Surat Thani-Krabi: Ferry From Hell

I was traumatized by the ferry ride from Koh Tao to Surat Thani. Though the ticket was a well-haggled 800 THB inclusive of ferry from Koh Tao to Surat Thani, bus from Surat Thani to Krabi, and ferry from Krabi to Koh Phi Phi Don.

We weren't given seats but beds since it was a ten-hour overnight trip. Had it been a day trip, it would just be five hours via express boat. The water was rough and I felt the boat crashing into the waves one after the other. I have never felt so sea sick in my whole life!

For this overnight ride, passengers are given beds, not seats.
I tried to look out the window to the horizon to avoid getting dizzy but it didn't work. An American offered a mint candy and she said, "It will help". I thanked her for the offer and said I'll be fine. I put on my headphones and listened to music to take my mind off what's going on. In a few minutes, I laid down beside Shervin and finally fell asleep, triumphant practicing mind over matter.

The water was already calm by 4:00 AM when I briefly woke up. No one was awake yet from the car park of bodies so I slept for another hour. By five-ish, we docked Surat Thani.

A travel agent was waiting for us at the pier and led us to a big bus which took us to the station where tour operators regroup their passengers heading to various parts of Thailand: Krabi, Phuket, Hat Yai, and Bangkok. I was happy (that's an understatement) to be back on land. I started hating ferry rides from then on. After a quick coffee, we were on the road again, bound for Krabi.

Approaching Koh Phi Phi Don.
The land travel took three hours. But from Krabi to Ko Phi Phi Don's Ton Sai pier it's another hour and a half ferry ride. I pleaded Shervin we stay at the open upper deck. I was still dazed from the overnight boat. It was cloudy, though the sun peeked from time to time. I covered my shoulders and arms because of a mysterious rash. This rash, I was yet to discover on 'the beach'.

[This blog is part of the South East Asia in Six Weeks series which took place May-June 2009. Price of goods, transportation and so forth may already be different.]

TweetShare


This page was viewed times.