From Kanchanaburi, we go back to Bangkok to catch a bus south. We take an overnight bus to Ranong, then a speed boat to Koh Phayam.
(This entry will be brief because we check out soon to move to the other, better side of the island, which may or may not have WiFi available. We may be incommunicado for a week or so.)
As we move south, we look to repeat the experience of Lazy Beach. I don’t think it’s gonna happen.
We google ‘lesser-visited islands in Thailand’ and come up with, among others, Koh Phayam.
From the place where the boat arrives, a trash-strewn village full of stray dogs, it’s not overly impressive. We spend a few nights at the giggle-inducing Nitiporn Resort.
We rent bicycles and explore. Things get better. The sun comes out. The island is largely forested with rubber plantations.
Rubber is like maple syrup, the gunk slowly drips into containers for collection.
Bicycling is good, even with the hills – we need the exercise.
On the other side of the island, we discover nicer places to stay.
We find a bungalow overlooking Buffalo Bay and move in.