Diving Days in Koh Tao 🏝️🤿
Where I stayed:
Simple Life Cliff View Resort
What I did:
- Got my open water scuba diving license
- Started my advanced diving course and dived to 98 feet
- Dived at two shipwrecks
- Hung out with new friends
Thoughts on the place:
Koh Tao. Damn. This place is beautiful. Tiny but beautiful. I am immensely glad I decided to go and sort out my scuba license here because it unlocked a new island for me that I will be going back to happily. I fucking loved this spot and the diving instructors at DPM Diving were phenomenal teachers to the point where I actually now feel comfortable diving even at 98 feet or in a shipwreck. All I can say is this: Get to Koh Tao and dive!
Tips:
- Use DPM Diving, they get you in the water fast and safely. The other schools focus on pool days which are just a waste of time
- Scooters are unnecessary if you’re staying right on Sai Ri Beach and not planning on moving much beyond the dive schools
- The staff at Lomprayah Ferries ticket office on the island are great and very accommodating if you want to leave early to catch a flight in Koh Samui
The Island Life in Phuket
Where I stayed:
Gallery Hotel Nai Harn
What I did:
- Learnt to drive a scooter
- Surfed a little (waves were a bit sparse in October)
- Relaxed on the beach
- Hung out with kitty cats
Thoughts on the place:
God Nai Harn is lovely. I’d been to Phuket before but never to this little spot and I am so glad that I did this time. The beach was divine, the local food was lovely, and this whole experience was the closest I’ve ever come to just enjoying living on a beach. Loved it and highly recommend.
Tips:
- Stay right near Nai Harn beach so you can walk or ride to it quickly
- Pick up a bike from Dr Moto, no passport deposit needed!
Singapore Missions
Where I stayed:
Pan Pacific Singapore
What I did:
- Explored Marina Bay Sands and watched the light show at the Supertrees
- Ate at Lau Pa Sat hawker market
- Went to Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen (craved English food)
- Visited the ArtScience Museum
Thoughts on the place:
I used to live in a place called Media City which was a bit of corporate owned land just outside Manchester, where the BBC and ITV were now based. It was pure concrete and chain brands, not much soul. Singapore gets the reputation as being the same, but amongst the big bank buildings I saw glimpses of a real soul; a first date happening at a cafe while the new potential couple were clearly on lunch from their big corporate jobs – the smiles over the table and gradual drift to pure body language – it was delightful to see; the skateboarders with a speaker blasting reminding the locals that punk ain’t dead and that counterculture is unkillable; and an afternoon with a friend who took me to a vibrant hawker centre for a meal and a people-watch. Interesting place, for a certain kind of person.
Tips:
- Stay near Marina Bay, not in Marina Bay Sands. The view of the hotel is better than the view from it.
- Hawker centres are brilliant but not super forgiving if you hesitate. Know what you want before ordering.
- It is extremely expensive for anything imported, which is nearly everything.
Hua Hin for NYE
Where I stayed:
Marrakesh Hua Hin Resort & Spa
What I did:
- Saw a crazy firework display on the beach, classic levels of safety were adhered too ofc
- Consumed an insane amount of the most lovely Georgian and Russian food at HinKali House
- Finished reading Dracula while drinking a mojito and laying by the sea – immaculate vibes
Thoughts on the place:
Hua Hin is seriously beautiful and the Marrakesh Hua Hin Resort & Spa may be the nicest hotel I’ve stayed in a long time… I was pretty injured after the surfing in Sri Lanka so spent a lot of time lounging on the massive balcony with my foot raised, and still the vibe was so fucking lovely. I was like a lizard just soaking the heat up. Loved it. Hua Hin itself… It’s small but worth a visit if you’re specifically just planning to chill at the beach and eat some lovely (but pricey) seafood. Imo it’s good for couples and families.
Tips:
- Marrakesh Hua Hin Resort & Spa is excellent.
- The city is framed around the beach and one long road, stay on the beachfront, not over the road!
A Sri Lankan Xmas…
Where I stayed:
George’s villa in the jungle…
What I did:
- Saunas and ice baths at Ice Welligama
- Drank far too much at Crust
- Surfed for the first time in 7 years! And only slightly broke my foot…
Thoughts on the place:
Ahangama in Sri Lanka is a lovely little town, especially if you stick to the restaurants and bars right by the sea. Food is not cheap at all here, surprisingly but the quality is solid thanks to the massive amount of decently wealthy expats that have set up restaurants here.
Tips:
- Stay at George’s place if you want to war with snakes on Xmas day… It’s free entertainment
- Uber doesn’t work in the small towns here, or Grab, or Bolt… Local Tuktuks love a negotiation, so you can save £1 per journey if you’re a miser
- Ahangama is sick for surfing but nearby Welligama is probably the place to stay if you’re travelling
Exploring Seoul and the DMZ
Where I stayed:
L7 Hongdae by LOTTE
What I did:
Thoughts on the place:
Seoul is kinda like if an English city was nice and insanely safe with a lot of very well dressed people. The DMZ is a little underwhelming as you can no longer go right to the border line after some American guy (I think) jumped it… Worth a visit and honestly probably a sick place to live!
The hotel was decent but comes at a premium…
Tips:
- Uber does work well there despite what reddit may say
- Google maps does not work there, download Kakao Map!
- Stay in Hongdae for culture + partying
South Pattaya – Royal Cliff Beach Hotel
Where I stayed:
Royal Cliff Beach Hotel
What I did:
- Chilled on the private beach
- Ate wonderful tapas at Don Pepe’s
- Explored the walking street… Perhaps not the place for couples to go.
- Had a gorgeous evening at Oxygen Beach Club
Thoughts on the place:
Pattaya often gets a rep as being pretty seedy. That’s not particularly fair. The Walking Street shouldn’t entirely define what is actually a very lovely city by the sea. If you want seedy, you’ll find it but in this place you can also find incredibly pretty beaches that aren’t rammed full of people.
The hotel was delightful with a great sea view and it’s own private beach. One of the best places I’ve stayed.
Tips:
Stay in South Pattaya near Jomtien or anywhere on the cliff for a genuinely beautiful view and phenomenal vibe
Spend your time away from the city centre to see what the city is really like
Oh and keep your eyes open on the walking street…
Khao Yai – La Cocotte Villa & Farm
Where I stayed:
La Cocotte Villa & Farm
What I did:
- Visited a Thai vineyard! And drank as much as humanely possible…
- Picked eggs from chickens and even held the chickens (Who were possibly the softest chickens I’ve ever felt so you can tell they’re cared for)
Thoughts on the place:
If Khao Yai isn’t on your places to go when in Thailand, you’re missing out. This place is Thailand’s mountainous wine country and it is fucking lovely. So green, so lush, and just incredible to walk around. I love it here.
Also STAY AT THIS HOTEL. You get a mini villa, get to pick your own eggs + vegetables for breakfast on their working farm, and hang out with the neighbouring dogs!
Tips:
Stay at La Cocotte Villa & Farm (if you’re a couple).
Visit a vineyard here and try Thai wine, the white wine is lovely!
Chiang Mai and the Shangri-La Hotel
Where I stayed:
Shangri-La Chiang Mai
What I Did:
- Walking with elephants!
- Explored the night markets
- Had my first Tom Yum
Thoughts on the Place:
Whenever you’re a little tired of Bangkok (very rare for me, I fucking love it here), Chiang Mai can offer a kinda mini-city break where things are a bit more laid back and bit more old school. It’s nice. It’s kinda small, but it’s nice if that’s you like.
Shangri-La Chiang Mai however was immaculate. The view from the room was of the mountains and, damn, waking up to that was wonderful. Big fan, highly recommend.
Tips:
The food at the markets here is high quality, dig in! Get a Nutella banana roti!
Head to the Grand Canyon water park for a mint day out!
Zoe in Yellow is the place to begin any wild night here.
Sumb Luck 