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Published: April 24th 2010
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We spent the last 10 days in Burma, discovering the land of another area....and visiting a lot of temples on the way. We wanted to give "some fun" to Leslie...and us, after such a culture oriented trip. There is great diving in Burma around the Mergui archipelago, but sadly enough, as of today, you can only get there through liveaboards departing from Phuket (this trip is one on our shortening wish list). If when you read this, you are aware of some proper landbase diving operating out of Mergui, I'll be very happy to hear from you.
So this time, it's a short 4 days trip to Koh Chang and for us, continuing to explore our new home land in Thailand. There are few options to reach Ko Chang. The more expensive one is (from our home) to take a taxi to airport, a short flight from BKK to Trat, pick-up to the boat, boat and pick-up. Funny enough, if you do have your own car, driving may add around only one hour to the total trip time. But you do not really need a car on Koh Chang, so it would be a costly rental for 4 days. We
went the cheap way...only maybe adding an hour or two to the trip. Taxi to the Ekamai bus station (actually next door to where we live), 5 hours bus to Trat (or more precisely, just before Trat), pick-up, boat and than pick-up again. The trip for 3 of us is a simple 2000baht (return)...total, pretty reasonnable for the 320km(one-way) or so.
Our trip took place between the 15th to 18th April. 15th April is the last day of Songkran, the Thai Lunar New Year. Meaning...a lot of people....leaving when we are arriving! No issue for us...till we reach the road between the ferry pier and our hotel. In the opposite direction, we must have witnessed a 5-7 hours queue for people going back to the mainland just to reach the ferry....for us, no waiting time.
Another anomaly of Songkran, all the mid-range accomadations have pumped their prices to very unreasonnable level for the week...but the top-end of what you find in Koh Chang....is giving discounts to fill their rooms....the kind of "stay two nights get one free". So we ended up in the Amari. Amari is not my idea of top-end....it sits better in the "average 4 stars"
place, but for the island, this is currently one of the best on offer. Clean room, big room, nice breakfast, nice swimming pool....service on the inefficient side! But for us the place was not the main thing, as the plan is diving and snorkeling.
Koh Chang is not the Similans, I give you that. But it may soon be a nice "long week-end" place for us. The reason is simple, most dive sites are between 8-15 meters deep. Leslie is getting is Junior PADI in October...and after this, he will be allowed to dive to 12 meters...perfect for Koh Chang. Visibility was ok, nothing amazing. There is millions of sea-urchins, so be careful where you put your hands...next plenty of blue-spotted rays and eels....and a lot of school of fishes.
I tend to say...if you want to know what the diving looks like, look at the 10 best pictures on the entry. With great site, great visiblity and great sea-life...even with a louzy photographer...it will always give nice pics. If there is not much to point your camera at, the exercise become suddenly more tricky!
On our first day afternoon (after a very early start from home),
we spent some R&R at the swimming pool. This was followed by two days of diving. 4 dives...and a mix bag of sun, clouds...and the few first drop of rain for the season...with a serious 30 minutes shower! We are in Thailand at the end!
On sunday, last day of our holidays, we did more relax time next to the swimming pool before heading home. Holidays are over!
Koh chang is actually pretty nice. More buildings than I expected, but you do not have the seedy sights of big parts in Phuket. We didn't witness the mess of Phi Phi. It does actually look more like Kao Lak, but with a lot cheaper reach than if you do live in Bangkok. This is not the place to spend a week for us, neither just a week-end...but 2 or 3 nights does sound good!
At the time I write this, there is not much travel for us for the next month. Yes, you read it, not many planes, no beaches, just the pleasure of the great city in which we live. And yes, I'm like some of you looking the BBC and CNN seeing the mess in Bangkok.
We do not go to the Paragon area, or even the Silom area anymore. But living in the high numbers on Sukhumvit, there are no police here, no military...nothing. Everything is open, and the fact is with Leslie school, we may actually have felt more the effect of the volcano in Europe than the sad events happening 7km from here.
So for the next three weeks...it's going to be great family life...enjoying the sun, our home of love...and for sure trying to party a little! But don't worry, from end of May...the "travel circus" will re-open....with some serious adventures! With love from Bangkok!
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Kelsie
non-member comment
Bangkok
Hello there, since you live in Bangkok, mind if you could give me some advice? I am so bothered about the situation in Bangkok now. As I am going to Bangkok on the 25th May and kinda reluctant about it, would you mind giving me some info on my trip? I will be flying from Chiang Mai to Bangkok on that day and will be staying at the Amarin Inn guesthouse (Prasumen Road, Off Pra Athit Road). Is it safe around that area and also to the Grand Palace? Am planning to travel to Kanchanaburi and Ayuthya from Bangkok too. Would really appreciate your kind advice. Thank you :-) Kelsie (Travelling solo for the 1st time)