Koh Mak: the tranquil island

We had a long weekend ahead and we needed a break from busy Bangkok; the plan was to find a quiet, relaxing place where we could chill out for a couple of days, far from the noise and pollution of the big city, but we didn't want to travel very far either, so flying was out of the question. After discarding a few options, we settled on Koh Mak, since we had been in the neighbor Koh Kood previously and we had only good memories from it, so this seemed like a safe bet. We booked a nice resort for a reasonable price, took an early van in Victory Monument and, 4 hours and a ferry ride later, we were in the island. The resort's owner was waiting for us at the pier with his pickup, and 10 minutes later we finally reached the hotel. After leaving the bag on the bed, we sat at a deckchair in the balcony and just let the time pass by while contemplating the scene around us.

View from the toilet, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

A peaceful retreat, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Tickling, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

The rainy season was almost there, so some resorts were already closed while others, such as ours, were about to do so after this weekend. We were, therefore, the last guests of the season and, wheter for this reason or not, the resort had a specially peaceful and lonely feel to it. The whole island, actually, felt numb and half asleep. I ignore if it is always like this or if during the high season the flow of tourists is more intense, but my experience during those three days there was that of a tranquil, silent and cozy island. After a while, we stood up from our deckchairs, left the shoes behind and walked slowly through the beach that extended just meters from our bungalow.

Previous stroll, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Textures and reflections, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Unfinished bridge, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Progression I, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Progression II, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Koh Mak is a small island, but not small enough to walk all around it (as is Koh Lipe), so renting a motorbike is the best way to explore every corner of it. So that's what we did, and a short 15 minutes ride later we were at the North side of the island. We parked the bike by the beach, behind the trees, since we had left the small, paved road to venture into a narrow, muddy path following our intuition, and then we walked towards a jetty that could be seen in the distance. But an ominous storm was drawing closer so we had to leave earlier than we would have liked to, promising to come back later when the weather was more generous.

The return, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Sea calligraphy I, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Sea calligraphy II, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Vagrant boats, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

The fading jetty, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Unfortunately that took quite a bit of time, since the monsoon rain lasted for the most part of that morning and afternoon, so we had to postpone our new visit for the following morning. We rose with the sun and, after a conspicuous breakfast, we returned to the jetty to explore the area around it at ease, which included a stranded ship that nobody seemed to care about, since it laid abandoned and unattended, just meters from the empty beach.

Balance required, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

The end of the walk, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Stranded chimney I, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Stranded chimney II, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

In our last afternoon we rode our motorcycle to the Western side of the island and indulged ourselves in another leisure walk along the empty beach, and as soon as I spotted from the distance a small, floating jetty where some kids seemed to be playing and swimming, we headed our steps quickly in that direction, before they would leave the place. It turned out they were a few young immigrant workers enjoying their free time, probably after their work at the resort was done. I exchanged a few words with them and discovered they were all from Myanmar (particularly from the Mon ethnicity, the most abundant in Thailand). Once the sun started to dip, they left the pier, going back to their chores, and we slowly made our way back to our shelter under the beautiful sunset light.

Sea leisure, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Floating dreams, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Floating solitude, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Sunset arrives so we sit down, order a drink, and chill out.

Warm breeze, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

The way back, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Growing darkness, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

It was a relaxing weekend indeed, full of fresh air and clear water, both from the sea and from the sky. Koh Mak is an island I will surely come back to whenever I feel I need a break from duties and city life. It remains quiet and modest, though the scenery is not as it originally used to be, as the forests have been mostly replaced by palm tree plantations due to the flat profile of the island, and that introduces the associated problems known. After all, I left the island refreshed, but also with a bittersweet taste in my mouth, a taste of red puddles and monochrome, devastated trunks.

Dead and alive, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Memories, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

The crawling trunk, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Desolation, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Golden sunsets and emerald waters at Koh Chang

As the last destination of the Thailand Tour of my parents & sister last Christmas, we visited Koh Chang, one of this country's most famous islands and one that I hadn't visited before. We spent there 3 days under sunny skies and great weather, and we really enjoyed the slow pace of the island. Those were days of clear waters and family, cold drinks and strolls, and I did not feel like taking photographs that much. However, I still managed to grab a few stills that summarize quite comprehensively our stay at the island. Enjoy!

Emerald waters I, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Emerald waters II, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

In case of rain, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Sunset at Koh Chang I, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Sunset at Koh Chang II, GM1 + Lumix G Vario 12-32mm

Koh Kred, the meander that wanted to become island

Last week I moved to a new condo and started working at a new place, though I haven't left Bangkok, city that I plan to keep on walking and capturing for a while longer. I will need a bit of time to adjust to both beginnings, but the perspectives ahead are motivating, and I really feel this is going to be a great year, full of new people and experiences. As part of the "preparation week" at my school, all the teachers were invited to join a 1-day-trip to get to know each other before the start of the school year and the arrival of the students, next week. The place chosen was a small island in a meander of Chao Phraya River, a few kilometers north of central Bangkok: Koh Kred (also spelled as Ko Kret).

The bridge, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Rebuilding I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Rebuilding II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Koh Kred was simply a meander in the Chao Phraya River, but some 300 years ago a canal was dug to save the long curve and what started being just a shortcut, grew in width and ended up creating an island. Its size is not very big, but it accommodates a few small villages where most of the inhabitants belong to the Mon people, a community with a long history who live in different areas of Thailand since centuries ago.

Lady with straw hat I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Lady with straw hat II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Lady with straw hat III, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Koh Kred survives due mainly to 2 industries: rural activities, such as agriculture and fishing, and tourism, as it has become a usual spot for local tourism during the weekends, thanks to its deserts and other food specialities that are very appreciated by Thais. There are also a few temples and even a leaning Chedi for those who want to visit some cultural landmarks. However, for me, the most interesting aspect of the island was strolling leisurely the narrow roads, observing how people live their routines in a relaxing, unstressed way.

Pushing, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Lunch time, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

The bait, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Today, Friday afternoon, there were not many tourists, so I could just walk around at my own pace, and stop whenever I wanted to take a picture, observe the people performing their daily tasks, and even practice my limited Thai with some friendly villagers. Suddenly I realized I was alone, when I was supposed to be socializing with my new colleagues, but we were going to have dinner all together in a few hours, so I could make up for this small lapse then.

Hungry I, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Hungry II, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

The atmosphere is very peaceful at the island, all the roads are very narrow, spacious only for a motorcycle or a cart, so there are not many cars around; everybody in the island gets around by foot, bicycle or motorbike, and this sets the rhythm for all the activities that happen there: no hurries, but plenty of smiles.

Private matters, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Public matters, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Getting lost in the labyrinth of narrow, winding alleyways makes you feel like you have stepped back in time a few decades, when houses were made of wood and built on top of pillars, when vegetable gardens were the main income of a family, when doors were always open and all neighbors knew one another, when the community was as important as oneself. Eventually, signs of modernity have made its way inside the island, but it pretty much remains still a rural environment today.

Kitchen in the open, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Old and new, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Before sunset, all of us reunited again at the pier; some small groups had been wandering around the food stalls, trying the local specialities, others had been more adventurous and had been exploring the neighborhoods, while others had been spending their time talking with the new colleagues or visiting the temples. I spent my last minutes in the island enjoying the elegant and delicate flight of a group of butterflies searching for nectar, an exercise on precision and beauty that granted me a lucky shot, perfect to close the visit.

 Small shrine, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Mid-flight, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

We took a last boat ride to the other river shore and, after a few minutes' van ride, we reached the resort where we would have dinner in an hour. It was drizzling, so most of the people preferred to sit indoors to enjoy a drink before dinner, but the resort was located at a very beautiful environment, and it was simply too tempting for me to ignore it. Thanks to the weather sealing of the camera, I could walk around the gardens unconcerned, and the small raindrops conferred the vegetation a lush glow that made it look even more beautiful.

Forgotten pottery, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Drizzle magic, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

Family gathering, GH3 + Lumix G X Vario 35-100mm

If this get-together is any indication of what is to come this year, I'm very much eager to welcome it!