This trip, I felt like going solo.
So I chose to go live a slow life on an island somewhere.
I could lie down and listen to the sound of the waves hitting the shore softly.
I could use the rhythm of life without having to rush.
I'm going to this place, "Pirate House Green Banana".
We set off in the late evening from the Sai Tai Mai Bus Terminal.
With our trusty backpacks,
Our destination was the Ranong Bus Terminal.
We arrived to find the weather rather uncooperative.
The rain was coming down quite heavily.
So we waited for the rain to stop before continuing our journey.
From Ranong Bus Terminal, there will be a songthaew waiting to pick you up.
We need to change buses to get to Koh Phayam Pier.
As we rode in the songthaew, we encountered this sharp-featured little girl.
When we saw her childlike innocence, everything on the bus seemed to soften.
It was a small joy that happened along the way.
When we arrived at the ticket booth, we told the seller,
"Sir, I'm going to the Pirate House."
"Okay, little brother. The boat will stop near the small bay.
You get off there and call Brother K, the owner of the Pirate House.
There will be a boat to pick you up in the middle of the sea near the small bay."
This pier is for speedboats, with departures every hour.
We need to take a pickup truck to another pier. They will take us there themselves, no extra charge.
We took a boat with a Thai captain.
It was a regular mail boat, large enough to accommodate many people.
The boat left around 10 am.
The ship also has free wifi to use. It's really modern, this modern ship.
After about an hour and a half, we arrived at Ao Lek.
There's a ship from the pirate's house to pick us up.
Wow, the guy who picked us up is so fierce that everyone on the ship is looking at us.
I guess they think the ship is being robbed. Hahaha.
While changing ships,
We met a young woman who was also traveling alone.
The rain is coming, we need to hurry up.
It takes less than 20 minutes by boat to get there.
Just looking from the boat, you know that this island must be very peaceful.
I haven't even had time to put my backpack in my room yet.
Everything feels so open and airy that I just want to lie down on the beach.
The group of children arrived before us and were having fun taking pictures.
The atmosphere on this island is not chaotic, making it ideal for relaxation.
Our accommodation is located right on the beach.
It's a small bamboo hut, a budget-friendly accommodation that offers million-dollar views.
The atmosphere around the pirate's house
The bathroom is separate from the accommodation.
The houses on the hill have private bathrooms
for your convenience, so you don't have to walk up and down the hill.
There are only 10 rooms available here. If you're looking for a more rustic experience,
you can bring your own hammock or pitch a tent. It's all up to you!
The gentle rain has caused the mist to float around the mountains.
The air here is much cooler now.
After sitting and enjoying the atmosphere for a while, another group of friends arrived.
The atmosphere here will probably be much more lively now.
In the afternoon, Brother K, the owner of the pirate house,
invited us all to go shell picking so that we could eat them in the evening.
The path is lined with lush green trees,
a sight that is truly pleasing to the eye. This island is one of the most densely forested islands I have ever seen.
As we walked, Phi K told us that he didn't need roads, 7-Elevens, or any conveniences.
Sometimes, development isn't important to our lives. We can live a simple life and still be happy.
He made me want to come live on this island.
We've arrived at the place where we'll be collecting shells.
Before we go in to collect, we need to take off our shoes and leave them here.
This will make it easier for us to walk around and collect shells.
Let's get started now that we've arrived.
Brother K, the team leader, is giving the signal.
Everyone is so focused on collecting shells.
We'll probably have a lot of shellfish for dinner tonight.
The shells we collected are called "round shells".
How many did you collect? Show them off like this.
Wow, you're really good at collecting shells.
You got a lot. Can I have some too? Haha.
After picking, the clams are washed like this.
I guarantee that they are sweet and delicious.
After collecting the shells, we sat down to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
These young people are still full of energy.
They use simple tools found on the island to fish like this.
How strong is it? See for yourself.
Seeing this makes me want to join in too, really. Hahahahahaha
These young people have brought a lot of color to the Pirate House.
Wait a minute, this kid's eyes are not ordinary.
His eyes are like pineapples, sir. Hahahahahaha
This couple is walking so sweetly.
And then this sentence popped into my head: I love the sea when I'm with you.
Alright, let's go!
I see you there, sitting alone on the swing,
Making me feel lonely too.
Brother K's mother came out to collect shellfish on the rocks.
This place is self-sufficient, with abundant food resources.
Let's just sit back and relax, listening to the smooth sounds of the guitar
from Brother Joe the Pirate. It's so smooth, man.
The younger ones were feeling restless, so they picked up a guitar and started playing.
We ended up listening to live music by the sea for a long time.
Soft sand, cool and comfortable air
Even the dog had to fall asleep
This place is full of dogs. I envy them,
being able to live in such a beautiful environment every day. They must be so happy.
The crab here came up to greet us.
The pirate's house cat, with muscles bulging in clumps.
This little one is sleeping in a hammock, enjoying themselves to the fullest.
How relaxing can you get?
The sun begins to set on the horizon, bidding farewell to the pleasant atmosphere.
It invites us to let our thoughts and feelings drift away with the sound of the waves.
As the sky begins to darken, the atmosphere begins to change.
Tonight, there will probably be a lot to talk about.
The lights here are powered by a generator, which will be turned on from 6 pm to around 11 pm.
How fresh is the seafood on the island? Let's go and try it.
The clams we collected yesterday evening were as sweet and delicious as you said, P'K.
This little one is enjoying gnawing on a crab.
Where is your mind wandering off to? Just kidding, little one. Haha!
Not only does the room have a million-dollar view,
but the evening atmosphere here is even more luxurious than a five-star resort.
These students are studying at Chiang Mai University.
Each of them has extraordinary thoughts and ideas.
I am truly glad to have met and talked to these students.
This is another group of people who want to come and live on the island.
Like us, they made a lot of new friends on this trip.
As the night deepens, the pirate brothers begin to show off their loot. Don't get ahead of yourselves, though.
The brothers are about to put on a fire baton show, a great show from the pirate house.
Just before bed, a Sichuan crab suddenly appeared to greet us.
This is the first time I've ever seen one. It's a good confirmation that this island is still very pristine.
And so we slept soundly that night,
lulled by the sweet sounds of nature,
like the waves of the sea.
Good morning with fresh air.
The dog is sitting and listening to the sound of the sea waves early in the morning.
It's time for breakfast! Let's eat a lot before we go back.
Topped off with a sweet treat, a large plate of thick, fluffy pancakes,
drizzled with a touch of honey. Absolutely delicious!
This is my brother K's mom, the one who cooks delicious food
for us to eat every meal. Anyone who gets to taste her cooking
can guarantee that they will be hooked and want to come back for more.
Here, we can also relax by snorkeling with clownfish.
However, we came during the monsoon season, so the captain did not recommend taking the boat out.
For those who want to stay here, the island is open from January to May.
And it will be closed in June and then reopened in October.
For safety reasons, it is best to call the Pirate House before coming.
If you want to go on a trip to other islands, there are also services available.
But you may have to stay for a long time to collect them all.
A corner of souvenirs, with backpacks and cool T-shirts.
Let's choose to buy them as souvenirs.
Most foreigners who stay here tend to leave their shirts behind before they go.
They write messages on them to express their feelings, as a way to remember each other.
And today is the day we have to say goodbye to our younger siblings.
This group of younger siblings is the first to return home.
Have a safe trip back, and see you again next time, my friend.
I felt a pang of sadness as they walked away, the beautiful friendships that were formed on this island.
It's time for us to go now.
Thank you P'Sua, P'Kay, and P'Ex for taking such good care of us.
Before returning, this group of older siblings invited us to return to Bangkok with them.
The older brother's van only has 5 people left, which is still a lot. If you go back together, you will arrive in Bangkok faster.
So we gave up our bus tickets to go with them. There will probably be a lot to talk about on the way back.
Here, life is simple and we live off the grid.
There's no electricity all day long, and no modern conveniences to speak of.
But everything is in perfect harmony, and there's no need for expectations.
Just come to relax, and you'll leave with a sense of happiness.
New friendships have brought us to a coffee shop in Chumphon.
The owner is kind and makes delicious coffee. You won't be disappointed in their brewing skills.
Because the owner puts their heart into every cup.
After that, we took a long drive back to Bangkok.
With laughter all the way, making the journey home seem shorter.
It was a trip that ended with smiles and warmth from the friendships that were formed.
" ...Traveling...
Not only takes us out of our comfort zones,
but also opens our minds to new perspectives.
And it often comes back with experiences
that cannot be found in city life."
Expense details
The bus fare for the outbound trip with New Mitr Tour is 627 baht.
Return trip withสมบัติทัวร์ 470 baht
Boat fare is 200 baht per trip.
The fare for a shared taxi from Ranong Bus Terminal to Koh Phayam Pier is 20 baht.
The cost of staying at the Green Banana Pirate House is 200 baht per night. Two nights cost 400 baht.
Food and beverage expenses 1,500 baht
Total expenses 3,217 baht
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Friday, September 27, 2024 10:18 AM