Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Another amazing location —



We are now on the island of Koh Lanta, which is located along the western coastline of Andaman Sea in southern Thailand. It is about a 3.5-hour ferry ride from the mainland. The ferry system is wild and you have to pay attention to make sure you end up on the correct boat.  About 2 hours into the trip we “docked” with a smaller boat that took us to Koh Lanta.


As you might expect, the area around the port is pretty developed with lots of hotels and markets.  However, thanks to Elizabeth’s extremely diligent researching we are staying at a place called the Mango Houses, about a 30 min trip from the port.  It is a collection of Chinese-style wooden pole houses that have been converted guesthouses in an old Chinese fishing village named Lanta Old Town, which was the original center of the island.


In contrast to our last accommodations, these units are very rustic. The electricity and plumbing have been updated (actually better internet than the last place) but they are otherwise as they were more than 50 years ago- with painted wide planked floors and high ceilings. Our house is on stilts and the ocean virtually runs under it. There are hammocks on the front porch and we were lucky to get here just before sunset, which was magnificent! (see photo)

We had initially intended to stay here for two days before returning to Dhaka but since this location does not have a beach close by we have decided to take a ferry to a neighboring Koh Phi Phi where we have booked a place right on the beach.  (Agoda is the website to use to get great deals!)

Tahn, the young woman who checked us into Mango House, is very friendly and helpful.  We were looking for a place for dinner and she brought us down the street into a small home/restaurant. The owner was about to close but Tahn was friend of the woman so we literally walked through the house – front to back - to sit on a porch overlooking the bay.  We were the only ones there- but cooked for us and we had a wonderful meal.

Elizabeth and I have wondered just how the first settlers felt when they came upon this island.  This place certainly look like a paradise!

2 comments:

  1. It all sounds like an amazing adventure. Thanks for taking the time to share!

    xo
    Susan

    ReplyDelete