Thirty Days in Thailand: Part Four
Welcome to Koh Kood Island
Road Trip
There are moments we live for in life, and a trip to a sparsely populated, tropical paradise is one for the books. In part four of our journey through Thailand, we’ll explore the gorgeous island of Koh Kood. Situated off the west coast of Trat Province, the island is a must-see for nature and relaxation.
Leaving the Province of Nakhon Ratchasima, the weather was overcast and muggy. It turned rainy by late afternoon as a storm front worked its way south. I was headed south as well, trying to no avail to stay in front of it.
Sometimes just getting there is part of the adventure. That seems to be the case anytime I travel by car here. You never know what you will see. There are always drivers like this, determined to fit three loads on one truck.
They can also carry quite a few passengers in one vehicle — not so lucky if you’re in the back. The people in the photo below are getting pelted by a downpour. Motorbikes are popular here too. They are fun to ride unless the weather catches you by surprise. You can see the countenance of motorbike riders change as they get soaked.
Evening Riverside
That evening, I found this incredible riverside resort in Trat. Very clean and sitting alone in a rural country setting, it was a perfectly relaxing evening. It was nice to finally get away from the highway traffic. They served us a great meal, and I enjoyed an evening sitting on the balcony listening to the sounds of nature.
Ferries and Taxis
The next day I followed the GPS to Laem Sak Pier. It was a short drive from the room, and the weather cleared up some. It was still an overcast day, and we boarded the ferry just before a steady downpour set in. Crossing by ferry is the only way to Koh Kood, which takes an hour and a half.
When you book the ferry at Trat, they include transport to your hotel. When we arrived, all of our bags went on a tuk tuk taxi. A harrowing ride through steep inclines and curves followed. It was raining, and it seemed like we were going way too fast.
I imagined what a crash would be like in the back of this open taxi. But then I thought, “I’m sure this guy drives this every day, and there’s no need to worry…..probably”. Besides, life is boring without some risk.
Cham’s House Resort
Arriving at the resort after an hour in the taxi, I was worried when I saw the driveway was rutted and unpaved. The little Isuzu diesel truck jostled and pitched through rain-soaked potholes for several hundred yards until finding a newly paved concrete driveway.
The front building was painted white, with a steep set of concrete stairs that led up to the second-floor check-in. At Cham’s house, we found friendly staff that spoke some English. They placed us in the main hotel, with a deluxe oceanview room that was clean, though a bit worn. It seemed like the two floors below were empty, with only a few couples occupying rooms nearby. It is the off-season.
For anything lacking in accommodation, the view made up for it. Welcome to Koh Kut, where even a rainy day is beautiful. From the balcony, you can see small bungalow huts laid out across the property, which gives way to the beach, and a gorgeous view of the Gulf of Thailand.
The evening was filled with exploring the white sand beach. The rock flowing into the ocean displays the volcanic origins of the island. Coral reefs washed ashore during high tide, are scattered around. Looking inside the rock crevices, I saw hundreds of pieces, both large and small.
As I looked around, I noticed that we were the only two people on the beach. How lucky we were to have a slice of paradise all to ourselves. It was worth the trip.
There’s a restaurant and bar here at the beach. I enjoyed an ice-cold beer and delicious Thai dinner while watching the sun set on day one in Koh Kood. Tomorrow, we will rent motorbikes and go exploring for the day. Stay tuned for part five of Thirty Days in Thailand. I have some amazing photos to share.
Be sure to follow me on Medium at https://medium.com/@mtsutphin for more content, and check out my other essays, including parts 1–3 of Thirty Days in Thailand.
