Day 33: Creative pursuits & goodbye to Lanta

Day 33: Farewell to Koh Lanta

Our last day in Koh Lanta was a perfect mix of reflection, relaxation, and a little creative adventure. No schooling today—just time to soak up everything this beautiful island has given us.

We began with a lazy breakfast on the beach, watching the keen joggers and swimmers while sipping our coffee and nibbling on the sweetest pineapple and juicy red watermelon. The morning sun warmed the white sand, the birds sang, and crabs scuttled about—another pinch-me moment. Snow might be battering the UK, but we couldn’t have felt further removed from it, blissfully relaxed on our beach beanbags.

But I couldn’t linger for too long. I had a mission this morning. After seeing how beautifully the girls’ batik sarongs had turned out, I knew I’d regret not making one myself. So Sienna and I set off for Saladan and Sam’s Batik Workshop.

Sam greeted us with his familiar half-smile and presented the blank white cotton, stretched taut on a wooden frame, blank, expectant, waiting for its transformation. Then came the surprise: unlike with the children’s designs, where Sam had sketched out their ideas, I had to draw my own from scratch! Armed with a pencil and postcards for inspiration, I sketched turtles, starfish, corals, a pesky sea urchin, and even a Nemo fish or two—a vibrant tribute to our three weeks in these glorious southern seas.

Several hours later, my fingers stained with dyes, my white cotton was now a riot of colour, and I had created a piece of art that will always remind me of this magical time. The next step was for Sam to set the colours, boil-wash the fabric to melt away the wax, and reveal the crisp white outlines that would make the colours pop. I’m to collect it tomorrow, and I already know it will be one of my most treasured mementos of this trip. Rarely, have I spent a more diverting 3 hours than in that workshop. Teh heat was intense, matching my focus. My clothes were dripping wet, but it was all manageable punctuated by teh odd frozen fruit shake. That was probably one of the best experiences I have undertaken in Thailand. If you ever get the chance, I urge you to do it. Pure therapy.

Dripping with sweat but feeling utterly satisfied, we grabbed a frozen fruit shake and returned to the pool. The contrast of hot skin and cool water was pure bliss. Later, I made my way back to my beanbag on the beach, had a quick swim in the calm sea, and promptly fell asleep.

The evening was a fitting end to our time here. After our showers, we all decided to have one final massage on the beach. Lying side by side, all four of us were pummelled, stretched, and soothed into a state of deep relaxation. The lapping waves, the warm breeze, and the scents of coconut oil and tiger balm created the most serene backdrop for this shared moment of calm.

Our final feast was at our favourite little restaurant. We’ve nicknamed the owners Mr and Mrs Miggins (not knowing their real names), and they welcomed us like old friends. Platters of chicken satay, vegetable tempura, red curry with seafood, noodles, salads, and rice filled the table—a true symphony of flavours.

As we packed for the next leg of our journey to Khao Sok, back to the jungle, I reflected on how much we’d experienced in these few weeks. Koh Lanta has been a place of sunshine, laughter, creativity, and tranquillity. We have made incredible memories here together, met some lovely people and tried new things.

Goodbye, Koh Lanta. You’ve been magical.