There are many conceptions of what paradise would be like, but some form of the above description is certainly among them. It also describes life on Ko Tao, a.k.a. Turtle Island, a remote island in the Gulf of Thailand.
After my traveling buddy, Ed, and I visited Bangkok, we were eager to head to a more relaxing environment. We took a plane down south to Surat Thani, where we then needed to take a boat into the Gulf of Thailand. There are two main islands in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan (with another popular spot being Phuket on the other side of the Thai peninsula). Generally, tourists head to one of these. Only recently (in the last 10 years or so) have people started to visit a third island in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Tao, which is the smallest and most remote island in the area. Taking a fishing boat to get there from either Ko Samui or Ko Pha-Ngan, it is well worth the trip. Due to being less accessible and less traveled, the island is not nearly as developed.
We had the added bonus of having a good friend of ours, Jojo, working as a Scuba Dive Master at one of the many dive shops on the island (while it is relatively unknown to general tourists, it is a hot spot for Scuba diving, and in particular, to Scuba Diving training). We barely recognized our dear college chum who we had last scene when he was working at an investment bank in San Francisco. It had been a while since Jojo has worn a coat or tie - or shoes for that matter.
Jojo had completely embraced the attitude of island culture - easy-going, laid back, carefree, void of stress, peaceful. Island life is a different culture. For people used to the hustle and bustle of many US cities, island life can be quite an adjustment. Jojo, however, seem to have made the transition quite well.
Coming from the chaotic and frenetic pace of Bangkok, it took Ed and myself less time to acclimate ourselves to our new environment than expected. Thankfully Jojo was a wonderful host and Ed and I had transformed into easy going, nonchalant island dwellers. Our days on Ko Tao were spent eating yummy Thai cuisine, relaxing on the beach, strolling through the island paths, and scuba diving.
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