In Koh Tao, tourists, motobikes and ATVs rule.
Tourists arrive on the island and are confronted with multiple offers to plop down 6 dollars a day to rent a motorbike or ATV. The island is not large, the entire perimeter can be walked in one day. I am not sure why motorbikes are needed.
Farangs (tourists) who have never before ridden a motorized bike sign away their rights and hop on. The roads are poor, covered with sand and the drivers are fast. The scuba shop owner said all the bike places make their money on tourists wiping out and paying for the bike damage. The town is full of tourists with bangaded legs and ankles from moto wipeouts. There is a thriving medical clinic business to accomodate all of the scratches, scrapes and broken bones.
There is one main road through the island which at night is not lit. We walk along the road at night, back from dinners, with a headlamp on, veering to the side when we hear the motor noise, fearing for our lives from drunk motor driving tourists. Walking is our mode of choice.
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Hi you two - looks like you are having a blast! Take care!
ReplyDeleteDarby, Eric and Leif
Hi Emily and Chad!
ReplyDeleteWhat an adventure you guys have had already! Koh Tao sounds awesome. I just looked it up on Google Earth -- talk about getting away from it all! I tried to close my eyes and click my heels together to see if I could come visit. No luck.
I'm glad you guys are making all those smart decisions (walking, no motos, moving out of the crab-shack, not over-sleeping). Keep up the good work! We're all proud of you. And jealous.
You should definitely try scuba. E and I did it once many years ago and it was awesome. Beats snorkeling any day.
.. Mark