Koh Larn - the easiest way to visit a tropical island and not to leave Pattaya for a long time

It’s impossible to imagine a good rest in Thailand without visiting its numerous islands. But to reach such known health resorts as Koh Samet, Koh Samui and Koh Chang it is not easy. I have some posts about Koh Chang: Koh Chang Archipelago’s 52 coral Islands: Maak, Wai, Hood and Kham as residence of snorkeling and lonely hearts, The best seafood in Thai: only on Islands, Koh Chang: the Island of the grate Waterfalls, lagoons and beaches and Koh Chang Island. The long walk to Kai Bae Beach. Besides extra money this requires precious time which is never sufficient in Thailand. If you want to go to the well-known Thai resort, Koh Phuket, it’s better to take a plane. Although I know two guys who traveled from Bangkok to Kuala-Lumpur by bus. After that they promised never to get a bus. But some people can stay in Walking Street or Beach Road for weeks.
It will not take you long and a lot of effort to visit a place near Pattaya even you are very lazy and very greedy. The place is Koh Larn Island. Moreover it decorates the view of Pattaya bay and has several proper beaches with clear water. They are Ta Waen, Thong Lang, Daeng, Same, Nual and Tien beaches. The water around this island appears very attractively after the Naklua and Jomtien. For snorkeling addicts there is something to watch on the bottom. However numerous water-bikes disturb enjoyment and make us irritable. It’s better to reach the island from Laem Bali Hai Pier. It is located in two-minute walk from the southern end of the Walking Street. Everyone knows how to get to it. (Look at post: Map of Pattaya and Jomtien.) The marine passenger terminal is a charming Thai style building with a green roof. In front of it there is a small beautiful park with bright fireworks on official holidays. Opposite the park there is an open-air market where they sell fresh shrimps, crabs and other edible sea creatures of the Siam Bay.
Single tickets on the ferry boat are sold in the cashbox of the terminal and cost 20 THB. They go every hour from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to the pier. Then you have to take a taxi to the beach you have chosen. Instead of that you can buy tickets to alternative boats which will deliver you immediately to any concrete beach. This may save time and money for the trip to the island by taxi. But it’s necessary to reseat to a small boat not reaching the coast. There are no moorages on the beaches except the largest one - Ta Waen - and the sea for the ferry boat around the island is small. You need nearly 40 min for a nice sea trip to Koh Larn.
First of all you will see many Thai taxi-drivers on the island. They propose to take you to any beach. Usually it costs 20-30THB for each. The further you go away from the pier the cheaper are the prices. By the way do not forget to purchase some fruit near the pier because it is considerably more expensive on the beach. Generally the island is small and jaunt to the most distant beach will not exceed 20 min. It’s complicated to stray here. There are many guide-boards on the roads. You can have a nice walk. There is no such mad road motion as in Pattaya but there are several beautiful temples, a school and a shooting-range. It’s heavy to reach only the Same beach. The road to it crosses the highest point of the island - View Point but what a nice island view opens there! On the Northern Cape the Daeng beach is located. This (in my opinion) is the best and most beautiful beach on Koh Larn. The walk to it is pleasant and takes 15 min. You pass a village and a shooting-range.
Certainly during the daylight hours Koh Larn is deprived of solitude as most tropical islands. Prices of the fruit, drinks and the sea food are considerably higher than on Koh Phuket. But after 5 a.m. last ferry boat leaves the island. There are very few tourists who arrived on the speed boat because no one wants to pay US$100 for a short trip. At last the island becomes uninhabited. Here there are several small hotels for those who desire to stay for a night. It’s not a problem to put up a tent. You will not be so entirely isolated here as on Koh Chang Island. And it's completely safe here because long ago China tourists scared all the snakes on this island.
Sa for isolated Islands look through Tokyo hotels vs. Baiyoke Sky: it’s time to change Bangkok and Pattaya to Tokyo and Kyoto.