Thailand 2023

Caution: Diving Ahead!

In March 2023, I went to Thailand. It's not a new country to tick off the list, but a chance to meet up with old friends and to dust off the scuba fins.

I flew from Hong Kong to Phuket on a direct flight. It was super convenient but the price was still a bit high due to the recently ended covid restrictions. My one way flight was close to $500usd. Prior to the restrictions, you could find return flights for around $300usd.

It was going to be a few days until I met my friends and so I went to Surin Beach. It was my first time at Surin Beach and it was fabulous! My hotel was just a quick 5 minute walk to the beach and it had such a relaxing vibe. There were not too many sellers walking around and I could just sit and read my book and enjoy the sun and the sand.

After two days, I got a car to take me up to Khao Lak just a bit north of Phuket where I would meet my friends and where we would start our liveaboard adventure.

Khao Lak

Khao Lak has become my liveaboard town as it has been the last three liveaboard docking centers, so I usually spend a couple days before and after in Khao Lak. The main part of the town is on the main road and it is spread out with smaller villages as you go north or south on the road. There is a Dutch influence with the older expats and a nice mix of western and Asian restaurants. Thai is one of my favorite cuisines and I usually end up eating at more local restaurants.

Diving in the Similan Islands

I met up with friends from Timor-Leste and we did a three-day liveaboard to the Similan Islands. I love liveaboards. The mantra is dive-eat-sleep-repeat and you do this about 4 times a day! We caught up on the past years of adventures and personal quests and failings. We played games and had safety and security just relaxing and being silent with one another. This was a trip that we all needed after the years of covid restrictions and separation from friends and family.

The diving was just exceptional. We were surrounded by so many schools of fish.

Underwater photos by Ivan.

After the liveaboard we all had a couple of days to enjoy Khao Lak. There we experienced massages, ate delicious Thai food, and swam in the hotel pool. Two of my friends got tattoos and for one, it was her first time!