21. A Day That Changed The Journey
The closer we got to the islands, the more surreal everything became.
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21. A Day That Changed The Journey
Waking up after my first night in a shared hostel dorm actually felt surprisingly good.
I’d slept properly.
The room was air-conditioned, each bed had its own curtain for privacy, and despite sharing with other travellers, it was calm and relaxed.
No loud atmosphere.
No chaos.
Just a good night’s sleep after the overnight bus journey from Bangkok.
I woke up feeling refreshed.
Clear-headed.
Ready for the day ahead.
This was my first organised island tour in Thailand — the James Bond Island tour — which I’d booked the night before for around 700 baht (roughly £15 / $20).
After some of the travellers at the hostel told me about the trip, I’d gone onto YouTube and watched a few clips of the places we’d be visiting.
Even through a screen, the scenery looked incredible, so I was genuinely excited to experience it for myself.
Breakfast was simple at the hostel.
Toast and coffee.
Enough to get going before the pickup arrived between 7 and 7:30am.
I was the first one picked up that morning, and as the minibus cruised down through Ao Nang, we continued stopping at hotels and hostels along the route.
More travellers climbed aboard at every stop.
Solo travellers.
Couples.
Backpackers.
People from completely different countries, all heading towards the same experience.
The drive itself was unforgettable.
Just under two hours towards the edge of the Andaman Sea, and honestly one of the most scenic journeys I’ve ever experienced.
I sat by the window with my headphones on, music playing quietly as coastal roads, jungle landscapes, and limestone cliffs rolled past outside.
It already felt like one of those moments you remember forever.
Like another photograph added to the growing album in my head from this journey.
And more than anything, I just felt good.
Comfortable.
At ease.
Only a few days earlier, I’d experienced doubt, uncertainty, and even moments of loneliness after arriving in Thailand alone.
But now, something felt different.
There was more clarity.
I still didn’t have a full plan for my solo journey, but I was beginning to realise that maybe I didn’t need one yet.
Maybe part of travel is simply allowing yourself to move forward and see where the road takes you.
Eventually, we arrived at the pier and boarded a large longtail boat.
The sea was calm, and as we made our way through Phang Nga Bay towards James Bond Island, the scenery became even more breathtaking.
Towering limestone cliffs rising dramatically from the water.
Dense green jungle wrapped around the rocks.
Open sea stretching endlessly around us.
It honestly didn’t feel real.
The closer we got to the islands, the more surreal everything became.
Eventually, we arrived at James Bond Island itself, famous for appearing in The Man with the Golden Gun.
Yes, it was touristy.
Very touristy.
But it was still impossible not to appreciate the beauty of the place.
At one point, two German travellers asked me if I could take a photo of them.
Andre and Lukas.
We’d actually been on the same minibus all morning without speaking.
After taking the photo, they offered to take one for me too, and from there we got chatting.
They were both travelling Thailand for a month before heading home to begin graduate jobs after university.
Different journeys.
Different reasons for travelling.
But somehow, we all connected in that moment.
And from there, we spent most of the rest of the day together.
The tour continued through several islands and viewpoints before reaching Koh Panyee, the floating Muslim village built entirely over the water.
Lunch was included there, and while the food was great, one thing stood out more than anything else to me as a huge football fan:
The floating football pitch.
Seeing local kids playing football surrounded by the sea was honestly mind-blowing.
One of those simple travel moments that stays with you.
The rest of the day continued to deliver new places and unforgettable moments.
At one stop, we even had the chance to swim beneath a tropical jungle waterfall in crystal-clear water.
Another moment where I stopped and thought:
This is exactly why I wanted to travel.
By the time we made our way back to Ao Nang later that evening, I already knew the tour had been completely worth it.
Back at the hostel, I showered, relaxed by the small swimming pool for a while, and let the day sink in before heading back out to meet Andre and Lukas for dinner.
Ironically, after days of Thai food, we decided on Italian.
Pizza.
And honestly, it was incredible.
Probably the first proper Western meal I’d had since leaving home.
We spent the evening talking about travel, life back home, future plans, and the different reasons people decide to leave familiar surroundings behind.
A few beers turned into more conversations, then live music at a nearby bar.
And somewhere during that evening, the conversation shifted towards the next part of their journey.
Koh Samui.
Koh Phangan.
Koh Tao.
The Full Moon Party.
Then came the question.
“Do you want to come with us?”
And suddenly, another decision was in front of me.
I still had a couple more nights booked in Ao Nang.
They were leaving in two days.
The timings lined up perfectly.
The next morning, they planned to book transport and accommodation for the islands.
And now, I had something new to think about.
Do I continue this solo journey alone for now?
Or do I say ‘yes’ and head towards the islands with people I’d only met that same day?
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