Bungalows on Kho Bulon, Prices, types, and locations, from a traveler, not a hotelier.

 Ploy and I just returned from a trip to Kho Bulon, in Satoon Provence, Thailand.

I must say that it is a difficult place to get to, wherever you are traveling from in Thailand.

After you arrive in Pak Bara, you can get a ferry for 400Bhat each way.

That is when your vacation begins.

The scenery is spectacular, and the boat trip is only about 45 minutes.

There are beautiful mountains sticking straight up out of the water.  The ocean in blue and deep green.

The earlier you arrive to Kho Bulone, the better it will be to locate a room.

We arrived on the second ferry, since we flew down from Chiang Mai where we live, earlier that same morning. Almost all of the rooms were full.

Some people resorted to sleeping in tents.

Ploy and I were lucky enough to find a room for 600 Bhat at Pang Ka Noi. That is about $20.  We did well for the first night.    On the second day, I walked to every resort on the island looking for an empty room at 9:30 AM. That is just after the ferry leaves.

 Here are two nice bungalows at Kho Bulon Resort, but they are going for 2,500 Bhat per night.
                     That is about $85.

The room on the right was for rent for the same price.  Very close to the beach.

 Here is a Thai Longtail boat.  They are very loud, so we opted for a room further in the jungle, and away from the noisy boats being fired up for hours every morning.

These are two Pied Horn-bills. They are the most beautiful birds I have every seen in the wild. They visited our bungalow in the jungle almost every evening.   I learned to recognize their screech, and I would watch them from my bungalow's balcony.

6 Months Living on Kho Lipe, Thailand

Kho Lipe Island, Thailand, during my stay as resident volunteer English Teacher.

     I want to share some photos I took during my 6 month stay on Kho Lipe Island, while I was resident English Teacher for grades 4, 5, and 6, following the Asian Tsunami.

     Kho Lipe has changed a lot in the last 6 years, although it is still wonderful, quiet and relaxing.

     Here is the original walking street, from Pataya beach to the Chao Lay Village and the school.

Walking down the trail from the beach for about 10-15 minutes I neared the “Sea Gypsy” village,  http://andaman-island-hopping.com/articles/seagypsies.htm

where there were a collection of “backpacker” restaurants with excellent sea food, so you know

 you won’t go hungry.  The Chao Lay Village has a population of around 800 in grass and tin shacks spread along a very pretty beach.  I walked the equivalent of 3-4 blocks, having

to make several turns at forks on the complex of dirt and sand walking paths.  After about 5 minutes, I reached the center of town,



This is the view of the beach in front of the school. It's possibly the best school setting in the world.



where a huge communal sala (roofed outdoor seating area) occupies the beach.  Behind the beach is the school complex, made up of about 5-6  

large buildings, solar panels and water tanks.  My classroom was located at the end of long school building, right in front of the ocean. It has to be the most picturesque school setting in the world.

   
       I was called “Achaan” Johnny.  Having the title “Achaan” in Thailand is somewhat like having “PHD.” after your name in the States.  My classes were fairly well behaved by modern standards

(no pandemonium and kids running wild), although if I didn’t keep their attention for the entire time, “They will eat me alive”.

      Since I am able to speak Thai Language, I was placed as 4th 5th and 6th grade teacher, so that I could talk to the children, and answer their questions.  When class was over,

     I got some of the kids to pose for a group photo.  Then we walked over to the main building where we met Ben, the

other American teaching English at the school. We became good friends while living on the quiet isolated island. 

   Here is a map of the area and the national park islands painted outside the school. There are over 50 uninhabited islands in the area, most of which are visible while walking the beaches of Lipe.  All of which can be visited for day trips from Kho Lipe.