Thomas

Photos Koh Lipe, Thailand – Christmas 2007

You may be interested in seeing the video of Koh Lipe we made whilst there during this Christmas trip.

This is where we’ll be heading on 23rd/24th December if anyone is at a ‘loose end’ for Christmas… I went to Koh Lipe a couple of years ago, and it is well worth the journey. It’s absolutely stunning.

Koh Lipe is a small island that is part of the Tarutao National Marine Park located in Satun Province.

Satun is a small province in the south of Thailand that borders Malaysia, facing the Andaman Sea. The province possesses renowned picturesque islands with verdant forests and mountainous land. The majority of the locals are Chao Lay and speak a dialect unique to their culture. It is located 973 kilometers from Bangkok and occupies an area of 2,478 square kilometers with 80 kilometers of coastline.

Most tourists head out to the pristine islands of Tarutao National Marine Park. Its landscape is full of underwater peaks, excellent beaches, calm and peaceful coves, jungle and mangrove swamps. Snorkeling can be found at Koh Lipe (Lipe Island), while neighbouring Adang Island has stunning primary forest with mountainous terrain and waterfalls.

How to get there: http://www.kohlipethailand.com/how_to_get_there.php

Video: New Years Eve party, Hadrin Beach, Koh Phangan, Thailand

I just thought I’d post this video to show the mayhem that Tina and I experienced on Hadrin beach, Koh Phangan for New Year 2006/2007. Four days later, on the 4th January, it was followed by a full moon party. Haad Rin on Koh Phangan is not for the faint-hearted generally, but as the video shows, at this time of year it goes absolutely mental. If you’re not into partying – go somewhere else 😉

Quito, Ecuador

Quito was a remarkable city. The second highest capital city in South America, after La Paz in Bolivia, it quite literally takes your breath away. I discovered this the hard way, leaning against a wall and seeing stars whilst running around town for an hour trying to find us a guest house before dark!

Plaza de San Francisco, Quito, Ecuador

At an altitude of 2,850 metres, the climate is relatively comfortable, with warm days and cool/cold nights.

The main attraction of Quito, providing it with its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the ‘Old City’. The heart of the old Spanish colonial centre is Plaza de la Independencia from here it is easy to wander through the many cobblestone streets and explore the rest of the old city on foot. The photo pictured above shows Plaza de San Francisco, and the famous church and monastery of the patron saint of Quito – San Francisco – constructed by the Spanish in 1553.

The new city, especially La Mariscal district on the other hand is not quite so pleasant, with frequent reports of pickpockets and robberies at night. I stayed there for a week whilst doing some work, and generally made sure I was back in the hostel before dark.

There are a few day trips you can make from Quito, including visiting Mitad Del Mundo – the Equator line, a couple of hours on a bus from the city centre.

Links

Photos of Quito
Warning – bagslash robberies on buses leaving Quito