Cooling Off in Koh Lipe, Thailand
"Be in love with your life, every minute of it"
- Jack Kerouac
As the boat began to near Koh Lipe, we looked out of the window and saw the beautiful, green island off in the distance. The ferry docked next to a floating pontoon and we were ushered off of the boat and onto the pontoon. As part of the customs process, the crew had taken our passports before we boarded the ferry in Langkawi but we were assured that we would be given them once we reached the shore. The customs process was a departure from what one would typically associate with standard arrivals procedures but it was obvious that they had done this before, so we decided to go with the flow. We stood patiently on the pontoon in the early morning sun waiting to be transported by the long-tail boat ferrying people back and forth to shore. Long-tail boats are native to Southeast Asia and closely resemble a large canoe with a small engine which makes a rather distinct chugging sound.
The island was stunning and I couldn't wait to get to our hotel so that I could run and jump into the warm turquoise waters. Once everyone had been brought ashore they called out our names and one by one, we were handed our passports and then asked to walk up the beach to the immigration hut (also located on the beach). A quick stamp and we were on our way to sun and relaxation.
Once on the beach, I laid back in my chair, closed my eyes and listened as the long tail boats passing by along the shore. The light breeze blowing off of the ocean made the intense afternoon heat seem somewhat tolerable. The whir from the motor of the passing boats reminded me of laying in the grass in the summertime and listening to the sound of the lawnmower on a hot summer's day. It must have been right around that time that I dozed off.
Koh Lipe far exceeded my expectations and this is one tropical paradise which I definitely hope to visit again! The clear blue waters and the beautiful beaches are a far cry from city life and the Thai people are absolutely so kind and hospitable. And, of course, I have to make a mention of all of the delicious food we enjoyed at our hotel (Idyllic Concept Resort). There were vibrant red, yellow, green and Massaman curries, spicy shredded chicken salad, and of course, pad Thai. The crisp green mango salad and the fresh Vietnamese summer rolls with peanut butter dipping sauce were so fresh and delicious that I ended up ordering them everyday. And it just so happened that these dishes washed down very well with a cold Chang beer. If you are planning a trip to Thailand, I highly recommend a visit to Koh Lipe!
When to go: High season runs from November to the beginning of May
How to get there: There are several boats running daily within Thailand, however we flew from Singapore to Langkawi (about a 60 min. flight), and caught a large passenger ferry to Koh Lipe by booking in advance with Satun Pakbara Speedboat Company http://www.tarutaolipeisland.com. The boat left from Kuah Jetty and the customs clearance in Langkawi was relatively simple. The other alternative is to take a speed boat from Kuah Jetty with Bundhaya Speedboat http://www.bundhayaspeedboat.com.
Where to stay: We stayed at the Idyllic Concept Resort, located on Sunrise Beach. The resort was absolutely beautiful, the food was delicious, but best of all, the staff were incredibly friendly and very accommodating. We were so glad that we chose to stay here.
Hotel Website: http://www.idyllicresort.com
What to do: There isn't much to do on Koh Lipe, which is why it happens to be the perfect place for relaxing. You can go snorkeling or diving (Koh Lipe is located on the outskirts of one of Thailand's best national marine parks), kayaking or just relax. We were lucky enough to be able to snorkel right out in front of our hotel, where we saw many colorful fish and other sea life. The Walking Street (about a 10 minute walk from Sunrise Beach) offers a wide variety of restaurants, bars and low-key entertainment for those looking to leave their resorts or beach bungalo for an evening out.