Koh Chang

Taking the slow train from Bangkok north to Chiang Mai had been memorable. We were glad we did it. But we felt no need to repeat the experience any time soon, especially within the same week. So we hopped a flight back to Bangkok. From there, we hired a van and a driver to transport the eight of us and our mound of backpacks five hours southeast to the port city of Trat near the Cambodian border. From there it was a one-hour ferry ride and we were on the Island of Koh Chang.

After our escapades zig-zagging across Thailand, we were ready for a few days relaxing on the beach –although as it turns out, we didn’t spend much time lying around. Koh Chang offered too much to do.

We went on a five-hour hike through the jungle and ended up at an elephant camp where we rode elephants for the second time. We rented scooters and spent an day scootering around the island. We hitched a ride to the other side of the island in the back of an open pick-up truck. We kayaked. We hiked up to and then swam in a waterfall pool. We spent a day snorkeling in the waters just off the Thai coast. And on Christmas morning we exchanged gifts on the beach under a palm tree.

One evening we had dinner at a restaurant on the beach. For the evening meal, the restaurant staff had set up chairs and tables -complete with table clothes, glassware, and candles- in the water! Granted, it was only four inches of water and the tide was going out, but it was a pretty cool effect. By the time we were seated, the water had receded, but the sand beneath our feet was not completely dry.

It was nice to finally slow down, sit, and take a load off my slightly-damp feet for an hour.