Hello all from the sunny, tropical island of Koh Tao.
A little bit about Koh Tao
Koh Tao is small-ish island off the eastern coast of Thailand. There are two primary activities on Koh Tao. Diving and drinking (most of the time in that order). But don’t let people tell you shouldn’t come here unless you dive. We’ve found plenty to do.
Our Koh Tao Lifestyle
Clay and I are renting a fairly large bungalow near Sairee Beach. We are just up the hill, off the beach and main road. We’ve got big bedrooms and a kitchen (which is a rarity in these parts). We’ve also got the fastest internet on the island. We pay 16,000 baht (~$500 US) plus 1,200 baht for internet.
Our kitchen is pictured below. “It looks like a healthy frat had a party and left their water bottles and egg cartons strewn about,” David Walsh.
A typical day goes a little something like this:
- Wake and breakfast. 3-4 eggs and some pork belly (really thick bacon) pictured below.
- Work for 1-2 hrs on our veranda. Clay’s developing a product and I’m working on several as well as setting up a publishing company. More to come on both of our projects later.
- 30 minutes in the gym using Clay’s awesome workout program. The gym is a dream for the ‘pump’. No shirts or shoes are required and you can grunt as much as you want.
- Next is a delicious post-workout meal courtesy of Tik restaurant. We opt for the cashew nut and pork or sweet and sour pork. And it’s always accompanied by a big vegetable salad.
- More work, often in New Heaven Cafe (which has the best coffee I’ve found on the island)
- I go for a nap on the beach at some point in here.
- More work and a quick look at the sunset
- Dinner is normally a couple beef skewers from the lady right next to the 7-11 on the main road in Sairee beach.
- Join friends for drinks/food or more work until bed.
Realities
- It gets sweaty. Real sweaty. I sweat at least a little bit most of the day. Bring Icebreaker shirts.
- Mosquitos love it here. They feed on drunk tourists all day long.
- Mostly whiteys. If you’re looking for Thai culture this is not where you want to be.
- I’ve never seen more people walking around with bandages for their injuries. People get injured on scouters, step on glass, and god knows what else.
Recommendations
- Most people who stay longer term get scouters. They’re dirt cheap to rent but I’ve heard you have to be careful about scratching them or pay heavy fines.
- Smile!
+++++
Top photo courtesy of Sean Ogle and DailyHDR.com
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Glad to see that Live Uncomfortably isn’t dead after all! Third Place just isn’t the same without you guys…
Hope all is going well down there and looking forward to catching up back in the states at some point soon (ish)!
And btw, did you see the paparazzi on the beach?? I thought we were being so discreet…
Sean I think I caught a glimpse of them. One was definitely Irish. The other was big and ripped. I should have known they weren’t tourists by their lack of tan skin.
Awesome photos and sounds like an awesome daily routine down there. Wish I coulda joined all your fellas for some beach livin’, but glad you guys got to experience it!
Awesome pics of my new favourite place
. Hope you’re having a blast down there. I’ll get a Tao post up soon(ish).
Looks beautiful – and sounds like a great place to be for someone who is trying to begin a location independent lifestyle. The bungalow looks pretty comfortable for $500. Could you find something liveable a bit cheaper or is that the going price?
Thanks for sharing and stay hydrated!
You could definitely find something cheaper and liveable but you probably wont have a kitchen or internet.
Good to see you’re still alive. Cool to see some pics of where you’re living & what you’re doing…
Great post! Really enjoyed the photos. One question I have is what are food prices like on the island?
Nate -
Depends on what you eat. Most people love pad thai and can find it for super cheap. I lean more towards meat dishes and vegetable dishes.
If you’re cooking your own meals the prices in the USA (especially food from Trader Joe’s) are cheaper. But if you’re eating out, then it’s definitely a bargain.
Flat of 30 eggs in store: 120 baht – $3.75
Big veggie salad in restaurant – $1.90
Big plate of sweet & sour pork or pork cashew nut – $1.90
Delicious beef skewer on street – $1.25
Coffee 12 oz – $1.90
Sean Ogle might have a different perspective on things. Ask him as well.
Beautiful, man. I’m counting down the days…
What’s clay’s awesome workout plan?
Amazing photos btw. Will definitely (hopefully) visit someday…
Ben – I’ll give you an update on Clay’s plan here in about 2 weeks. I’ve never had better results in my life and I’ve never felt better either. It’s kick-ass. It’s incredible what you can do in 12 weeks.
Anyway, I’ll let you know soon.
hey man-
are you still on Koh Tao? I’ve been here 3 days now, diving and carrying on with a rowdy bunch of English kids.
Your blog is def. one of the reasons I’m here right now, and not getting up for work back in Las Vegas. ha!
Cheers
Derek – Nice. Can’t wait. I’ve been doing HIT once or twice a week for a while and it’s really efficient, but I’m not sure on the results. (Specifically, I follow bodybyscience.net)
Just a tip for long or short term scooter rentals and scratches. Depending where the damage is, get it fixed yourself rather then paying the outrageous fees by the rental company. (Esp since you will pay the fee and they won’t bother to fix it. Just pocket the cash.) Brand new scooter parts are cheap and the probability of replacement parts being on the island or getting sent over the next day from a bigger neighbour island is quite high. Just ask around where you can go to fix a scooter. You might spend the whole day trying to find a place with broken english, and possibly have to extend your rental period, but it’s well worth it!
First time commenting here. Wicked website Derek, I’m digging your style. I used to live on Koh Tao about 8 years ago. Interesting you point out the motorbike thing. I always see travelers with the bandaged burned leg of the tail pipe (gotta be the most common accident). Another trick you can do with motorbikes is if your staying for months before now I have bought a second-hand scooter before, can scratch it and bust it up as much as you like then sell it before you go (often not much lower than you bought it for). Although I have smashed up so many bikes that I try to avoid them now, I go on the idea that if you don’t ride the motorbikes then you can’t have an accident. I live up in Kanchanaburi and am coming down to the islands for a visit soon. I may just bump into you. Sweet Post Man, keep it up.
Koh Tao is sweet, except when these Brit 20 year old girls convinced me to drink a bucket. After puking off the side of the bar to the ocean I drove (quite drunk) on my “big bike” back to my hut and resumed barfing until I passed out.
Driving to the other side of the island and snorkeling is a blast, also up to the highest point for the panoramic views.
I’m in Medellin right now. Found you looking that up on the google. Great blog, keep it up.
Cool write up – I’ve been living on Koh Tao for some years and reckon that’s a pretty nice, succinct summary of life here. Looks like you stayed at Pi Daeng’s? They’re actually putting in their own air conditioned gym in the near future.
Oh yea – and by the way the tip about fixing your scooter prior to taking it back might not work here – the Thai’s have a cartel and call each other as soon as a rental bike turns up in one of the mechanics.
Better to not drink and drive really – especially the Sangsom buckets!!
Hey there,
So apparently we have a ton of mutual friends in the online and actual world. I wonder if I met you. I lived on Koh Tao from September ’09 to May ’10 playing live music at Lotus bar. My friend Mark Powers (powerspercussion.com) and I have been chatting about you. Let us know when you get into the USA and maybe be can fly somewhere and meet up. We can chat all things Location Independent!
Benjamin Cloyd
To me, those photos sum up Koh Tao perfectly. Beautiful place. Lovely people. Amazing food… and plenty of diving to be had!
Sunset at Fizz bar has to be my favourite time and place… ever.
500$ -was that per Week or month? Thx
@Florian – per month
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