Comon Bungalows, Koh Phagnan, Day 1

Its moving day. These days are often tedious and long, drawn out affairs as we sit waiting for our lift to arrive, so we don't expect the bus to get here in the 9.30 to 10.00 slot we have been told. We are shocked when ten minutes early, with our clothes still drying outside, the driver comes to our room and picks us up. This leaves a mad dash to get everything thrown into our bags so as not to annoy everyone else on board. We end up leaving the lock on the door as we don't have time to check out (and the owner was watching anyway) and jumping into the back of the minibus rather frantically.
Being early was strange, and it got even stranger when we drive straight past the port we were told we would set off from. We start to wonder if this wasn't the correct bus after all, and if someone else is sat in the hotel about to board the bus intended for us. We pull up at the pier we arrived on what seems like a long time ago, and are shown to a shop. A very nervous few seconds play out as our tickets are eyed suspiciously, but we end up getting ferry tickets to the right place, and we can breathe a collective sigh of relief. We sit at the pier, hiding from the rain that is drizzling down, and wait for the ferry (which is late).
It's barely an hour after boarding when we arrive on the smaller island of Koh Phagnan. The journey was mostly spent hiding from heavy rain and staring at a small dog who became everyone's best friend on the way, especially if he thought you had food. It is pouring down as we get off, and we hide under a very packed shelter for a bit, before grabbing some dinner and waiting for the rain to stop. Annoyingly, the taxi drivers charge what they want here for any journey, so we have to pay an exceedingly large amount to get to the hotel. After the drama of the morning and with soaking clothes though, we don't really mind!
The hotel is lovely and is made even better by Sonya, the incredibly charming and friendly owner who shows us into our very cool room. We put our soaking bags down and dry off before having a much needed afternoon nap.
When we wake it is a few hours until sunset, so we make advantage of the light and do some exploring. We are staying in the North of Koh Phagnan, which is nice and chilled out and goes completely against the party reputation that the island has gained from the famous full moon parties that take place here. We head up sunset hill and take in the great views that it offers, before stopping off for a sit down on secret beach. As we head back towards the hotel, it is great to stare out at the sea and the islands in the distance. Around every corner there seems to be another view of the coast, and it seems impossible not to love this place.
After a while we start to get hungry, so head off for a meal, before going back to the room and relaxing. We are both knackered despite the nap, and look forward to a good night's sleep with no alarm set for tomorrow.
PS Amy really didn't want me to put the photo of her on that is attached to this day, but she is asleep at the moment so won't find out until it is too late!Read more