Koh Tao and the island

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Travelled from Langkawi to Alor Setar and spent the night at the Sentosa Regency. No much in the city other than the Sultan of Kedah Museum which looked more like the palace had been cleared out and this place was where the junk ended up including golfing hats and his old mobile phones for the last 30 years. Went up the Alor Setor Tower which had more rules on what you could not do than do (no canoodling).

2 DNF

Up at 5:30am to catch the 7:00 am train to Hat Yai. The train arrived one hour late and then cleared customs on the Malaysian Border at Padang Besar. Then waited another hour for the train to Hat Yai. Got to spend 5 hours in Hat Yai, not much to see, so we had a foot massage. They called in the heavy hands to work Michael’s feet.

The train station at Hat Yai was a hoot with people and dogs wandering everywhere and occasionally getting out of the way of trains. It was hard to work out who was an official employee and who wanted to just play with the train equipment. Had purchased tickets on the second-class air conditioning carriage.  After seeing 2^nd class non air-conditioned and third class, glad we did. 

Train to Chumphon from Hat Yai was 2 hours late so have missed the ferry to Koh Tao and waiting at 2:00 am on the station platform for the ferry office to open at 5:00 am to move to Koh Tao to start doing some more diving and relaxing.



Party at Chumpon station with the station vendors

Got put on a cattle truck at 6:00 am to go to the ferry and then a 3 hour boat ride to Koh Tao. As usual, there were endless hawkers, cabbies and hangers on offering the best in Koh Tao services and accommodation. Finally got to the Taraporn Resort, which incorporates Alvaro dive school on the southern side of the Island which is a bit quieter. Should you worry when a cabbie walks you a mile down the street to his truck with seats on the back and asks 4 people where Taraporn Resort is? Well it is a small island so you will get there eventually.

The resort is on the water with our bungalow overlooking a little bay. A short walk , (50 m) to the dive school and 1km to the shops and restaurants. Council building codes do not apply here so any nook and cranny has a nice little bungalow and the resorts intertwine with one another.

View from the room



  The room has fans and a hot shower, not sure if we need that now as the weather is nice and warm. 
View to the bar and dive shop



There is a lovely bar that over looks the bay at night with fire juggling as part of the entertainment or was that the chef running from the kitchen?

Dogs and cats everywhere with most well cared for and had breakfast with a cat that was sleeping at the table. When we get to some other counties we may get to eat the cat.