Island Time

The last week. It's island time. Our first visit to Koh Tao. I could wax nostalgic about the good old days on Koh Phangan, Bottle Beach, Pi Mi and the special mushroom omelets, but lets face it, there are more people everywhere now and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand are no exception. Everyone dreams of a hut on the beach with the white sands stretching into the distance, alone, warm breezes wafting...it ain't that way anymore. Still, I have to say the Seaview Resort on the east side of Koh Tao is a little piece of paradise, even if the beach is a glimmer in the valley between two rising hills. It's walkable, but at this time of year, a little too blown out for swimming and snorkeling. Nevermind. The next good place is a motorbike ride away. We are already talking about coming back next February...a better month in the gulf. O, the Burmese cook at the Seaview, has enough skills for several and the food alone is enough to make a return journey desirable. Seaview is a little more upscale than we usually do, but our hut perches on the hill behind the restaurant and reception area, quiet, secluded, with its own hammock (I don't get in and out of those things like I used to!), great bathroom and stunning view. The whole resort comes with a set of charming Burmese workers, Neil, who interprets our needs in Thai with a Scottish accent, several fat resident cats and 3 colorful large geckos...tu-kay. One of them even stays out during the daytime, perhaps a pariah because of his missing tail. There isn't much to do...nothing to draw me away. There is a motorbike for Muz to make the 10 minute jaunt to town and return with treats, or to look for good snorkeling spots. I am busy reading...finishing up the depressing biography of Kurt Vonnegut, an Indian murder mystery by Paul Theroux, and looking forward to The Cider House Rules by John Irving...you never know about the books you bring on vacation. I did get all the way through The Passage by Justin Cronin, but ohhhhhh, the nightmares! I don't think I'll go there again. We return to Bangkok on Friday...night train with lower berths this time, thank god! If we can get checked in to the New Siam and breakfast at Ricky's, we may have two more days at the weekend market...just enough time to buy that fan we wanted and several more things we don't need.