Brad A. Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact
Brad A. Johnson

Food & Travel

Brad A Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
    • Food Photography
    • Travel Photography
    • Restaurant Photography
    • Hotel & Resort Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact

Photo of the Week: Koh Pha Ngan, Thailand

  • April 25, 2020
  • Brad A. Johnson
This is Bottle Beach, one of the most remote beaches on the backside of Koh Pha Ngan, the island in the Gulf of Thailand where Leonardo Dicaprio’s The Beach was filmed. The island is infamous for its monthly full-moon parties, which can attract as many as 40,000 ravers at a time. Most of that insanity happens on the opposite side of the island. Bottle Beach is quiet, sleepy and cheap.

The only luxury here is exclusion. There are no cars. No motorbikes. No air-conditioning. I probably couldn’t survive here more than a few hours, but it makes for a beautiful day trip from Koh Samui. The snorkeling is great.

In March I was in the midst of planning a return trip to Thailand, including a few days back in Koh Samui, plus Bangkok and farther north across the Laos border. But then the pandemic hit, and I had to put all that planning on hold. I don’t know when we’ll ever be able to travel safely again, but that day will come. It has to. And when it does, a return to Thailand will be my top priority.

Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)
Ko Pha Ngan, Thailand (Photo by Brad A. Johnson)

For more travel inspiration and photos, I invite you to follow me and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Share
Tweet
Brad A. Johnson

Brad A. Johnson is a writer and photographer specializing in food and travel. His work has been honored by the James Beard Awards, Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards, World Food Media Awards, pdn Food Photography Awards and others. Based in Southern California, Brad currently serves as restaurant critic for the Orange County Register.

Previous Article

Photo of the Week: Isola San Giorgio (Venice), Italy

  • April 19, 2020
  • Brad A. Johnson
View Post
Next Article

The Disappearing Art and Rhythm of Chinese Tea in Hong Kong

  • April 27, 2020
  • Brad A. Johnson
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Travel: Adventure
  • Travel: Asia
  • Travel: Culinary
  • Travel: Europe

R.I.P. Crystal Cruises (Update: Returning in 2023!)

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • February 6, 2022
View Post
  • Travel: Asia
  • Travel: Culinary

Why I Travel: For the Food, But Also For the Unexpected

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • April 25, 2021
View Post
  • Travel: Asia
  • Travel: Culinary

The Disappearing Art and Rhythm of Chinese Tea in Hong Kong

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • April 27, 2020
View Post
  • Travel: Asia

Happy 10th Birthday to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands!

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • April 18, 2020
View Post
  • Travel: Asia

Photo of the Week: Langkawi, Malaysia

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • March 17, 2019
View Post
  • Travel: Adventure
  • Travel: Asia

Moveable Beast: My Trip Aboard the Maiden Flight of the A380

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • February 14, 2019
View Post
  • Travel: Asia

Photo of the Week: South China Sea

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • November 14, 2018
View Post
  • Travel: Asia

7 Random Shots of Shanghai

  • Brad A. Johnson
  • July 10, 2018
This is the new Lao restaurant in Westminster that everyone will soon be talking about. The pork sausages, the barbecue chicken thighs, the sticky rice, the khao piak (Lao chicken noodle soup)...⁠ Link in stories. 179 5
Finally got around to discovering Del Rey, a super-sexy little speakeasy and tapas bar tucked inside the estate of Villa Royale in Palm Springs. Very tasty. Very cool. More details on the blog. ⁠ 122 4
Villa Royale, Palm Springs. Really cool vibe. Quick review on the blog. Link in stories. Will definitely be back. ⁠ 120 1
A few more scenes from my annual 75 Best Places to Eat in the @ocregister. Hungry yet? ⁠ 239 3
Today's the day! My annual dining guide to the 75 Best Places to Eat in Orange County is live. (The OC Register's print subscribers will find the print supplement in tomorrow's home delivery; unfortunately, the printed version is not available on newsstands.) The ranked list is back for the first time since 2019, plus a big new twist this year. It's behind the paywall, sorry. ⁠ 355 44
#JoshuaTree #Camping #Airstream #vacation #roughingit 88 4
Brad A. Johnson
  • Blog
  • About
  • Photography
  • Writing
  • Contact
Writer. Photographer. Traveler. Restaurant Critic.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.