my lovely thatched bungalow on Koh Bulon Island – Thailand
TRAVEL TALES: Living in a Thatched Bungalow
I had completely forgotten the novelty of living in a thatched bungalow. I’ve spent so many years living off-and- on in such quaint, cozy rooms around SE Asia since 1998 that I’d come to consider them just ‘standard’, ‘normal’ and ‘common’. In a word, I’d come to take them for granted.
But when I recently arrived at Koh Bulon Island, Thailand and checked myself into a charming thatched bungalow situated in a hillside garden, I was suddenly surprised to realize that it had actually been a very long time since I’d stayed in a thatched bungalow. To be exact, it had been three years!
thatched wall
Quickly I noticed all over again how very wonderful it is to live in a thatched bungalow. There’s something about being completely wrapped in all natural materials that is soothing to the eyes, body and soul.
Then there’s the novelty of having woven mat walls (!) and a grass roof. And bungalow windows usually don’t have glass. They’re simply square openings in the walls that are opened and closed by hinged window ‘doors’. And thatched bungalows usually sport a lovely wooden balcony that over-looks a garden, a beach or a bay.
Thatched bungalows are essentially cute miniature, stand-alone houses. You’ve got your very own little house and balcony set in a garden. There are no neighbors on the other side of your walls. There’s nobody living above or below you. You’re not stuck down a long hallway, a la hotel. You’ve got your own little place.
After admiring my new thatched home with great satisfaction, I returned to my earlier realization…
thatched roof
How could it be that I had not stayed in a thatched bungalow for three whole years? I’d been traveling during most of that time. Besides my one-year stint in the US, I’d traveled all over Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Java and Lombok. How could I have traveled through all those places and not stayed in any thatched bungalows?
Thinking over how that could possibly be, I realized a few more facts about thatched bungalows that I hadn’t been consciously aware of until now:
River side bungalows in Kanchanaburi Province – Thailand
1. Most of the thatched bungalows I’ve stayed in are in Thailand. Surprise! I’d never quite realized that.
2. It’s simply the fact that I’ve spent so much time traveling around Thailand since 1998 that I have stayed in so many thatched bungalows and in so many different locations.
I’ve stayed in them on Koh Chang, Koh Samet, Koh Tao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangna, Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, in Kanchanaburi Province, on the islands of Trang and Satun Provinces. Heaps of places!
3. I realized with surprise that, in fact, most other SE Asian countries don’t actually have thatched bungalows.
treehouse bungalow – Koh Samet – Thailand
Singapore, not surprisingly, doesn’t have them. Bali, Java and most places in Malaysia don’t have them either. In fact, I don’t think I came across any thatched bungalows in Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Nepal or Myanmar either.
In Malaysia a few quieter islands and beaches do have some thatched bungalows – Tioman Island and Cherating Beach come to mind. But those are the exception, not the common room style found around the country.
In Laos, Indonesia and Cambodia I’ve definitely seen many locals living in thatched homes. But I don’t recall finding them as budget accommodation options, save for one or two spots in Lombok, Indonesia.
Many SE Asian countries do have stand alone rooms and bungalows on offer. But they’re usually constructed of cement blocks, plastered walls, and/or wood. Then Bali has its very own distinctive architecture.
4. So perhaps thatched bungalows, at least in Asia, are primarily a Thai experience?
In any event, armed with my new appreciation of the novelty of the thatched bungalow experience, I’ll be here admiring my cute little hillside abode every day while staying on serene Koh Bulon Island, Thailand.
After I leave charming Koh Bulon, I hope to stay in thatched bungalows more regularly as I continue traveling the world.
QUESTIONS:
Have you ever stayed in a thatched bungalow?
If so, where? How was it?
If not, do you think you’d like it?
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
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