My first day on the small island of Koh Yao Noi, I was on my way to a beach for sunset, camera slung round my shoulder but as I was heading up I saw a group of locals playing football. After deliberating for about 500m I pulled a U turn on the dirt road and decided this is where im spending sunset. I pulled up next to about 14 mopeds from the 90's with the keys all sitting in their ignitions and one of the players waved me over to join in on shirts.
One thing about Koh Yao Noi that stuck with me was just how healthy everyone was, case in point this cute old aunties ankle mobility putting us all to shame.
It is a tiny island most travellers opt to miss but after extending my 4 day stay to a 3 week one and ending up working at the hostel I was staying at ('tutoring' Preeya's daughter Sarah), it ended up being my favourite place I went, not because of the beaches (not amazing in all honesty), but living at 'Island Pace,' the £1.50 dinners and my personal favourite, hearing my name shouted at by the aunties cooling off together on their porch.
That U turn just so happened to be one of my best decisions of the trip, along with the experience, I took some of my favourite photos of my whole trip.
