October 2023
The boat rocks gently as we pull away from the mainland dock. My wife grips my hand, excitement in her eyes. Our young son William peers over the edge, fascinated by the clear water below. We're headed to King Island, a place few tourists visit but locals know well.
The Journey Begins
Morning sun glints off the water. The mainland shrinks behind us. Our boat—little more than a wooden shell with an outboard motor—cuts through the Gulf of Thailand's waters. The captain, weathered by years at sea, navigates with practiced ease.
You feel the separation from modern Cambodia immediately. No high-rises here. No traffic noise. Just water, sky, and the distant green smudge of our destination.
"This place barely changes," my wife says, watching the horizon.
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