The more I travel, the stronger my desire to travel to “off the beaten track” places becomes. While I would never pass up an opportunity to explore a popular city or a wonder of the world, there is something so special about discovering a location that very few people have visited. Koh Mak could definitely be considered off the beaten track, as it is not a tourist destination and I might even go as far as to call it a “hidden gem.” While I found it too remote of an island to live on, it definitely left an unforgettable impression on me. How could you not fall in love with a place whose only gas station looks like this:
My husband and I spent the majority of our last day on Koh Mak island hopping in the Gulf of Thailand, but we made sure to save the remaining hours of sunlight for some sightseeing on dry land. Our first stop was to the sole Buddhist temple, which has its own Bohdi Tree and a serene oceanside location that defines the word picturesque.
Then it was off to one of the four beaches on the island to watch the sunset. So beautiful are Koh Mak’s beaches that they were included in Britain’s Sunday Times list of the “ten most beautiful beaches in the world.”
As the sun began to disappear over the horizon, we held each others hands, and talked about how it is the perfect metaphor for dreaming. It was true that our dream of managing Good Time Resort was fading into the night, but like the sun, our new dreams would rise again in the morning.
No matter how many disappointments we encountered in life we would never stop dreaming big and no matter how many times the sun is replaced by the moon it will always be there to greet us every single day. Tell me, what big dreams do you have right now?
I’ve never heard about Koh Mak but it looks so beautiful. I’d like to spend my holiday there 😀
I hope you can make it one day! 🙂
Will have to go find this hidden gem on one of my long weekends, it looks amazing! thanks for sharing your beautiful photos! much love!
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You’re sooo welcome!!! Please let me know if you stop by Koh Mak. Much love back!!!
I could take photos of Buddhas for days! Big dreams are to win the lottery so I can travel, write and blog full time!
Me too! Unfortunately, the sun was setting quickly, which means that I had time to only take a couple of quick snaps. That’s why some of my shots are blurry haha! That is an AWESOME dream!!!!
Great photos Andi. My favorite trips were all off the beaten track, spur of the moment, no cameras, no blogs, no phones 🙂
Yes mine too!!! I LOVED when we were disconnected on our honeymoon. Loved loved loved it!
i love that picture of Buddha looking into the ocean!!! so peaceful! and yay for a pic of you and lucas! it’s so hard to get pictures together while traveling! I always complain about that after a trip – it looks like we went alone!
I love that picture too! I wish I could have gotten that picture with the sunset in the background. Pobre Lucas the wind blew his shirt in that shot and it makes him look like he weighs 100 pounds more than he does. He hates the pic, but like you said it’s sooo hard to get a pic together when traveling.
Ugh, you make me want to travel to Asia SO bad!!!
GO!!!!!!!!!
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India is amaaaazing!!!
WOW what stunning pics!
Thanks Jane!
My big dream right now is my next big solo trip… either to South America or back to Southeast Asia. I know which you are voting for 🙂
SOUTH AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take me there now!
I hope you can visit soon!!!
Great pictures! I love the gas station. 🙂 I didn’t make it to Koh Mak when I was in Thailand last year and now after reading this and looking through all your pictures, I hope to make it back to the country one day so I can visit this island.
Isn’t the gas station awesome? It’s okay if you didn’t make it, because now you have an excuse to return! 🙂
Great pics!
Thanks Christian!
Andi I looooove your blog!
Awww thank you Louis!
I’ve never heard about Koh Mak. How do you get there? By the way I looooooove loooove looove your blog design and the cute cartoon image of you. 🙂
In one of my previous posts about Koh Mak I detail how you can get there. Thank you, I’m so delighted that you love my blog design!!! 🙂
You inspire me to travel to Thailand now!
That is so wonderful, you will love it!
WOW what amazing pics!!!!!!
Thanks Joy!
That sunset is SO beautiful – perfect for contemplating future dreams!
Ahhhh probably the best sunset I’ve ever seen other than Buzios!!!
Stunning photos Andi! I miss Thailand so much right now. Every time I travel, I wish I have all the time in the world to explore each places. It’s never enough for some reason.
So I am dreaming for a lot of time to travel and to never having to work 9-5. To have enough money to wander around the world 🙂
Thank you so much!!! I am in the same boat as you! That’s why I love travel blogs, because I can “escape” through them when I’m not on the road.
Beautiful! Always love reading your blog and your travel posts. I hope to go to Thailand someday.
Awww thank you so much!!!!! I hope you can make it there too dear!
Such lovely photos! I’ll echo everyone else, and say I wish I was there!
Thank you so much Sarah!
Gorgeous photos – I especially love the gas station ,haha! Always another day for more dreams – that’s what’s so great about life!
Thanks my love!!! Isn’t the gas station just awesome? Yes, life is so beautiful!!!
Oh my goodness… The sunset images… Holy moly! What an amazing place! xoxo
I will NEVER forget it!!!!!!
Que dulce vida!
Siiiiiiii!!!
Wow. Gorgeous! So special to find places like this, especially in a country with so many visitors. Love it!
I agree, very, very special!!! 🙂
Beautiful shots, Thailand must be such an intense country.
Thank you and yes intense is a great word!
Such a lovely photos, Thank you for sharing this beautiful photos and blog.
Thanks so much and you’re welcome!
Koh Mak looks gorgeous!! After reading all your posts I am sad we never made it there while we were in Thailand – I guess next time! Jess and I had no idea that you guys were in talks to manage a resort there!! That would’ve been such a great adventure. You should check out http://workingcouples.com/ – we just found out about it. There are lots of jobs like that, posted by people who own hotels / resorts and want to take a longer break from it – I think it’s a great way to do it for a while, see if it’s the right thing for you (or gain some experience for your pousada in Brazil 😉 ) XO
I have no doubt that the 2 of you will return to Thailand in the future! No one knew that we were thinking of moving to Thailand. We kept it a secret in case it didn’t work out, which as you see it didn’t. Thank you sooo much for the link. Checking it out now. You rock! Miss you both!!! XO