Ko Chang - we landed in heaven

Leaving Battambang

This time the alarm went off at 8:30, we had a good sleep. This might have been because the bed was a little softer than all the previous ones we slept in. Thai and Cambodian people seem to like really, really hard beds. We actually got down to the lobby to check out of the Royal Hotel at little after 10 am I think. I went to a store to get us some drinks, but they didn't have anything I liked (not even cold water) so I bought Lise a few cold drinks for the taxi ride. Just before we had asked for a taxi, and it would be there in 10 minutes.

The taxidriver was very friendly, no scams this time, not one! So we hit the road from Battambang to Pailin and we were curious about the road condition. We had read on line and in the guide books that the road condition was poor. Others said it wasn't that bad.

Well, we have taken that same road today. And let me tell you the true answer : it IS bad. There are huge bumps and holes. The only paved part of the road is very small, about 1/4 of the road is paved. It's not that you can't drive over it, you can! But don't expect a smooth ride, far from it. So if you take this road, put of making a maquette until you arrive.

While we were driving the driver got a call on his cell phone. We were quite surprised that it was for ... me! The driver said "Sir, for you". I took the phone and spoke to the hotel manager. He informed me that I had forgotten my passport at the hotel! My heart skipped a beatand I immediately checked. I had been so careful, all the time, everywhere! I was sure I still had it?!!

And I did ... to my relief I had both Lise's and my passport. I informed the hotel manager that I still had my passport and we continued to the Cambodian/Thai border. Lise and I felt sorry for the poor guy that left his passport in the hotel.

The ride took about 2,5 hours. That's a long time to be on such a bad road, but we arrived without a problem. By the way, the road condition didn't seem to worry the driver a bit, he kept cruising at about 45km/h, unless he really had to slow down for something. One time we hit a rock, I swear, about 3/4 of the size of a football. I saw it coming, Lise saw it coming, only the driver didn't see it coming it seems. We hit it, it was a big show, the car got quite a bang. I was thinking the tire would have blown, the wheel would have been busted or that the axle would have snapped or something. But the driver just laughed, didn't even break. The car kept driving, but I'm really very sure that the car didn't benefit from it.

As for the Khmer Rouge, we saw a few. No problems at all, since we didn't have to stop in Pailin. I felt a bit sorry for that, as I wanted the opportunity to get near a few of them, and even snap a picture. I don't know why, I think it's because I wanted to see for myself if it's true about the blank stares. The few we saw we passed too quickly to determine. They were wearing their typical clothing and their scarfs. That's about all I can say about that. I saw one women, who looked me straigt in the eye as we passed her. I saw here before we saw the Khmer Rouge guys. The look she had was one of disgust and hate. I was startled to have found the look I was looking for in a women. So now I wonder, were there women in the Khmer Rouge? I actually don't know ...

Ok so we arrived at the border, the fair for a private taxi was 35 dollars. I only had 50 but he couldn't give me change for that. So I bought a small bottle of water with 50 dollars in a nearby shop while Lise waited at the taxi, with our bags. The ldy in the shop was surprised to see a 50 dollar bill. She looked really surprised. She said "ok", took some keys and left for a while. She came back with the change, but I think she had to get it from a safe or something.

We paid the taxi driver and went to the Cambodian border. This time things went very smooth. So smooth even that I could sign for Lises's departure card while she was off to a store. We noticed a pair of foreigners sitting at the border and asked them if they were intereseted in sharing a taxi to Chantaburi (the only town to go to from the Thai border after exiting Cambodia at Pailin). They were interested. But if we wanted to do that, we'd have to wait. And they didn't know for how long. Because they sent a moto driver back to Battambang. The Royal Hotel to be precise. Because one of them had forgotten ... his passport.

The guys we met were Marek and Sebastian, two German guys who had come from Cambodia as well, and had gone to Laos before that. We waited and in the mean time got to know each other a little better. After a while Marek's passport arrived and we could leave Cambodia and entered Thailand, after filling in our arrival cards. This went very smooth as well, no problems, no scams.

Marek and sebastian were heading for Ko Chang as well, but had planned to spend a night in Chantaburi. When we told them of our plan to push on to Ko Chang right away they said they'd join us. So we took a taxi for 1600 baht from the Thai border to Chantaburi. Cheap! Because we could divide it by 2, so just 800 baht per "couple". It took a while, it started raining slightly but our bags in the back of the taxi (which was actually a pickup truck) got just a little wet. The driver stopped a few times to ask for directions. I think he didn't realize Ko Chang, or rather the ferry to Ko Chang, was that far!

Upon arrival we bought tickets for the ferry, 100 bath per person. We asked when the next ferry would leave and the ticket lady said, in a very dry fashion "now". And she wasn't lying! We went to the ferry and as we were 20 meters from it, it left ... without us. So we had to take the next one. It would leave in half an hour, but in reality, we waited an hour.

But it was worth it. As we got closer to Ko Chan the sun went down and what we saw was nothing less than beautiful. Once on the Ko Chang shore we still had to get to the Cliff Cottage. So we had to get from North to South. We took another taxi, 120 baht each. The ride took a while and we got to know the American girls who were sitting with us in the back of the taxi (again, pickup truck). It was already dark when we arrived in Bang Bao. We had found Cliff Cottage on the net, as it wasn't in any of our guides. And one site said we had to call a number from a phone at a 7/11 once we had arrived. So we did. The first time, no succes. The second time the phone rang, and an Englishman answered. He asked if we were at the 7/11, and since we were, he'd be there in 5 to 6 minutes. We took the opportunity to get some things from the 7/11. The man didn't lie, he was there rather quick! With, again, a pickup truck he took us to his guesthouse, or rather bungalows. We saw the prettiest things when we arrived ...

Cliff Cottage

It's very hard to explain in text. But Lise, the German guys and I were all speachless. There was an amazingly pretty restaurant, we saw a pier that lead to 2 platforms in the water, they were especially there for massages! How wonderful is that? So one of the next days we'll be having a massage. But there's more. The bungalow we're staying at is right at the water front, so we hear the sounds of the waves as we'll fall asleep. The restaurant overlooks the water, and the sun sets ... right in the middle of our view! And if that's not enough, imagine eating here, with a nice song in the background, and the light of the moon glistening on the small waves while you hear ... nothing else but some natural soundsin the background.

We were lucky to have found this place. The Germans thanked us, as they should! ;) It was certainly NOT a mistake to come to Ko Chang right away! I made a small video or 2 to show you, but I forgot my cardreader in our hut, so it'll have to wait until tomorrow I'm afraid. Wifi is out unfortunatly, but that's not a problem since I can hook up my eee pc with a network cable. So as I'm typing this I'm sipping on a Chang beer, inside an open cosy restaurant with the sound of the ocean right behind me ... life can't get a lot better right now.

So, for you people at home, don't worry! We're more than alright! We had a nice meal here, together with Marek and Sebastian. So our stomachs are full. Our mind is at peace here in this amazing place.

I'm going to have a shower now, Lise already did and is now reading a book while lying in the hammock outside our hut. Yes, we have our own hammock as well.

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