A gorgeous Koh Lanta sunrise as seen from our property.
A landscape image of the land on Koh Lanta. This image shows about 70% of the property's beach frontage. Note the tiny person on the left for perspective.
When the tide is out, a laterite-foundation coral reef is exposed. The corner of the property is seen in the right where the retaining wall we installed ends.
Looking north along the property's beach frontage.
Another view.
And another! The gorgeous forest behind the property is actually Koh Lanta National Park and is home to some very impressive wildlife. In fact the very first animal I have seen on the property was a Slow Loris!
Another view...
Another...One of the difficult parts of this property is dealing with the gorgeous vegetation that makes up the forest on the land. While nothing is old growth by an stretch, the forest is about 60-70 years mature and his a veritable botanical garden! I hate to cut anything!
The southern end of the property.
Tide is in!
In 2005, we built a driveway. Here is our truck which just so happens to be a bit too large for an easy turn-around....bad planning...
Som and the truck!
The garden has the potential to be absolutely spectacular! And the property has been "tsunami-tested"! Yes the 2004 tsunami that did so much damage and killed so many people in Thailand also hit this beach and basically flooded the forest. But as far as I know, no one was killed on this side of the island.
The driveway after a year of neglect. But take a look at that forest!
A little sweeping and it's all good as new!
This and the following images are of the views of the land. These are wild mangroves on the beach. The waters and the reef here are part of Koh Lanta Marine Sanctuary.
The view from the property looking to the southeast toward Trang.
The views from the property are spectacular!
Our neighbor is a local fisherman. This is his boat.
Another view of his boat.
This area is filled with tons of uninhabited islands that we hope to explore in the near future.
Som searching for tiny shells to make in to jewelry.
This is the island right next to ours. Ko Kluang is a lovely, uninhabitated island that we love to kayak to and explore.
The aerial roots of our own mangrove!
We have spent by now countless hours relaxing in our hammocks on the shores of the property. The mornings and evenings are very cool with their sea breezes. This is going to be an amazing place to live.
One of the original palms that once made up a large coconut plantation back in the 1940's. We still have two of the trees on the lots but they are now surrounded by a regenerating forest.
One of our rubber trees! When these seeds fall to the ground or hit a tin roof, they make a heck of a sound!
One of the many unidentified species of flowering plants present on the lots! Like I said, this place is a veritable botanical garden!
The botanical garden. There are several spots I plan on just leaving completely alone!
One of our neighbors and best friends, "Mat". He is our unofficial caretaker of the properties. If something happens, he lets us know and we get it taken care of.
About four kilometers from the property is "Old Lanta Village", which is basically an old Chinese fishing village that was started well over 100 years ago. Here are some monks receiving some "Tam Bun" from a local. We are able to get our supplies here very easily. Virtually anything we need is available on the island.
Dad enjoying an early morning view of Old Lanta Village.
Cokie enjoying an Otto's sunset! Wow!
Som and I discovered "Otto's" many years ago when we were basically the only tourists on the island during the slow season, and Otto's was the only place open. We have now been regulars (albeit seasonal) there ever since! Otto's absolutely serves some of the best Thai food anywhere and the beachside dining cannot be surpassed.
An Otto's sunset...
Another Otto's sunset...
And another...
Som getting ready for dinner at Otto's!
Dad and Marguerite even bought some of the property on the island as well and have come to enjoy the island experience! They love Otto's too. Who wouldn't...
Hangin' at Otto's!
Hangin' at Otto's!
Our friend at Otto's.
Campfires every night at Otto's.
Our neighbor and friend, "Shadow". Shadow has a definite rastafarian persona and is a very skilled artisan. Here we are one night hangin' with Shadow.
After a few hours hangin' with Shadow, this is generally how life appears...
Cokie and Marguerite strolling the beaches of the Pimalai Resort, one of our favorite "good bread" stops on the island!
Cokie and Som walking the rocky shores of southern Koh Lanta.
At least 15-20% of Koh Lanta is still in relatively pristine mangrove forest. This makes for some great birding opportunities!
Cokie on a long-tailed boat ride through the Andaman Sea.
Cokie and Som on the long-tail.
Koh Lanta has an amazing national park that is filled with wildlife. We saw our first Colugo there!
One of the many forest giants in Koh Lanta National Park.
Our neighbors a couple km to the south are Sea Gypsies, a unique group of people who find their homes in the islands of the Andaman Sea in such places as Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Our neighborhood Sea Gypsie village.
Our neighborhood Sea Gypsie village and fishing fleet.
On a day trip with some friends!
We will have to get us one of these thangs!
I am such a lucky man...
In the "high season" the beaches are incredible.
In addition to the images that follow, log on to our Thailand Galleries:
Mammals of Thailand
Birds of Thailand
Temples and Ancient Sites of Thailand
Reptiles and Amphibians of Thailand
Lanscapes of Thailand
People of Thailand
