In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.
I am fortunate enough to be serving in Peace Corps in a country that has several locations that consistently find their way onto lists with names like “Top Places to Visit Before You Die” or “Best Beach Getaways.” This means that my holiday travels are often jam packed with everyone going to the same place, which tips the scale on the stress factor.
However, this last holiday was supremely delightful. A friend had made open plans for people to meet up on the island known as Koh Mak in the province of Trat. Koh Mak is situated right next to big tourist draw Koh Chang, but is significantly smaller. This gave myself and 11 other volunteers the opportunity to have ourselves a beach holiday somewhat off the beaten track, without needing to go too far south.
If you’ve been following my bpai tiao posts, you know that most of my trips have been rather planned out, with Things To Do and Places to See. Not so this time. The only thing I knew I would be doing would be spending four days on an island. What did I end up doing? I swam in the sea, went kayaking, collected seashells, napped, read, played Pictionary and Scattergories, drank, ate, got a massage, laughed and relaxed. A highlight was counting down the New Year with great new friends and watched the fireworks blossom from the beaches around us. I had a marvelous time.
If you are planning on going to Koh Mak, I would recommend booking your ferry ticket to the island in advance. Two groups of us got taken to a tour company that told us that all boats were sold out, but when we went to the pier we were able to use our Thai skills to get onto a ferry from there. Skip the headache with the tour company and make a reservation in advance, the tickets are about 450 baht. Book your return ticket once you are on the island. For travelers on a budget, Baan Ing Kao Resort was wonderful. Rather sparse rooms with fans and mosquito nets, no hot water, but you won’t be spending much time there, anyway. Ms. Somjit was an amazing host and extremely accommodating. Not to mention that the food was delicious.
