Thank you for following the first review of "Koh Tachai". Today, we continue with the second part of the review "One Day Trip to Similan Islands", a small group of islands in the Andaman Sea that has been praised by both Thai and foreign tourists for its outstanding beauty both on land and underwater. It is another paradise for sea lovers. How beautiful is Similan Island? Let's follow along...

Today, I used the one-day trip service of Love Andaman again. #The difference is that there were a lot of people, haha. And it was finally time for Similan Island. I had the van pick me up from my accommodation as usual in the morning. When I arrived at the pier, I registered, received a wristband, had breakfast, listened to the briefing, took off my shoes and left them at the pier, took some pictures, and then boarded the boat. (I'll skip the details, you can read them in the review of Koh Tachai)

>> Koh Tachai review by Hungry Traveller :: [[[ K o h T a c h a i . . Y e s s s s s s s s s ]]] https://th.readme.me/p/2405

Today was Saturday, so of course there were even more people than yesterday, mostly Chinese. And as usual, my boat today was the only group of Thai tourists. It sounds like a minority group. We didn't go with Love's boat, which was an outside boat that provided services to Love because there were so many people using the service. Love's boat wasn't enough. The boat was smaller than yesterday's trip to Koh Tachai, with two engines. There were about 20 people on the boat, but it was better today, comfortable to sit and not as crowded as yesterday..

Heading out to the middle of the sea..

The boat ride took about 1.5 hours. The waves were very strong, the boat was hitting the waves all the time. It was exciting and fun, I couldn't sleep at all. 55 The sky was clear, the weather was good (let me get tanned) for another day..

First stop... Koh Si, Similan Islands

..And then we arrived at our first destination, which is "Koh Si" or "Koh Miang". Our boat arrived first, and it will stop for tourists to take pictures or play in the water for about 45 minutes. The guide said that Koh Si has two beaches: the beach where the boat is parked and another one that you have to walk to. But since we didn't have much time on the island, we just stayed at the beach where the boat parked. It's beautiful enough already..

The beach wasn't crowded yet, so it felt like a private beach. I quickly found a nice spot to take some photos before the other boats, both Love's and others, started arriving. After that, the beach got really crowded (it felt like Bangsaen --"). It turned into a public beach..

Koh Si, also known as Koh Miang, boasts crystal-clear turquoise waters that rival those of Koh Tachai. While I previously reviewed Koh Tachai, renowned for its powdery white sand and azure waters, Koh Si's beauty is equally captivating. It's difficult to say definitively which island has clearer waters, as both offer stunning clarity and distinct charm.

After that, we boarded the boat to continue to the first diving spot. The boat ride was only about 5-10 minutes, not too far. At this point, we might see sea turtles if we are lucky. When we arrived, the staff explained how to use the diving mask, but there were no fins provided. (The staff said that this boat is not a Love Boat, so they did not prepare fins for us. But yesterday when I went to Koh Tachai, they had a full set of equipment!!!). Before diving, we should wear a life jacket, but I am not comfortable with it when I snorkel, so I did not wear it. This way, I can free dive and see things up close.

The coral reefs are still in good condition, with no signs of coral bleaching. There are many beautiful fish species to be seen, including butterflyfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and blue-faced angelfish. The colors are very vibrant. However, we were unlucky not to see any sea turtles. It's a pity. Because of my hardcore nature, I didn't wear a life jacket or fins, which made it quite tiring. But it was worth it to experience nature up close. I'm willing to be tired for this... ^^

This is the way the world ends. ♪ ♫ ♬

After about 30 minutes of diving, we were all exhausted. Even though we had taken several sips of seawater, our stomachs were starting to growl as it was approaching noon. Our next destination was "Ko Paed," where we would stop for lunch and climb to the viewpoint.

See you again... Ko Paed, Similan Islands

We have arrived at Koh Ped, Hin Reua Lae.

The island is packed with people because everyone comes here for lunch.

Koh Ba, also known as the signature island of the Similan Islands, is famous for its Sail Rock and stunning viewpoint. Upon arrival at Koh Ba, we had lunch. This time, it was a buffet-style meal instead of the boxed lunch we had on the Koh Tachai tour. The buffet offered a variety of dishes, including simple Thai dishes like stir-fried vegetables, clear soup, and fried chicken, as well as Western options like spaghetti with tomato sauce. The food wasn't bad, but it was pretty average. However, we were all exhausted at that point, so we could have eaten anything. Drinks included plain water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee (there was no longer a beverage line as before, due to new park regulations). There was also watermelon for fruit, which was very popular with the Chinese tourists. As soon as it was put out, it was gone. --"

After finishing our meal, we continued to the viewpoint above. It took about 10-15 minutes to walk up. The midday sun and the hot stones under our bare feet caused some blisters. Be careful when walking, as some of the rocks are quite sharp and could cut your feet. The path is quite narrow in places, and at some points you have to climb up and down through narrow gaps in the rocks, one person at a time. So, if you go up, be sure to allow extra time when you come back down, as you may encounter traffic jams.

Our destination.. Hin Ruea Boad Viewpoint

The Path to the Viewpoint

When you reach the Hin Ruea Bo viewpoint, I recommend climbing all the way to the top, right up to the Hin Ruea Bo rock itself. This will give you stunning photo opportunities of both the bay of Koh Paed and the other side, where we will be doing our second dive. The top is quite windy, but find a shady spot or your feet will definitely get sunburned.

After that, we walked down to board the boat for our second dive at two o'clock in the afternoon. The next dive site was not far away, it was the back of the Hin Rap Ya island, which we had seen from the viewpoint earlier. The boat slowly drove around to the other side of the island. When we arrived, we jumped right in - the water was so clear, why wait! We spent about 30 minutes diving there as well.

This text is already in English and does not require translation.

The Love Guide is full of service, you can take pictures on land and underwater (beautiful poses too).

And then it's time to say goodbye to Similan Island.

After that, we took the boat back to the shore as usual. Today, everyone sat in the same walking position as when we arrived (unlike when we went to Koh Tachai). Everyone was exhausted from the fun and exciting scuba diving.

Upon reaching the pier, we were just in time for the dried fish. As usual, we queued up for some refreshing coconut ice cream after a day of sunbathing. We also had some stir-fried noodles and drinks before taking the van back to the hotel.

Upon arriving at the hotel, I hadn't showered or washed up after diving, so I took the opportunity to jump into the hotel's swimming pool. It was a good way to cool down. I thought the hotel was great. The decor had a cottage feel, and the room rates were very reasonable. There's a 7-Eleven and a market across the street, making it super convenient. If you're interested, you can check it out: MOTIVE COTTAGE RESORT.

Tsunami Memorial Boat 813.. A reminder of the past..

After taking a shower, I walked to the "Tsunami Memorial Boat T.813 Phang Nga, Buresuphadungkit Boat" located behind the hotel. It took about 10 minutes to walk. The boat T.813 was displayed during the natural disaster of the tsunami. While the boat was parked at the Khao Lak coast, it was hit by a tsunami wave that weighed 60 tons and ran aground at the foot of the hill, more than 1 kilometer from the coast. After the incident and the situation returned to normal, the boat was not moved and was kept as a memorial for future generations to remember those who died in the incident.

Bang Niang Market: A Chic Shopping Destination with Plenty of Food!

Then cross the road to walk around the Bang Niang market, which is open every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. It's quite lively (because it's in the Kookkak district... related, right? 555) There are zones for food, fresh markets, souvenirs and various souvenirs. Most of them are foreigners. As for Thais, they can walk around and buy snacks in the area. It's delicious and not expensive.

Let's have a heavy seafood feast before heading back to Bangkok.

In the end, I decided to have dinner at the seafood restaurant, "Look Talay Seafood", located at the Phra Mahathat Hotel. Since I was at the beach, I wanted to try a full seafood platter. I had read reviews that the restaurant was known for its delicious and fresh seafood. Today, I ordered "Bai Liang Pad Kai" (stir-fried Bai Liang with egg), which is a dish only found in the southern region of Thailand. I also had "Kung Talay Ob Gluay" (seafood baked in salt), which featured plump, bouncy shrimp with incredibly sweet meat. The "หมึกผัดพริกเผา" (squid stir-fried with chili paste) and "Yum Khai Pla" (spicy fish egg salad) were also delicious and lived up to their reputation. The prices were reasonable, and after a day of using a lot of energy, I felt I deserved to treat myself. I was so full and satisfied that I slept soundly that night. The next day, I had to return to Bangkok.

A little bit of everything..

• One day trip to Similan Islands will be different from Koh Tachai. If you don't dive, you can still choose to stop at Koh Tachai first without having to take a boat like Similan Islands. On my boat, there were people who didn't dive but had to wait on the boat while others were diving. As a result, many of them felt dizzy and vomited. It wasn't very good. Therefore, if you get seasick easily, don't dive or have elderly people with you, I don't recommend going to Similan Islands. It's better to choose Koh Tachai.
• The clothes you wear in the morning are recommended to be ready to go into the water, either for swimming or diving. Then we will wear that outfit all day until the second dive is finished. Sit and dry until we reach the pier. Then change at the pier or hotel. When you reach the pier, it's dry enough. But if you're done with the first dive, you can take a shower and change clothes on the island.
• It's a good idea to bring an ocean pack or a waterproof bag because you'll be on the boat all day from morning to afternoon, stopping at Koh Si, diving, stopping at Koh Pa, diving, and getting on and off the boat all the time. Therefore, you, the seat, and your belongings may get wet.
• It's a good idea to bring a small towel with you. Love doesn't provide it.
• There is a phone signal on the island, so you can upload photos to social media easily.
• Sunglasses are still very important and necessary equipment.
• If you have fins, it will help you save a lot of energy when snorkeling, making you less tired and more enjoyable with diving.

Similan... I love you soooo much...

I'll be back again.. Similan

This is a full translation of the trip to Koh Tachai - Koh Similan. Two days in the Andaman Sea, I'm never bored. It's like rewarding myself. I've been planning this trip for over half a year, and now that I've experienced the nature of the Thai sea, I still feel that the Thai sea is beautiful and intact. I want my friends to travel to Thailand a lot. "Travel in Thailand, peace of mind, beautiful heart, and easy on the wallet" as well.

Thank you for reading to the end. I hope this review post will be helpful to my friends. And if there are any mistakes, I apologize again. (:

Go make money, but don't forget to "make time" for yourself.

~Hungry Traveler

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Reviews of past travel destinations by Hungry Traveller

[[Samed Nang Chee]] Here.. With a panoramic view of Phang Nga Bay: https://th.readme.me/p/2372

[[[ Right on the money. . . Absolutely! ]]] : https://th.readme.me/p/2405

Singapore is not just about the Merlion: Episode 1 :: Underground Crossing at Fort Canning Park: https://th.readme.me/p/2459