Ko Tao - or literally 'Turtle Island' was to be my favourite of all the Thai 'paradise' islands... Only a short 45km catamaran journey from Ko Pha-Ngan, and just 21 sq km in area, the mountainous landscape, natural beauty, ultra laid-back atmosphere and perfect diving conditions became the ultimate recovery destination post-Full Moon. After stumbling across a basic fan room bungalow for 400 Thai Baht per night in the main tourist resort of Hat Sai Ri, we made it just in time for sunset on Sairee Beach... complete with palm trees and the calm, crystal-blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Not wanting to stray too far from this paradise setting for dinner, we dined on fresh seafood and Phat thai (or 'pad thai') - fried rice noodles, beansprouts, peanuts, chillies, egg, prawns and chicken strips - sipping cocktails under the moon and twilight sky until the bar's constant looping of Celine Dion's album finally switched off...

The next morning promptly at 8:30, we were picked up by sawngthaew - (a small converted pick-up truck with 2 rows down either side) - and joined other travellers for a day-long snorkelling island tour. First stop was at 'Shark Island', located just off the Southeast coast of Ko Tao and one of the most popular dive sites in the area. I could certainly see why.... the clear waters allowed for views of the fascinating underwater world...including vividly colourful corals, orange and white angel fish and the classic Hawksbill turtle...definitely scenes out of 'Finding Nemo'. After a rather 'exotic' lunch of fried rice, salted omlette and a somewhat inedible spicy chicken-herb-chilli sauce, we docked at Nang Yuan island. 250 meters off the north west coast of Ko Tao, this island was quite the 'jewel' of the Thai Gulf...Reminding me of somewhere from the Maldives, a thin white stip of sand separated turquoise-marine blue seas brimming with soft and hard coral life, sting ray and multi-coloured fish. Having been told that climbing the few hundred steps to the viewpoint was 'unmissable' I ventured there myself in the 35 degree heat. Rightly so: the view of the islands, granite rock formations and multitude of blue waters was quite spectacular, and will remain in my memory from this country of astounding beauty.

This was certainly a brilliant way to end travelling through Thailand. Once back on Ko Tao, we booked onto the following day's epic bus journey up to our next destination - and second country - of the trip. Mysterious Cambodia awaited...