The title of this blog is shamelessly stolen from the beach club where we spent two gloriously lazy days in Koh Lanta, Thailand.
For the last week or so, we were professional slugs, committed to soaking up as much sun as possible. In Koh Lanta, we didn’t venture much farther than Lym’s Beach Club. On our first night there, a musical trio played during dinner, heavy on Eric Clapton. Over the course of the week, no matter where we found live music, we heard multiple Clapton songs. Apparently, Clapton is God in Thailand (IYKYK). We also caught a Thai Elvis impersonator and a fire show, because of course we did.
After Koh Lanta, we headed to Koh Yao Yai. The speedboat ride there became a bit more adventurous than planned when one of the three engines died after a stop at another island. We waited for a replacement boat, which featured aggressive gasoline fumes but successfully got us there in about an hour. While waiting, we struck up a great conversation with a family from Krakow. As it turns out, they were staying at the same resort, so we rode together and continued talking about everything from family travel to their love of the NBA.
The Blue Bay Resort on Koh Yao Yai features swim-up rooms, and the beach was exactly what we were looking for.
Our final stop was Phuket. We were slightly wary of it, but since we were flying back to Bangkok from there, we decided to spend two nights in Patong Beach. Two nights was the correct number. The traffic is dreadful, and with the Lunar New Year, the place was packed. That said, we did have an outstanding burger at Legends Sports Bar & Grill, sometimes you just need a burger. And had our first opportunity to watch several Olympic events on multiple TVs.
Originally, we had planned another around-the-world adventure similar to last year’s. ANA had been offering an incredible award program that was discontinued last June. Last year, when we saw it was still bookable, we jumped. The itinerary included Osaka, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Sri Lanka, Malta, Amsterdam, and a final flight home from Brussels, all for 85,000 points per person plus about $800 in taxes and fees. It was too good to pass up.
Weddings, houses, and life, however, intervened. We trimmed the trip and completed only the first month.
I’m writing this after a 12-hour flight from Bangkok, currently sitting in the Lufthansa Senator Lounge in Munich, waiting for our flight to Newark and then a quick hop to National. Because ANA tickets don’t allow routing changes once booked, we had to arrange a separate return home. The good news? Business class for all segments at just 100,000 United points per person.
Thailand has more than 15,000 7-Elevens (ranked third after Japan and US). I mention this only because they are everywhere. In fact, 7-Eleven t-shirts appear to be a badge of honor for certain tourists.
Over the last 26 days, we walked 429,911 steps, the equivalent of 171.7 miles. That averages 16,535 steps per day, or 6.6 miles daily. (Jane noted that most of this was before this past beach week in Thailand so skewed to first three weeks). I mostly share this for myself, as I am addicted to tracking my steps on my Apple Watch.
Jane is a big fan of sunsets, she has always been. Me, on the other hand, not so much. From a philosophical perspective I see sunsets as just another day ending and time passing by.
Eat. Beach. Sleep. Repeat.
Traveling Walters 