Hey

Hey

11 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

Hey

 

An "old hand" bragging that he's seen it all?

And you know Thais and Thai culture better than anyone? 

And they get you. And you get them. 

 

1430 islands. And Harrisfan has seen them all.

9 inches

All of them. Twice. 

 

Beat that Bignok. 

PP, Samui, Phuket , Samet and 3 others.

Lush - Lovely.

Need to get my act together....can only think of four. Does Phuket count as an island?

 

Think I lied on the vote.

32 years and 2 islands, but I'm working on it, 555

My count is something like 26. Many visited multiple times, stay a week or so. Probably 3/4 camping and balance in a bungalow. I have camped almost all Thai natl marine parks. On one island not Phuket, Koh Chang or typical gulf islands I've spent approximately one year .. cumulatively over 20 years - camping 👍 I actually wrote a book, but decided not to try and sell it because I would rather have the campgrounds in the snorkeling to myself rather than some small bit of money that book might have brought in.

 

I met my wife on the island... camping 🐝

6 minutes ago, KhaoHom said:

My count is something like 26. Many visited multiple times, stay a week or so. Probably 3/4 camping and balance in a bungalow. I have camped almost all Thai natl marine parks. On one island not Phuket, Koh Chang or typical gulf islands I've spent approximately one year .. cumulatively over 20 years - camping 👍 I actually wrote a book, but decided not to try and sell it because I would rather have the campgrounds in the snorkeling to myself rather than some small bit of money that book might have brought in.

 

I met my wife on the island... camping 🐝

 

So what is your favourite island?

Another earth shattering topic from you as usual, Susan.
 

What's next? "How much bottled water do you buy when you go to Makro?"

3 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

Another earth shattering topic from you as usual, Susan.
 

What's next? "How much bottled water do you buy when you go to Makro?"

 

None in my case, I get a delivery service to bring just water.

 

Also, I don't shop in Makro.

many of them.

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

 

An "old hand" bragging that he's seen it all?

And you know Thais and Thai culture better than anyone? 

And they get you. And you get them. 

 

56% 5 or less. Old hand 

6 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

So what is your favourite island?

 

I won't give my top two away. Only encourage other campers and friends.

 

Similans is probably the prettiest although due to the price, tourists and limitations I wouldn't recommend.

 

I can tell you one of my favorites bc it's closed. It's called Koh Tachai.  my wife and I set a record there camping 10 days straight. I have the record for the longest foreigner stay in the known history of the island. She has the longest Thai national stay accepting national park staff there. I have many of these records although others long gone as I just return now to a few islands each year

 

 

14 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

Another earth shattering topic from you as usual, Susan.
 

What's next? "How much bottled water do you buy when you go to Makro?"

Start your own topic Mary

<>

1 minute ago, KhaoHom said:

 

I won't give my top two away. Only encourage other campers and friends.

 

Similans is probably the prettiest although due to the price, tourists and limitations I wouldn't recommend.

 

I can tell you one of my favorites bc it's closed. It's called Koh Tachai.  my wife and I set a record there camping 10 days straight. I have the record for the longest foreigner stay in the known history of the island. She has the longest Thai national stay accepting national park staff there. I have many of these records although others long gone as I just return now to a few islands each year

 

 

Nice

Just now, save the frogs said:

 

pattaya counts as an island, right?

Why dont u go to some report back

Some

I've been to pretty well all of them, back in the 1980s/1990s I worked as a photojournalist in tourism, freelancing for Bangkok Post and some glossy Thai magazines. So over the years went to many from the Thai-Malaysia border (Tarutao-Adang-Lipe-Bulon Lae) up the Andaman coast side through the Trang and Krabi Islands to PhangNga & Phuket, then a few further north, plus the Gulf side (fewer islands there but all the obvious ones Like Samui, Phangan, Tao) and of course most of the islands off the coastlines of Chonburi/Rayong/Chantaburi/Trat. About the only group of Thai islands I haven't been to are the ones off the coast of Ranong. I also did several yacht trips out of Phuket in the 1980s to all sorts of islands, some I can't even remember the names now, many were unsettled except for maybe a couple of shacks belonging to Thai fishermen. There were quite a lot of Chao Lae (sea gypsies) back then and you'd find them on many of the smaller islands over the Andaman side, but I believe most have been absorbed into the general Thai population these days as laws were passed making education compulsory for Chao Lae kids, so they more or less had to move to the mainland.

Only 6, I think, sleeping on, as was too paranoid about the kid & snake bites.   Now the dog is a hassle, plus I like my car with me.  Few more, but don't think daytrips and hanging on the beach for awhile counts.

 

Phuket

Phi Phi

Chang (large)

Samui

Phayam

Lanta

 

Since I won't spend much time in the surf any more, mainland beaches are fine to look at & listen too.  A crescent bay with some headland or small out cropping is a bit more important.   A long beach, not matter how pristine doesn't do much for me.

 

One reason we live where we do, even though the Gulf, quite like Ao Prachuap, Ao Manao & Ao Noi.

 

 

Back in the day when I did a lot of diving, I visited most of the islands on the west coast from Tarutao National Park in the south, all the way up to Richlieu Rock.  Still two or three I would like to visit for a short holiday. Also visited some in Burma on a diving boat tour. Several on the east coast too.

 

Most have likely been ruined by mass tourism now as this was pre and early 2000's

Just now, Harrisfan said:

Nice

 

Too many illegal speedboats and tourists. They corrupt Park system couldn't manage the natural resource problems / tourists and so Bangkok shut it down.

 

Those pictures are nice but don't even come close to doing Justice to the beauty of the place. It has the longest stretch of coral white sand beach I believe anywhere in Thailand. Koh Tarutao is a big island and it has some very long beaches but just not the same.

 

There are about a dozen islands with spectacular five star beaches worthy of a Conde Nast cover. 

 

I really don't like bungalows. I don't like the experience on many levels. They used to be fine but now there's too much drama and expense

 

Since my first post I thought of another two islands I've been to!

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

snake bites

 

Definitely snakes. Lots of vipers, some scorpions. Last season I saw a lot of massive centipedes. Absolutely <deleted> nasty

2 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

I like Scott's 4 ply. The purple one.

I like that one too. Nice smell. But all the added chemicals have been known to cause a butt rash. I'm back to unscented as of late. 

3 minutes ago, short-Timer said:

 

Can’t wait for tomorrow’s bombshell topic from you, Susan: "What's your favorite brand of toilet paper at Big C?’”

 

 

Does anyone buy that over here?

 

It should be made illegal and bum guns made compulsory under building reg's throughout the world 

Just now, short-Timer said:

I like that one too. Nice smell. But all the added chemicals have been known to cause a butt rash. I'm back to unscented as of late. 

 

I find the paper a bit weak.I must have a very abrasive anus.

1 minute ago, KhaoHom said:

 

Definitely snakes. Lots of vipers, some scorpions. Last season I saw a lot of massive centipedes. Absolutely <deleted> nasty

Yea, friend of mine, chased a Cobra out of her bungalow on two separate visits on Phayam