We reached Koh Lipe on Sunday afternoon, after an hour and a half flight from Bangkok, another hour and a half bus ride to the pier, and the final hour and a half bumpy boat transfer to the island (seasickness pills recommended). We were a bit dizzy and tired, but the excitement of being at a remote island starting our long postponed holidays soon took over. We went to the guesthouse, rested for a while in the cozy, still bed, took a refreshing cold shower and, in an hour, we were all hungry and ready to eat and start our walk around the island. Koh Lipe is a rather small island located in the Andaman Sea, in the Southwest part of Thailand; it has only three main beaches and, as the day was slowly ending, we decided to start in the closest one to our guesthouse, aptly named Sunset Beach.
Stranded I, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
We felt so relaxed and chilled at the quiet, silent beach, that we decided to just sit under a palm tree, and rest until the sunset came. There were not many people around, just a few drifters scattered around, so we felt we were all alone and enjoyed the chilly breeze and the deep calm that was precisely what we were looking for upon fleeing from the city.
Moored, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Minimalist sunset, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
DAY 2
On our first morning in Koh Lipe we woke up late and had a generous breakfast. With full stomachs and spirits, we were ready to continue exploring the island. Now it was the turn of Sunrise Beach, facing East, the longest beach of the island. It was a tremendously sunny day, all blue skies and waters and random, silky clouds. The scenery looked amazingly beautiful, but the sun was very strong, so we spent more time protected in the shade than swimming or walking around. Sunrise Beach is a pretty long one, so we only covered the Northern stretch of it, promising to continue walking South next time.
Shades of blue I, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Shades of blue II, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Being so isolated and out of reach, Koh Lipe is not crowded and you can wander around the island relatively unperturbed. There are obviously tourists (and they seem to be growing fast in the last years, based on the fast developing and construction of more hotels and resorts that the island is seeing, with the consequences we can imagine) and there are also islanders doing their daily tasks (revolving mostly around tourism nowadays, as it is logical) but, all in all, the island feels very peaceful and serene, perfect for a few days retreat.
Safe, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
The cove, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
We went back to the hotel for lunch. I'm not very interested in food photography, at least not yet, so I have no graphical proof of it, but trust my word: food was excellent, specially seafood, as you can imagine in such an environment: fresh and delicious. After the meal a short siesta was mandatory, and soon we were ready for a late afternoon walk. The sun was still too strong and we had seen quite enough water already; therefore, and for a change, we decided to examine the interior side of the island, mostly covered by foliage. And so we discovered a very interesting, yet saddening place at the same time; a place that doesn't appear in the tourist leaflets.
Foliage tunnel, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Deserted I, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
A whole village laid, deserted and abandoned, in the middle of the jungle, in the Western wing of the island, the most undeveloped and virgin of it. This sight struck us, because we had seen how fast the island was growing to accommodate more and more travelers, and how prices and facilities were becoming more luxurious every day. We guessed this was probably one of the first resorts or villages that were built for the sake of tourism and, as the island developed later mostly by the beaches, was left behind, completely forgotten between the trees and weeds.
Deserted II, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Deserted III, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
For the sake of development, nature is always sacrificed. Without hesitation. And we are all guilty of perpetuating this by being blind, and lazy, and too attached to our comfortable, easy life. It's no excuse. It's a choice. Whether we like it or not, not taking action is our choice. With somehow somber feelings in our hearts, we went back to the guesthouse and had a quiet evening.
As promised the day before, we went back to Sunrise Beach, this time ready to walk all the way to the end of the long beach. However, as we were slowly walking South, we passed by a village where most of the native inhabitants of the island live, and we were immediately attracted by its sandy roads and its wooden houses. So we ignored the big beach for the second time, and strolled inside the small village to see how the islanders were dealing with their usual routines.
Elegant window, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Geometries, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 35-100mm
These people belong to one of the multiple ethnicities from Southeast Asia that are labelled as sea gypsies. They are originally Malay but spread all over SEA and now dwell in several islands of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. Though the life in the island has been severely disrupted by tourism, they have naturally adapted to the new needs, but walking further inside their village one soon realizes that they keep their customs and habits intact, despite development.
The carrier, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
The watchman, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
The fireman, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Our last day was quickly coming to an end, and we wanted to enjoy another tranquil sunset before we had to leave the island the following day, so we headed back to Sunset Beach, once more, sat on the sand, and let the sun sink, step by step, while hearing the soothing sound of the waves. That's, no doubt, the perfect way to end the day with a smile.
Stranded III, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 12-35mm
Looking back, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 35-100mm
Our boat was not departing until the afternoon, so we still had a few more hours to walk around and enjoy the little jewel of Koh Lipe, so we returned to Sunrise Beach. A small long-tail boat had ran aground in the beach and a couple of kids were trying to refloat it, all alone. Even though they were very persistent and energetic, their sole power was not enough to push the heavy boat back to the water so, after taking a few stills from the distance, I approached them and helped them shove.
Wondering, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 35-100mm
Trying, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 35-100mm
Unfortunately, there was no happy ending to this story, as I was still not enough to refloat the boat. But, luckily, a few other men eventually came in our help, and the task was completed successfully. The camera withstood a few splashes and hits along the way, but without issues; actually, I was breathless for a bit longer.
Doing, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 35-100mm
And that was it. Our trip was over and we had to head back to the city to resume our busy urban lives. We marched unwillingly to the beach carrying our bags, and the boat was already there, awaiting to expel us from paradise. That's probably part of the deal, I guess: small delicacies always taste stronger. Goodbye, Koh Lipe, we will definitely try to come back again!
The way back home, Lumix GH3 + Lumix G Vario 35-100mm
Beautiful photos! I go to Koh Lipe next week and hope that my photos are 1/2 as good as yours. Would have loved to see food too.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lawrence! I hope you have nice weather and you can enjoy your stay at that beautiful island!
Deleteseems more quaint than what i read on Google.
ReplyDeleteIt's a small island, but if you go off the beaten track you can see a picturesque face of the island that most people don't see!
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