Of course the train was massively delayed and the other backpackers and I tried to find out where we were and when we were suppose to be at Chumphon.
Not an easy task if the GPS doesn't work and the doors to the other carriages are locked.
So we were sitting there, assuming we had not gotten to the place yet and waited. Around 5 a steward came around and it turned out it was going to be another hour or so to go.
Not too surprising considering that we stopped a couple of times to let the oncoming trains pass. Looks like most of the southern Thailand Line is still single track.
It wasn't all bad, so at least I had a chance to see the jungle out there in the daylight as well.
Around 6:45 we made it to Chumphon. 15 minutes to the boat that would leave at 7. The bus ride took an hour but the boat must have waited for us since we left the harbour at 8.
The view from the quay where the boat waited was beautiful. The calm, clear, blue sea touched the sand beaches which had the hilly jungle starting right behind it. I thought this was paradise, but little did I know what I should be seeing just an hour and a half of a boat ride later.
About half way Koh Tao showed up at the horizon, growing larger, in front of clear blue skies and calm sea.
The first stop was a little island off the coast of Koh Tao which looked just like out of a photo book about the best places in the world.
Next stop was Mae Haad, the main pier in Koh Toa, where I got off.
I met a guy from Holland and we decided to get some grub. It was only 10 am but I was craving for some proper thai food. A Green Curry should come in handy and so we found a nice little beach side restaurant and I had a huge portion of curry for which I had to order another portion of rice to soak up all the nice sauce!
All this with magnificent view of the bay.
Then it was off to find my hostel. The Taco Shack hostel. I asked the owner of the bar but he didn't know the place, until he looked it up on the internet where he saw a picture of the owner. A thai body builder.
He gave me some instructions and I quickly found the place. It's very basic and relatively new and the main theme is mexican food and it had good reviews on Hostelworld.
I dropped my bag and asked where I could do some fun dives and the owner suggested La Bombona, an also new, Spanish lead diving school. It was just at the other end of the small town. Unfortunately I just missed the second dive of the day, so I signed up for the early one in the morning.
It would also be the best dive site in Koh Tao to begin my diving adventure.
Back at the hostel I grabbed my swimming trunks and towel and checked out the beach, just about 50m down the road. Granted, it's not a magnificent beach but it certainly would do to check out the water and chill for a bit.
This little swim reminded my body of the lack of sleep and soon after I was dried off, I want back to the hostel for a well needed nap.
I tried one of the infamous burritos for dinner and then it was time that the Halloween party started at the hostel.
Plans were to have a few drinks at the hostel and then go off to some club, but I really wasn't in the mood for party. A few beers and a chat with they guys at the hostel would do.
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