Ko Adang Marine National Park, Thailand
Anna's entry:
Having been to Thailand so many times, I always wanted to visit Ko Tarutao Marine National park. It is relatively inaccessible (meaning not many tourists), and the islands are one of the most unspoilt and exquisite regions of the country. Actually, the first Survivor (American reality TV show) was filmed here in 2001. The marine park encompasses 51 islands, and I specifically chose the island of Ko Adang - it is more rustic and pristine, with gorgeous shoreline, good snorkeling, and a wonderful getaway feeling... So, after a stop in Hat Yai and Pak Bara, we took off by boat to Ko Adang.
When we arrived on the island, the park ranger informed us that we could have a bungalow for only one night (limited accommodation had already been booked), and the rest of the time we would have to camp. The latter was not a very appealing notion at first, but after we were showed to a huge tent right on the perfect white sand beach surrounded by pine trees (yes!), only 10 meters away from the crystal clear emerald tinted Indian ocean waters, I knew this island would quickly become one of my favorites. Even though sleeping on the sandy surface was uncomfortable, it was a small price to pay for the paradise. It is difficult to pin point what exactly was so special about that particular island, as we had been to a lot of amazing places, but I clearly remember a feeling of freedom and peace, a sense of genuine happiness, and gratitude for being able to experience the beauty and simplicity of the nature and the ocean. In the mornings and afternoons, we would walk out from the tent into the ocean and snorkel along the coast. We would encounter several families of squid waltzing in clear waters just before the sunset, and by the end of the week the numerous tropical fish got used to our presence and snorkeling around the reef. When we did not snorkel, we would settle into the stretched waved hammock, and would watch the ocean and the sunset; the sounds of caressing waves and reflection of the moon on the ocean surface added to the general feeling of the peace and rejuvenation. There were a few other campers, but our tents were situated quite far from each other, so we felt completely alone. We brought food provisions with us, and would occasionally pick up some freshly cooked rice and hot water for tea or coffee from a simple restaurant located on the park ranger premises... We haven't encountered anything spectacular in regards to the marine life (nothing like giant sea turtles or manta rays of the Indonesian Borneo, or whale sharks of the Philippines; plus we have pretty high standards and expectations), however, the over all disposition of the island brought an amazing experience. I was after the sense of tranquility and I found it on Ko Adang...
posted by Rob and Anna @ 12:00 AM
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