The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page.
— Saint Augustine
Chiang MaiKoh SamuiBangkokPhi Phi IslandsPaiKrabiAyutthayaPhuketChiang MaiKoh SamuiBangkokPhi Phi IslandsPaiKrabiAyutthayaPhuket
Koh Samui, 2024
I.The Writer

Hey, I’m Ted

I've spent the past 8 years (yes, eight!) exploring Thailand.

What started as a short vacation, turned into a life altering decision to move to paradise. And I have no regrets. Now I write blogs to help others avoid the mistakes I made along the way.

Real advice, real experience, no fluff. If you're thinking about visiting Thailand, or even making the jump yourself, you're in the right place.

TedWriter & Photographer
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60/77
Provinces visited
5,120
Monthly readers
8yr
Living in Thailand
II.The Guides

All-you-need-to-know guides — in depth, no fluff.

Field-tested · Updated for 2026 · On-the-ground tips you won’t find in guidebooks.
Koh Samui
III.By Region

One island, fully covered

For now, every guide lives on Koh Samui. The plan is to grow this map slowly, one area at a time, each covered to the same depth. No half-baked country overviews.
01
12 Guides
Koh Samui

North Coast

Bophut · Maenam · Choeng Mon

Calm shore, sunsets over Koh Pha Ngan, Fisherman’s Village in the evening. The most photogenic stretch.

02
9 Guides
Koh Samui

East Beaches

Chaweng · Lamai

Long white-sand beaches, the loudest nightlife, the biggest hotels. Best with a clear plan to escape it.

03
6 Guides
Koh Samui

South Bays

Hua Thanon · Bang Kao · Taling Ngam

Quiet fishing villages, the best Muslim-Thai food on the island, sunset views worth the drive.

04
5 Guides
Koh Samui

West & Inland

Nathon · Lipa Noi · Hin Lad waterfalls

The local side. Working ferry port, jungle waterfalls, the road most travellers never drive.

05
Soon
Koh Pha Ngan

Koh Pha Ngan

Coming late 2026

The next island in the queue. Expect the same depth of coverage as Samui — just give it time.

06
Soon
Koh Tao

Koh Tao

Coming 2027

Diving capital of the Gulf. Logged for the future once Pha Ngan is properly mapped.

1 island · dozens of guides · more coming soon!
IV. — The Reader

Three kinds of travellers

01

The planners

Travelers who prefer smart planning to luck.

You read the fine print. You’d rather know the shoulder-season trade-offs than discover them on a soaking-wet tuk-tuk.

02

Going together

Families, couples, independent travelers.

People who want comfort and clarity. Who want the good hotel but also the off-menu noodle place around the corner.

03

The curious

People who value original insight over curated ads.

You’d rather read one honest sentence than ten breathless ones.

V.Start Here

First time? Read these four, in order.

A quick-start sequence I hand every friend before they land in Samui. Thirty minutes of reading will save you a week of fumbling

01

The 14-day foundation itinerary

The route I’d take if I had to design a first trip from scratch. North, Gulf, Bangkok. No missed ferries.

22 min read
02

When to come (and when not to)

The honest month-by-month weather map. Why March is beautiful in the south and brutal in the north.

9 min read
03

Money, SIMs & the airport exit

ATMs vs. exchange booths, the Grab-vs-taxi math, and the one arrival-hall mistake everyone makes.

7 min read
04

How to eat in Thailand

The ten dishes to learn by name, the five things to never order from a cart, and where to drink the water.

14 min read
VI.The Feed

Latest blogs

New every week (i try!) · dozens in the archive
№ 412

A full day alone in a marine park

№ 411

Zeavola, revisited — is it still worth it?

№ 410

The BTS at 6am, a short love letter

№ 409

Sunday night market, minus the crowds

VII.Reference Desk

Quick numbers, kept current.

live updated · rounded, honest, not rate-gamed

Currency conversions

Last updated · April 2026

Common Thailand prices

10-min taxi80 ฿ · $3
10-min tuk-tuk100 ฿ · $3
6-hr day driver2,000 ฿ · $65
Budget room600 ฿ · $20
Mid-range hotel1,800 ฿ · $60
Luxury hotel4,000 ฿ · $130
Street-food meal50 ฿ · $2
1-hr Thai massage300 ฿ · $10
Laundry (per kg)40 ฿ · $1.30