Our place in Koh Lanta is just the opposite -- right on the beach, swimming pool, no issues with tides. The place itself - Lanta Palace- has seen better days but the rooms are comfortable and the location is excellent and the price is right at $40 a night.
But first, the ferry. I assumed ferry was something like we have in the Northwest with the cars going on and the large areas up at the top for gazing into the water and the coffee shop and so on. This was a tiny boat with two floors and bus-type seating. At least everyone had a seat. The luggage was piled into every single crevice available and also piled onto the tiny deck. I kept thinking. "Syrian Refugee" but of course they have it far worse and are not really traveling voluntarily. The "ferry" kept stopping to pick up and drop off passengers in the middle of the Sea -- Longtails took them out to meet the ferry. There was no help with baggage, although I got a tip from Barbara that the trick is to get out a 100-baht note and just stand there and folks will magically appear to help you.
You can walk a long ways on this beach, but there are jottings of rocks in many places that require you either walk up to the road to pass or I guess swim around them. The water is warm and the surf very light. None of the clear blue water, though, it's greenish here.
Yesterday I went on a beach walk and ran into a group of young Muslim girls -- maybe 30 of them in full black burkas, but with faces exposed. They were gleefully going for.a swim in full regalia including socks! It was quite amusing seeing dozens of black figures in the water frolicking about -- of course my association is with nuns, so I kept thinking that Fellini would have enjoyed this scene and written it into a movie. No photos, I didn't have my camera, but wouldn't have invaded their privacy anyhow. There were a circle of them talking to a little Scandinavian (probably) girl in a swimsuit. I suspect the girls were practicing their English. Everyone was happy, the little girl in the swimsuits and the fully covered teenage girls. I did see some little girls swimming without burkas, but saw another with a cloth wrapped around her head. I am embarrassed I don't know the rules. Although, I think there are different rules for different sects as in all religions. This is the first time I've seen the black burkas in Thailand -- more typically you see the jibab only to distinguish Muslim women.
There are many babies here. In our airport shuttle there were two babies under one and a four-year-old. Given that I perceived the ferry to be treacherous, I was surprised at the parents' lack of concern. I talked to them about this, letting them know that I would be surprised to see American families traveling budget like this. Of course I have no idea...Americans would not come this far for a beach vacation, but would opt for Mexico or the Caribbean. One of the mothers said that their parents had objected, and given their parents are my age....
At any rate, they were all taking very long holidays with their babies...a nice thing!
Scene from the ferry, not the luggage on deck
Sunset, Koh Lanta
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