KOH LANTA - THE ABANDONED THAI ISLAND

Joe Markwick

1 Oct 202312:51

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Ty and Beth explore the serene beaches of Koh Lanta, Thailand, during the low season. They enjoy a quiet stay, with the beach almost to themselves, and experience local cuisine, including a memorable breakfast at Lazy Bird Cafe. They make Thai friends who invite them for a home-cooked dinner, offering a glimpse into local life. The video captures the stark contrast between high and low season, with the island appearing abandoned yet beautiful, and leaves viewers intrigued to see it bustling with activity.

Takeaways

🚗 The travelers arrived in Koh Lanta from Krabi, which took three hours and cost 600 baht.
🏨 They stayed for two nights in a hotel room with a kitchen and balcony, costing 500 baht per night.
🛵 They rented a scooter for 150 baht per day, which is on the cheaper end of the scale.
🍤 They enjoyed local Thai food, such as pad thai and vegetable oil with shrimp, for a reasonable price.
🏖 They visited Klondell Beach and experienced the quiet during the low season, with few people around.
🌅 They enjoyed a beautiful sunset at a beach bar and made Thai friends who invited them for dinner.
🛣 With no set plan, they explored the island on their scooter, discovering the quietness of the low season.
🥞 At Lazy Bird Cafe, they had a satisfying breakfast with a slightly higher price than usual.
🏝 Hong Kong Beach was found to be lively in high season but very quiet during the low season.
🍰 They found a cozy coffee shop and bakery in the jungle, offering homemade cakes and a friendly atmosphere.
🏡 They were invited to a local Thai couple's home, where they enjoyed homemade food and learned about local life.
💇‍♀️ Beth got a haircut during their visit, adding a fun and memorable experience to their trip.

Q & A

Where did Ty and Beth travel from before arriving in Koh Lanta?
-Ty and Beth traveled from Krabi before arriving in Koh Lanta.
How long did it take them to travel from Krabi to Koh Lanta?
-It took them three hours to travel from Krabi to Koh Lanta.
What is the cost of their stay for two nights in Koh Lanta?
-The cost of their stay for two nights in Koh Lanta is 500 baht per night, totaling 1000 baht.
What is the daily cost of renting a scooter in Koh Lanta during their visit?
-The daily cost of renting a scooter in Koh Lanta is 150 baht.
What type of food did Ty have for lunch on their first day in Koh Lanta?
-Ty had pad thai and vegetable oil with shrimp for lunch on their first day in Koh Lanta.
What is the name of the beach they visited on their first day in Koh Lanta?
-They visited Klondell Beach on their first day in Koh Lanta.
How did the weather affect their beach experience on their first day?
-The weather initially allowed them to enjoy the beach, but it started raining, prompting them to seek shelter at a beach bar for the sunset.
What was the name of the cafe they visited for breakfast the next day?
-They visited Lazy Bird Cafe for breakfast the next day.
What is the cost of breakfast at Lazy Bird Cafe?
-The total cost of breakfast at Lazy Bird Cafe was 580 baht.
How did they describe the atmosphere of Hong Kong Beach during their visit?
-They described Hong Kong Beach as fairly lively during high season but very empty and abandoned during the low season.
What was the name of the coffee shop and bakery they visited in the jungle?
-They visited a coffee shop and bakery called Rooms Coffee and Bakery.
What did they do when it started raining heavily during their exploration of the island?
-When it started raining heavily, they decided to get Monopoly Deal cards and some apple margaritas.
What was the experience like when they were invited to a local Thai couple's home for dinner?
-The experience was very positive; they enjoyed the food, the company, and the cultural exchange, including Beth getting a haircut.
What did they think about the cost of a house in Koh Lanta?
-They were surprised to learn that a house in Koh Lanta could cost as little as sixty thousand pounds.
What is the next destination on their trip after Koh Lanta?
-The next destination on their trip after Koh Lanta is Phuket.

Outlines

00:00

🌴 Arrival and First Impressions in Ko Lanta

The video begins with the arrival in Ko Lanta from Krabi, highlighting the cost and duration of the journey. The presenters check into their hotel, showcasing the amenities and costs. They then rent a scooter and explore local eateries, commenting on the affordability and quality of the food. The beach is described as almost deserted, emphasizing the tranquility and beauty of the sunset. They also interact with locals and other tourists, noting the low season's impact on the island's atmosphere.

05:01

☕ Exploring More of Ko Lanta

In this segment, the presenters explore more of Ko Lanta, visiting various beaches and noting the stark contrast between the low and high seasons. They find many businesses closed but appreciate the solitude. They visit a coffee shop and bakery, enjoying homemade treats and the friendliness of the owners. The deserted nature of the island continues to be a theme, with comments on the lack of tourists and open establishments.

10:04

🏡 Experiencing Local Hospitality

The final part of the video focuses on the presenters' experience with a local Thai couple who invite them to their home for dinner. They describe the couple's hospitality, the food, and the couple's home, giving a glimpse into local life. The presenters express their gratitude and reflect on the unique experience. They conclude with plans to travel to their next destination, encouraging viewers to subscribe for more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Kolanta

Kolanta is an island in Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches and relaxed atmosphere. It is the main setting of the video, where the travelers explore and experience the local life. The term is used to describe the location and the general environment the travelers find themselves in, such as 'we've just arrived in Kolanta' and 'the island is absolutely beautiful.'

💡Low season

The term 'low season' refers to the period in a year when there are fewer tourists and less activity in the travel industry, typically due to weather or other factors. In the video, it is mentioned that Kolanta feels abandoned during the low season, with beaches and businesses appearing empty, as seen in the script 'it does feel abandoned during low season' and 'there is not much life down there at all.'

💡Scooter rental

Scooter rental is a common way for travelers to get around in Southeast Asia. In the video, the travelers rent a scooter for 150 Baht per day, which is a standard and cost-effective mode of transportation. The script mentions 'we've run into our scooter and it cost us 150 Baht per day' to illustrate this point.

💡Pad Thai

Pad Thai is a popular Thai dish made with stir-fried rice noodles, typically including ingredients like tofu, shrimp, and vegetables. In the video, one of the travelers has a Pad Thai for lunch, indicating the local cuisine and the travelers' experience with it, as mentioned in 'I've got a pad thai and vegetable oil pretty much a shrimp.'

💡Beach bar

A beach bar is a bar located on or near a beach, often offering a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy drinks and socialize. In the video, the travelers visit a beach bar for sunset, which is an integral part of their experience, as described in 'we come to a little uh, bar on the beach for the sunset.'

💡Homestay

A homestay is a type of accommodation where travelers stay with a local family, providing an immersive cultural experience. The video mentions an invitation to a Thai couple's home for dinner, which is a homestay experience, as indicated by 'they invited us around for dinner tomorrow night.'

💡Lazy Bird Cafe

Lazy Bird Cafe is a specific location mentioned in the script where the travelers have breakfast. It represents one of the local dining options and contributes to the travelers' culinary experience, as seen in 'first stop is for some breakfast and we come to Lazy Bird Cafe.'

💡Nui Bay

Nui Bay is a beach on the island of Kolanta. It is highlighted in the video as a beautiful and seemingly deserted location, which the travelers visit and enjoy. The script describes it as 'this is Nui Bay, got a little walk down this hill from where we parked our scooter.'

💡Old town

The old town refers to the historic part of a city or town, often characterized by traditional architecture and a distinct cultural atmosphere. In the video, the travelers explore the old town of Kolanta, which has a European vibe, as mentioned in 'now in the old town it's got a bit of a European vibe to it.'

💡Jewelry shopping

Jewelry shopping is an activity where travelers look for and purchase jewelry, often as souvenirs or gifts. In the video, one of the travelers is described as being in her 'natural habitat' while shopping for jewelry, as seen in 'Beth, is on the hunt for jewelry.'

💡Cultural exchange

Cultural exchange refers to the interaction and sharing of cultural experiences between people from different backgrounds. In the video, the travelers engage in cultural exchange with locals, such as being invited to a home for dinner and learning about local customs, as described in 'so cool to meet nine hip, and for them to invite us into their home and cook us food.'

Highlights

Arrival in Koh Lanta: The journey from Krabi to Koh Lanta took three hours and cost 600 baht, with the stay planned for two nights.

Accommodation: They stayed at a hotel room costing 500 baht, featuring a small kitchen, spacious room, and a balcony with lovely views.

Exploring by Scooter: They rented a scooter for 150 baht per day, which is on the cheaper end of the rental spectrum.

First Meal: They enjoyed a Pad Thai and a vegetable dish for around 80-100 baht each, remarking on the deliciousness of the food.

Klong Dao Beach: They visited Klong Dao Beach, enjoyed a swim, but had to take cover from a sudden rainstorm typical for September.

Sunset and Friends: They enjoyed a beautiful sunset on a mostly empty beach and made friends with locals who invited them for dinner the next day.

Scooter Adventure: With no fixed plans, they explored the island by scooter, noting the beautiful weather and the freedom to roam.

Breakfast at Lazy Bird Cafe: They had a satisfying breakfast, though slightly pricier, with items like a bacon and fried egg sandwich and a smoothie bowl.

Hok Klong Beach: They found Hok Klong Beach largely abandoned during the low season, in stark contrast to its reported vibrancy in high season.

Homemade Cake Stop: They visited a jungle-based coffee and bakery shop, enjoying homemade cakes and friendly conversation with the owners.

Nui Bay: They discovered Nui Bay, a secluded beach recommended by a local, and enjoyed its soft sand and solitude.

Old Town Vibes: The old town had a European feel, and they explored shops, with a particular focus on jewelry.

Rainy Day Activities: When it started raining heavily, they played Monopoly Deal and drank apple margaritas to pass the time.

Local Dinner Invitation: They enjoyed a home-cooked meal with a Thai couple who also shared their lifestyle and showed them their home.

Farewell to Koh Lanta: Reflecting on their time, they appreciated the beauty of Koh Lanta despite its emptiness in the low season, and anticipated their next destination, Phi Phi.