One winter, years ago, I was sitting in the Cypress Mountain pub after a night of snowboarding, peering up at the Lonely Planet episode on TV: there was Justine Shapiro (yum) trekking through the most lusciously green landscape and passing by beautiful beaches with clear azur water. She was in Thailand. Figuring out where to go is not so easy though. Ko Chang, Ko Samui, Ko Phi Phi, Ko Tao, Koh Samet, Ko Pha Ngan - the options are some konfusing. There are dozens of beautiful places to choose and the world visits them all. The country is a must-see for every 20-something Vancouverite. I'm arriving a little late. Apparently, its also a must-see for every other nationality on the planet. The country is one, majorly over-touristed destination.
I settled on visiting Ko Lipeh, a quieter island in the south-west. The Thai people are incredibly friendly; they are renowned for their wide, genuine smiles and are very welcoming. Plus the food is great - I could eat pad thai every day - and the beaches were super. Still, this a very coupled-up country; many European couples hang out, chain smoking and doing their own thing. Not the friendliest traveling community but still fun.
