If there’s one thing the pandemic has taught me, it’s to stop procrastinating. the places I dreamed of visiting because I was afraid to do it alone. With this in mind, I decided to plan a solo trip to Thailand.
Thailand has been on my radar ever since I found out Thai cuisine as a teenager in my hometown of Wheaton, Illinois. There was something comforting about digging into a bowl of khao soi, tom kha soup or pad see ew – it gave me instant joy on bad days. From then on, I knew that Thailand would be the first country I would visit South East Asia.
Despite many trips over the years, there is always something exciting yet terrifying about visiting a new continent for the first time. Will I have culture shock? Am I going to get by knowing only a few words of the language? Can I manage an 18 hour flight? There was a lot to think about, but ultimately I knew traveling alone in Thailand would be an adventure and I was eager to get out of my comfort zone.
When deciding where to stay, island hopping and proximity to the beach were top priorities, so Koh Samui was an easy choice. As for my Airbnb, I wanted to be close to the action but also a place that would allow me to regroup and relax if I became overwhelmed. The bare house caught my attention. Did I mention I was traveling solo? Six bedrooms, three of them with a king-size bed, just for me? Why not! A saltwater pool at 27 degrees all year round? Yes please. To top it off, a Bluetooth sound system in the living room so I could blast my own music? Here is my credit card.
Courtesy of Airbnb
The Naked House is a 40-minute drive southwest of Samui Airport. I asked my Airbnb host to arrange an airport pick up. So when I arrived, a driver and a van were waiting for me. The house is surrounded on three sides by a nature reserve and offers panoramic ocean views. The owner, Marc Gerritsen, is an architect, designer, photographer and artist who designed the house as well as the furniture using basic materials like steel, wood, concrete and glass. There are few embellishments in the house as it is meant to focus on the space and the nature around it.
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