Summary
I spent a month relaxing on Ko Samet Island in Thailand. I enjoyed massages, smoothies, and beach time, and explored nearby Pattaya. I returned to Seattle via Suvarnabhumi Airport.
I stayed a few days in Bangkok before heading to Ko Samet Island.
While in Bangkok, I took the Skytrain to the end of the Bang Wa route and saw a beautiful canal.
During my Skytrain travels, I saw colorful trains with motifs, one advertising Zootopia 2 and the other the 250th anniversary of the United States.
I took a 4-hour bus to Ban Phe and visited Da at her massage shop, Laksika Massage. Lily, Da’s friend, picked me up at the bus station on her motorbike.
After a relaxing massage, Da gave me a beautiful wrap.
I stayed at the comfortable La Bella guesthouse in Ko Samet Village for $32/night, featuring 10-foot ceilings and a glass wall view.
For a few days, it rained at night and in the morning. Here’s a sample of the downpours I experienced there.
Every morning, I had a simple breakfast of eggs for ฿80, followed by a one-hour oil massage at the Sirion massage shop, where Da used to work. The total cost, including tip, was ฿400.
I got smoothies at Wut and Tuts smoothie shop, where Da’s brother works. I usually get a mango smoothie for ฿80, but sometimes I get an avocado-and-coconut or strawberry one.
I walked to the beach for my daily 3-mile walk, then lounged under umbrellas for ฿100 while watching people and vendors go by, and reading a book.
During the day, I saw several vendors cooking meats, selling fruits, temporary tattoos, massages, and decorative wraps.
On low tide days, I saw small washed-up jellyfish.
Weekends brought large groups of Thai visitors from Bangkok and nearby cities. They enjoyed games.
Many Thais prefer swimming in casual clothes instead of swimsuits.
I visited the Reef Restaurant, which was at the site of my old Ao Pudsa bungalows. After COVID, the bungalows and restaurant were replaced by the luxury Samed Tamarind Beach Resort and Reef Restaurant. The bungalows cost $20 per night, while the new resort costs $225.
Fortunately, the filet mignon and mango smoothie at the Reef Restaurant was only $19, surrounded by mushrooms, roasted potatoes, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Most Thai restaurants charge over $30 for filet mignon dinners.
I enjoyed Thai meals at other restaurants on Ko Samet, especially Pad Krapow, Penang curry, and cashew nut chicken.
After two weeks in Ban Phe, I returned by ferry to Pattaya, where I stayed for a week before taking a 2-hour bus to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and home.
I noticed fewer people here, likely due to the disruption caused by Trump’s war in Iran. Many Australians used to transit through the Middle East on their way to Thailand, as well as people from the Middle East, but travel has been curtailed due to the war.
After my daily 3-mile beach walk, I settled on a lounge chair. Despite the few people, the dinosaurs returned.
.The Thai girls, from the countryside, enjoyed fried bugs. Here’s a vendor cart.
As the temperatures got up into the 90s, I tried a few indoor activities, which included:
- getting a one-hour facial for $20,
- an ear spa treatment, with a candle to draw out the earwax and massage for $13, and
- a mani-pedi and haircut with shampoo for $21.
At Suvarnabhumi Airport, I admired the sculpture “Churning of the Ocean of Milk” (Samudra Manthan). Despite a 45-minute Asiana Air flight delay, my 12-hour layover in South Korea was worthwhile.
At Incheon Airport, I enjoyed a Bulgogi dinner, entertainment, and relaxing in their nap rooms.
I also enjoyed these heated butt spritzer toilets at the airport.
During my wait for the light rail to downtown Seattle, I enjoyed a beautiful view of Mount Rainier, which capped off my three-month trip to Southeast Asia—Thailand and Laos.
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