Koh Lipe

It was time to pack up all my seashells and the rest of my luggage to head to the ferry terminal. Check-in there was rather messy. People here just didn’t speak a whole lot of English and didn’t really communicate with those who did. That made it a little harder to understand that the ticket you received at the check-in was not, in fact, the same ticket you needed to enter the boat. You had to go to another counter to get that. After my name was called out, I finally understood. 😄

The port was particularly scenic. Mountains in the distance, cute colourful boats dipping away with the waves…

And then the ferry finally took off. I preferred to close my eyes to keep the seasickness at bay which was unfortunately exacerbated by my trying to edit pics.

After 1.5h, we arrived at Koh Lipe - Thailand.

We left the ferry to jump into boats that brought us to the beach. Our luggage followed suit on the last two boats.

There seems to be only one type of boat around here, and what they all have in common is extremely black exhaust fumes. I mean that quite literally. Smells incredibly burnt and fuelly. Also not pretty to look at…

Our luggage was dumped at the beach, while everyone who disembarked the ferry was put into a little sandy square, waiting for their names to be called, one by one.
Before we entered the boat, they took our passports and kept them for the entirety of the ferry ride and took their sweet time to hand them out again.

Waiting in that crowd together in the midday sun with considerate as ever smokers who thought it convenient to introduce everyone to the joys of passive smoking, was quite wearisome.

Eventually, my name was called, I could go to immigration, exchange money and pay the first fees for being in a national park with stepping foot on that island.

I made my way to a gate where people were just waiting. And no one said anything, offered any explanations whatsoever.

I kept asking questions until I eventually found out that they were calling taxis (motorbikes with a little platform with 2 seats) and that we could take them to our ho(s)tels.

And another fee that had to be paid, and I don’t know what this was for to the present day.
This was where I started to feel properly unnerved by the lack of communication.

Everything on the island is walking distance - but with luggage, that’s a bit much still.
I arrived at my hostel, The Chic Lipe, and was quite happy with my choice. Clean and stylish, modern - very nice! And, of course, it has my beloved privacy curtains.

I explored the area a bit (so hot), went to beaches, took some photos and went to another beach for sunset. With more thoughtful smokers. Honestly, what is wrong with people??

The sunset was beautiful, though.

Unlike the trash piling up at the beach. I do have a gripe with humans…Read more