Ko Lanta and the Andaman Sea

With our wedding behind us, we could finally enjoy the honeymoon! We would spend our next few days on Koh Samui mostly at our resort soaking up the good life. Our infinity pool was our ocean and our deck our beach, as we took full advantage of the cheapest room service ever. We slipped easily into the role of spoiled honeymooners, gazing lazily out to sea, enjoying the most comfortable bed we've had in Thailand, and exchanging loving glances and “I can't believe you're my spouse” smiles. Eventually, as much as we would have loved to spend forever at Sandalwood Villas, reality (budget) dictated we take the honeymoon on the road. However, we had no intention of giving up our ocean view and so we headed to the beach-bum paradise of Ko Lanta.

Laura enjoying the clear waters on Ko Lanta.

Raight on da beach.

On the west coast of Thailand, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea, Ko Lanta is home to peach sandy beaches, rasta-style bamboo huts, and rugged limestone cliffs rising majestically out of the water. Definitely more our style than Koh Samui, we spent the next five days lounging in hammocks on the beach, snorkeling in the crystal clear water, playing cards over cold beverages, and scheming ways to extend this lifestyle indefinitely.

Honeymooners!

Low tide revealed coral and tide pools.

Since the Andaman Sea is one of the world's top diving and snorkeling destinations due to it's clear waters, multitudinous limestone islands, and a wealth of colorful coral and exotic marine life, we decided to take advantage of these natural opportunities with a day of island hopping, exploring, and snorkeling by booking a day trip through our hotel. Our trip began with a speedboat ride out to Ko Ngai, a tiny strip of jungle with a shallow reef, where we were treated to some fantastic snorkeling among a wide variety of coral and fish. Next we sped to Ko Muk, the site of the fantastic Emerald Cave. Though inaccessible at high tide, when the sea is lower the cave allows access to a hidden beach inside Ko Muk. This required an 80m swim in the dark, the only light our guide's as it bounced randomly off the cave walls, illuminating geologic formations and hibernating bats. As we neared the entrance, the water turned an emerald green, giving the cave it's name. Swimming onto the fine sandy beach, we were surrounded by limestone cliffs covered in an array of jungle trees and vines. Once a secret cove for pirates, we easily imagined ourselves stepping upon it's beach cut off from the known world. Needless to say, this was definitely one of the highlights of our excursion. After reluctantly swimming back to the boat, we headed to the island of Ko Kradan where we gorged ourselves on fried chicken, green curry, and pineapple while gazing out at the distant Trang islands. We had a couple of hours here to digest, sunbathe, and snorkel off Kradan's white sandy beaches. Laura lounged lazily on the beach while Oliver spent the majority of the time in the water, trying to make friends with a stingray, being accepted by a school of butterfly fish, and fleeing from a sudden giant pufferfish. Finally, after an unforgettable day in the sun and the sea, we headed home, weary but blissful.

Ko Muk.

Preparing to swim through the sea cave!

On the other side!

Laura traipsing like a young Eve through the jungle inside Ko Muk.

The beautiful beach of Ko Kradan.

Oliver approves snorkeling here.

While this trip was the most exciting day of our week on Ko Lanta, we nevertheless enjoyed all our time simply adjusting to a slower pace and more relaxed lifestyle. We knew it couldn't last forever but that didn't stop us from relishing every minute.