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Koh Samet

You need to travel to the port of Ban Phe, near the town of Rayong. There are some hotels Ban Phe; the Diamond Hotel is close to the pier, opposite to Ao Phrao Resort which is next to the pier. Even though new roads have drastically cut journey time and distance, it is still 173 kilometres from Bangkok. I prefer to travel directly from Bangkok airport to the beach resort of Pattaya. There are plenty of good quality and reasonably priced hotels there where I can recover from the flight and arrange onward travel to Ban Phe and Samet.
Another advantage of going to Pattaya is there are numerous ways to travel there. The cheapest way is the public bus from Bangkok Eastern bus terminal. From Bangkok airport the Thai International bus departs three times a day, and it will drop you off at you hotel. All Bangkok hotels will book you onto a minibus that will pick you up from your hotel and take you there - after touring around all the other hotels till the bus is full. I have travelled using all these methods. The journey takes about three hours driving, plus a half hour comfort break midway.
Perhaps its because I now have a little more money, less time, or require more comfort, but I now either take a taxi from the airport, or I arrange to be met a car. It is faster and you do not stop on the way unless you wish to.
Arranging to be met by a chauffered car is great. As you come out from customs you see the driver with your name on a large board. He takes your bags and you are off while others are still dithering. It is easy to arrange nowadays. Several Pattaya hotels and travel agents offer the service. I can book a room and they'll arrange the taxi via email.
Once in Pattaya there are many travel agents who can arrange onward travel to Samet. For several years I have used the services of Malibu on Soi Post Office. (Find the lane next to The Royal Garden Resort Hotel between Beach Road and Pattaya 2 Road. At the corner with Pattaya 2 you'll find Malibu Restuarant and Travel Agency.) Malibu own a fine location on Wong Duern Beach and I like to ensure I have a room before arriving on Samet. Malibu will organise travel. A minibus will take you to Bhan Phe. Getting onto the boat involves a hairy climb down from the jetty onto the boat. Even on calm days the seas can get high, and the small boat rocks and lurches into the waves. So the first sight of Samet is welcome, and once in its shelter the water stills and one can enjoy the view.
As described in the introduction, there is no jetty on Ao Wong Duern. You clamber down the side of the boat into a raft which is hauled ashore. The water is sparkling clear, the sea bottom is white sand and several travellers just dive fully clothed into the water and swim ashore.
Once ashore and checked into ones bungalow the curse of the 20th century affects one. What do I do now, one wonders? It takes time to slow down. To reduce one's pace to that of nature. It takes several days before you realise you are in tune with nature. And the longer you stay, the less you ever want to leave.

If you have any questions please ask them on the guestbook, and if you have been, please tell us your hints and tips and travellers tales.

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email me at ko_samet@yahoo.com

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