, quiet beaches in Koh Lanta