Island Paradise

What's cookin in Koh Tao!

08.03.2008 33 °C

I am in paradise! I spent a few days in Koh Tao "Turtle Island" snorkeling, taking a cooking class, and relaxing with a Thai massage (although it would be more relaxing if I wasn't so tickelish!).

Koh Tao is Thailand's most popular island for snorkeling an diving. On a snorkeling tour of the island, we sailed to four different points around Koh Tao. Our first stop was Shark Bay, were there were actual sharks (not dangerous though!).

The coral on the bottom of the ocean was amazing! The sea plants looked like upside down mushrooms and brains! I swam in a school of yellow and black zebra fish, and saw a huge traingle shaped one with really big whiskers.

The next day, I resgistered for a cooking course and was surprised to have my very own private lesson! A very sweet Thai woman named Pat picked me up on her motorcycle and drove me to her daughter's house where we made four Thai dishes: Pad Thai, Panang, Green Curry, and Spring Rolls (the Thai version of Grandma's cabbage rolls!).

Green Curry was a bit spicy for me but the rest of the dishes were deliciously flavourful. We cooked with fresh coconut milk, eggplant, sugarplum, and a bunch of other fresh vegetables and spices. The picture above is of chicken Panang with coconut sauce, lemongrass, and chilis. Pat loaded me up with food before I left and that night I feasted on some of the most delicious Thai food ever made!

I took a boat from Koh Tao to Koh Samui - a bigger beach with more tourists, shopping and a busy night life. On a tour of the island I saw the Big Buddha (it is really big!), a mummified monk, and a temple with very elaborate and intricate gold decoration. Along the way, we stopped for fresh coconut juice straight out of the coconut!