Days 6 & 7, Koh Tao

Due to a kerfuffle with Bangkok Airways, the Heckermachers spent almost a full day traveling from northern Chiang Mai to the island of Koh Tao in the Gulf of Thailand.

One taxi, two flights, one bus, a very shady restaurant, a fishy-smelling pier, and a ferry ride spent queasily watching Iron Chef in the air conditioned "VIP" compartment (100 baht extra, but worth it), the Heckermachers landed on the pier at Koh Tao, where they were instantly surrounded by barking taxi drivers.

They selected one and climbed into his "taxi" - the back of a pick-up outfitted with benches. The wind in their hair as they flew up the winding road to their hotel was exhilarating. They passed small beach villages decked out in fairy lights, then climbed higher into the mountains in darkness.

The taxi stopped at the door to the Aminjirah Resort, where another American couple got in to take it into town. They paused to look at the Heckermachers, then said "hey, weren't you on our tour at the Elephant Nature Park the other day?"

After laughing about that, they parted ways and the tired Heckermachers checked into their Sunset Dream Suite. They dined on their patio, only dimly aware in the darkness that there might be an ocean somewhere below them.

They awoke to this:

Private patio.

Tim is the BEST at choosing hotel rooms.

The Heckermachers had big plans to go explore the island that day. But they were still a little tired from the previous day's travel tribulations, so they decided to set a spell by the infinity pool. 

They claimed a pair of lounge chairs, and didn't really leave them all day. 

Paradise.

When it got warm, they paddled around in the pool.

Taken by an Austrian couple they made friends with. 

Hooray for honeymoons!

They took pictures from the edge with Tim's waterproof camera.

Is that a boat?

It is!

The bar and restaurant were located on the pool deck. Amanjirah appeared to be run by a family, and they were remarkably good-natured about serving drinks to people too blissed out to leave the pool.

One Chang, coming up!

Happy Tim is Happy. 

Equally happy Anna sticks to fresh young coconuts. 

They spent the entire day hanging out by the pool, eating simple and delicious Thai food at the outdoor restaurant, swimming, chatting, relaxing, and reading. Anna was engrossed in a wonderful novel called Fieldwork that was set in Chiang Mai and surrounding mountain towns (she recommends it). After a romantic dinner on their patio (accompanied by a pair of cats who were very interested in their food), they made it another early night, vowing to be just a tad less relaxed the next day.