Hello All,
This is my first installment about my recent trip to a couple of islands in Thailand.
Day one - My Thai nephew dropped me off at Don Mueang Airport for my NOK Air flight to Koh Tao (via Chumphon).
The flight was really nice, with a "NOK Kanom" (NOK Air Snack) that was prepared by the fast-food place "Auntie Ann's" (or something like that). The snack was first rate.
Landed at Chumpon (actually the airport is quite a ways from town). After I collected my luggage, I went into the terminal and immediately spotted a Thai lady holding a sign stating that NOK Air passengers transferring to Lompraya ferry needed to board a mini-bus that was right outside the exit.
Being a cautious sort, I stopped and showed the Lady my NOK air itinerary that showed the transfer and ferry ride were included in my pre-paid flight.
She assured me that the mini-bus was the correct bus. I got on board, but I did notice two other mini-buses that had Lompraya Express on their sides. They were parked way back from the exit.
At any rate, more NOK Air to Koh Tao passengers climbed on board with me and away we went.
The ride was pleasant until we were about 10 minutes from Chumpon (it was about a 30-40 minute drive). Then the Lady came over to me and tried to hand me a ticket saying that the transfer was 150 baht. I quietly, but firmly refused, stating that the transfer was included in the pre-paid airplane ticket. She insisted, saying that this was a different company. I kept repeating that I had alread paid for the transfer and would not pay again. I then asked her why she told me to get on this mini-bus, if it wasn't the one that was included in the fare?
Rather than risk losing all the "NOK passengers", she quietly tore up my "150 baht ticket" and then went around to all the other passengers. Other then me, all the other tourists paid the extra 150 baht.
Finally, the bus let everyone off at the Chumpon Train Station were there was a Lompraya ticket office. Once again, I had to keep firmly repeating that the ticket was already paid for before the girl had the ticket counter finally gave in and wrote "NOK" on her clipboard and gave me a ticket voucher.
The other passengers went through something similiar, but I don't know if they "repurchased" their tickets or not.
I was told that a bus would show up around noon, that would take us to the ferry.
I hung out at the Chumpon Train station for a bit, managed to buy a Pepsi (after some negotiation in Thai) for 25 baht (down from 40 baht).
I went to the bathroom, and the lady said 5 baht. I pointed to the sign in Thai that said 3 baht and told the lady (in Thai) 3 baht not 5 baht. She refused to give in and after arguing some more (where she held up a little white board that indicated 5 baht), I finally just shook my head sadly, and said "My pen rai" while walking away. I hoped I made her feel a little bad (although I doubt it) or at least caused her to lose the commission.
Finally, noon rolls around and we all load onto a large local bus. On the bus I met a delightful, elderly Thai lady who spoke English really well. She looked really old, but as a young girl had went to a major University in Bangkok where she learned to speak English. She really was a delight.
At the Lompraya ferry, I had to go through the same hassle to get my actual ferry ticket. The girl had the counter kept trying to get me to pay (again) for the ticket. I kept showing her the NOK paperwork that stated the ferry ticket was inclusive. Finally, (there where long lines waiting and people were getting impatient), she asked me if I had to pay a transfer fee from the airport. I answered truthfully, "NO" (although it wasn't for lack of the transfer people trying) and she wrote NOK on her clipboard and handed me my ticket (nothing is simple in Thailand, everyone you work tries to figure out how to get some extra money out of the falongs).
Finally, almost an hour late, we boarded the ferry. We then waited almost another hour as the departure kept getting delayed as they waited for more passengers.
Once the ferry was totally (Standing Room Only) full, the ferry backed out and started its high speed run to Koh Tao, almost 75km out to sea.
The trip was okay, except for the people who had their luggage on the top of the stack that was loaded on the bow. The spray from the ocean was non-stop and the top luggae was litterally soaked.
Also, the people who elected to go topside and sit in the open, no doubt suffered as the water was rough and cold for the entire trip. My advice, when taking a ferry, is always get an inside seat. You stay dry and are less subject to getting sea sick when the sea is rolling terribly.
I finally got to Koh Tao about 2 hours late, but the Big Blue Driver was waiting for me.
He had a nice song tao with seats a roof, while some of the other would-be divers had to set in the back of open pickups perched a top their luggage.
End Part One.