A Very Welcome Surprise!

Last Night with the Danish

October is a transitional month for us, we are moving from low to high season, so the number of customers can increase, but, as it is still busy over on the east coast of Thailand, we tend to be quiet around Full Moon.

So Full Moon was on the 13th of October and we were quiet, so we told the staff that the end of October was a good time for them to take some holiday before it starts to get really crazy. So our new receptionist Kob, was gathering all the holiday dates and waiting for just one check in that day.

Kob's message to me!

As it was an easy day, I was chilling at our house, when I suddenly get a message from Kob. "Please you come here, Please!" Now this usually means an official visit from immigration or the police, so I went straight up to reception.

I was really not expecting to see 9 Danish people, with luggage smiling at me!

Expected 2, Got 9

So it turns out our little 1 room booking was actually a 5 room booking, which would have been a crisis if we had made that mistake in a month's time, but in October it was a very pleasant surprise! We go through our high season bookings regularly to stop mistakes like this!

So suddenly we are full in the air con bungalows, breakfast is busy and the bar is full of our local expats and some charming Danish people. Our new G5 was booked for the first time since it has been upgraded and I think we did a good job, as the lady we put in that room hugged me to say thank you! 

Whilst they were only with us for 2 days, they made the most of their stay; hoping on bikes for their first day, eating at May's Kitchen (which they loved), snorkelling at the newly opened Koh Rok & Koh Haa and drinking the bar dry on their last night.

A Sad Goodbye

They were such a lovely group and we are so sad they have left already, but they have promised to come back.

Hello High Season!

Swim through Emerald Cave on the 4 Island Tour

I love the start of high season, it feels like someone just flicked a switch and bam it is here.

1. The winds are changing and the seas are calmer, meaning our beaches are cleaner and the sea bluer. The Sun is shining, there is still some rain, but it just keeps it cooler.

2. Seasonal workers are returning, to open the dive centres, tour companies, restaurants and bars. The roads are busier and everyone is putting boats into the water, cleaning and painting. 

3. There are people on the beach! even at 7am when I walk the dog! Yes there are people here all year round, but in the low season, it can feel like you have the beach to yourself.

4. But most importantly the Marine Park opens and 3 of the most popular tours are started.

Snorkel in clear, blue waters at Koh Rok

The 4 island tour, probably the most famous tour from Koh Lanta, opened on the 1st October and explores some of the islands to the South of Koh Lanta, This tour in the Low Season is unable to go to Emerald Cave, on Koh Muk, because it is closed. Emerald Cave is spectacular and the swim through it, is the only way to see a completely hidden beach. Some say this was the real inspiration for the film, 'The Beach.'

Koh Haa Lagoon

The Koh Rok & Koh Haa Snorkelling tour starts on the 15th October, when the rest of the Marine Park opens. Snorkelling in beautiful clear, blue waters and offering white sandy beaches at Koh Rok.

Dive into the Cathedral Cave at Koh Haa

Scuba Diving at Koh Haa and Hin Deang/Muang is open from the 15th October, In the Low Season we can only go to islands near Koh Phi Phi. Koh Haa (5 islands) has Caverns, Cave and swim throughs, but is a perfect location to learn to dive, because it usually has swimming pool-like conditions. More experienced divers can access the stunning underwater Cathedral. Hin Deang and Hin Muang (Red Rock and Purple Rock) are for the more experienced divers, offering much deeper waters, but the opportunity of maybe catching sight of some of our larger aquatic animals.

If you are lucky, you may see a Whaleshark!

Now is a great time to come to Lanta, because the prices are still relatively cheap and plenty of accommodation (we are sold out for New Year and much of January and February!)