Three days on the Island of Koh Chang.

The flight was very comfortable and refreshments onboard were a lot nicer than I had expected.

We were driven to the airport “terminal” by jeep and then jumped in a minibus (300 THB) for the rest of the journey to Koh Chang.

I really like the elephants made from bushes that adorned the runway.

Typically, nobody knew when the boat was going to sail, so we just stood around waiting.

After a while, seemingly because someone in charge felt like it our ferry left port.

One of the cars we lodged quite near the back of the ferry and frank commented that we could be embarking on a 2nd Herald of free enterprise.

We get our first glimpse of Koh Chang at Ao Sup Pa Rod – Pineapple Bay in English.

I had been told there was a restaurant near the port where you could catch your own fish. Unfortunately, we didn’t hang around at this end and I never got chance to visit it.

Located on the first floor, we had this spectacular view.

One evening when there was a party going on downstairs Frank and I sat out on this beautiful balcony.

I had researched the trip extensively and all of the web guides recommended having dinner on the beach.

There were loads of restaurant to choose from. In the end we couldn’t decide so just picked one at random, sat down and got stuck into some beers.

The catching up of old times began in earnest.

I had Chicken and beef, Frank had something Thai.

I thought the chefs looked pretty cool with there skirts on (not sure I would have had the courage to wear one though).

They served Fish from this traditional boat.

It was good to have my old friend Frank around, and the line about should always have a buddy, seemed poignant at that moment.

An area on the beach had 2 trees close together and a scantily clad western girl lay sunbathing there, so that everyone had to walk around here.

Frank and I commented that even in the worlds most beautiful places, there’s always a spanner around and I’m not talking about one in a workshop.

Inland a tropical rainforest which reaches quite high altitudes is illustrated in this picture.

We were staying in a hotel across the road from the beach. More expensive hotels were actually on the beach and the cheapest form of accommodation were huts.

The nightly cost of the huts varied with the facilities available.

It was the most peaceful part of the beach.

At high tide, it was just a few metres from the water.

Each room/hut had a balcony with a hammock hung up on it.

It had more character than any acclamation I saw on the island (although I’m not sure how comfortable it would have been to stay in).

Were British in the end, and knocking 40 weren’t exactly going to put on a pair of speedo’s.

A couple of beers and the usual chat about family and stuff like that.

Listening to the waves splash against the shore was a relaxing experience I don’t get to enjoy very often.

In the evening, we go out for a Curry and then visited a Bar.

There were girls in the bar, trying to strike up a conversation and worse.

Not really my thing. The sort of lead girl, asked me if I wanted to play pool. I knew from experience, it would be simpler to put all of my money into an envelope and hand it to her.

We started playing connect 4. I won the first game, then I was shocked to see that she had won the 2nd game.

She quickly realised that I was surprised and in the next few games, she played really badly.

After a quick discussion with Frank, I bet her 400 Batt, that she couldn’t beat me.

She looked a little cautious. I explained that if I won, she wouldn’t have to give me anything and that Frank would hold the money while we played.

Her expression changed. Although I’ve never seen it, I imagine, as an assassin loads a sniper rifle, he has a similar expression to the one she had.

In less than 8 moves, she had beaten me.

Chatting on the way home, the ever wise Frank explains – There are literally hundreds of thousands of Bar girls in Thailand. They don’t usually receive much of an education, but connect 4 requires intelligence.

With that number of girls, statistically, many of them could be scientists or Dr’s. I think you’ve just been beaten by one of them.

In many cases their family’s don’t know what they do, so I didn’t take any pictures.

We decided to wander along the coastal road, as it gave the best views of the Ocean.

It was possible to go on a boat trip and visit some of the Island.

From here we could see people canoeing to the Island. This must have been smart, as you would effectively have the whole island to yourself.

We stopped here for a can of coke and then continued on our way.

As we trekked we crossed various sort of vegetation and landscape.

Shops, restaurants bars all connected by wooden walkway.

I tried not to look down at the water, as rubbish was simply thrown down there and taken out with the tide

There were mattresses, nappy’s and all sorts of things there.

I wish we had more time there, I would love to have stayed in one of these.

The colour of the ocean, the colour of the sky and the salt air all combined for one of life’s special moments.

Frank calculates that a 5 hour journey to Pattaya a stopover there and then 2 hours back to Bangkok will work.

The minibus was at least air conditioned, but confusion about who was traveling and who wasn’t made it leave 90 minutes late.

Still we met some pretty cool guys from the North-east of England and had a good chat with them on the way.

We get out and sit on the viewing platform.

A last look at Koh Chang.

This was a bit different. We weren’t staying in the Woodlands this time.

We wandered around looking for somewhere cheap and ended up in some flop house called the Carlton.

Never mind it had a bath so I got cleaned up; got some sleep and we headed out for a couple of drinks.

I got this action shot of the Ocean road at night.

I had read that the place came alive at night and that was certainly true.

The usual fayre of restaurants/takeaways selling just about every type of cuisine, souvenir stalls of every kind, the usual adult entertainment and of course a couple of Irish bars which we made straight for.

He immediately caught everyone’s eye. I quickly composed myself as I have seen pickpocket distractions like this in other countries before.

I shouldn’t have worried, he had a sign saying he needed money to start a foot balling career (I thought it only took talent ?) and asked for donations.

Since his “act” was pretty good, we put 20 bat in his bucket.

Neither competitor appeared to be fighting for freedom or the love of a good woman, if you know what I mean.

That said it was entertaining. At the end of the match, their “trainer” brought the victor out and we were invited to tip him.

Minutes later he returned with the loser expecting the same treatment. My western culture has a problem with rewarding failure in this way.

I decided that since the man had been beaten like a gong for my entertainment he deserved something.

The following day we caught the bus back to Bangkok.