Day 19: Explore the Southern portion of Koh Tao. Snorkeled and found an amazing bar and restaurant.

I met Trevor at Blue Winds for breakfast at 10am and we talked about where we might want to go. We planned on going to the Northern and Eastern sides of the island via an ATV. After breakfast we walked around the area looking to rent an ATV and asking for recommendations from people we both casually knew. The only places we could find an ATV was a place at the Petrol station and a place about a 10 minute walk away. At the petrol station I ran into a girl from crossfit and told her our plans. She quickly told me "do NOT rent from anywhere on this four corners...they are famous for scamming people". Koh Tao is known for bad scooter rental scamming. Essentially, they rent their scooters/ATVs ridiculously cheap then make up damages when you return and refuse to return your deposit (which is your passport) until you pay up. These scams are heavily written about and spoke of so we wanted to be very careful with where we rented. So I asked her where she recommended and she said it was hard to say but she would tell me where NOT to go. Unfortunatly, where NOT to go was the next place we were headed. So we decided to keep walking and looking. We next ran into Trevors dive instructor who also told us more places NOT to rent from. Eventually Trevor and I decided we would just walk; after all, the entire Island is only 8 square miles.

Steffan had recommended a place called Banana Bar, which he says is the best bar & view on the island. Its probably about 2-3 miles away, but in very hilly and rocky paths. We pass some really great places along the way and hope that Steffan's recommended spot is better than those we are passing up. Eventually we arrive at Banana Bar and are in awe of the stick and stone treehouse structure that is jetting out over the water. I cant say that it is the BEST view on the island, but it is for sure a top contender. Unfortunately, Banana Bar doesn't serve food and we are starving after our walk. Just a few steps away is a small restaurant also on the beach, so after a drink at Banana Bar we head over.

We are seated at a cabana table on the beach and there are two small Thai children playing in the water in front us. The were probably 3 & 5, a girl and a boy. They are squeeling with joy as the catch what Trevor tells me are 'see cucumbers'. They are long black slimy cucumber shaped creatures that live on the ocean floor. They have about 20 of them on shore and wave at us and excitedly speak in Thai and then say "looky looky". The little girl picks one up and squeezes it until a orange goo comes out the bottom end and then laughs. We stayed at this beach restaurant for a couple hours and did a bit of snorkeling before walking back.

On the way back Trevor and I somehow decide that I will be called Lady Tabatha and he will be called Lord Tarquine. While walking we come across a really fancy hotel right on the beach and decide that their pool needs a visit. We sneak in, since it is clearly posted "for guests only", and go for a dip in a very posh setting. We then decide that every pool we come across on the way back needs to crashed by. The evening ends with a few more pool stops and dinner at a beachfront restaurant. Im exhausted from the sun and decide to hit the bed early.