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Ko Samet, Rayong province, Thailand


as with all firsts,
it had its doubtful moments, grumbly
bits and fleeting scares,
but in the end you realize,
even just for that bend in the road -
when you turn and suddenly there's the sea!
- even just for that first glimpse,
it is always worth it.

of course, i can't help but compare.
for me, Ko Samet ranks between galera and bora.
with a bus ride and a boat ride, it's as
easy and inexpensive to get to as galera.
but when you get there, the sand
is boracay white and powdery.
somehow the water doesn't sparkle though.

but the long and wide stretch of beach is
lined by clutches of fancy, lounge-on-the-sand
resto-bars and no-frills grilleries.
in one end, a bar put low tables and
soft lights amidst the flat rocks.
so you get your own cozy,
little niche between rock and sand.
so nice!

it's peak season, but there weren't that
many people. and there are pockets of beach
where you can separate yourself from the
mostly white tourists.
the cottage i ended up taking
stood against the hills, so close to
the water, with lounge chairs on the
balcony so you could just sit there
and look out for hours. sigh :-)

taking my first meal of the day
right on the beach,
the blue water stretching away,
the wind swinging the lamps in the trees,
the sand under my feet,
i couldn't help but smile to myself.
this is indeed a great escape.
my first in thailand :-)

i now know one thing about me
that doesn't change wherever i go -
quiet mornings on the beach make me happy :-)