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Published: February 22nd 2006
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Trat Wharf, Koh Chang in Background
Me on ferry wharf, waiting for ferry to Koh Chang Island, which you can see behind me March 27th 2005
Koh Chang, Thailand.
Well so much happens so fast and most of it will never get recorded. Ce'st la vie. But to give you a quick refresher course, this is what my last few days were:
I ended up making a very bad choice of accommodation when I got to Khao San Rd, I had known that at some point in my journeys I would be...slumming it majorly...but this was just gross, and I sincerely hope it's the worst dive I'm fated to end up in. I did actually ask to see the room and it seemed okay at first glance,I think I mentioned in previous journal, bed a little hard, but hey. But later, when I came back to sleep, oh! The smell of mold was overpowering, I don't know how I missed it earlier. I had to run out and buy a face mask like the traffic police and some other Thais wear (luckily Khao San Rd's pretty much an all-night venue, because it was about midnight), which is easily found at 7-Elevens or late-night chemists.
(Side note: this keyboard is utter crap, this journal will have many spelling mistakes from where the
"Welcome to Koh Chang"
Hollywood-syle sign welcomes those stepping off the ferry keys won't work)
But anyway, I wandered around for a while - I should mention here that Sukhumvit Rd, where I was originally, was not so bad after I stopped panicking and looked around; I still wouldn't recommend it as a good place for new visitors to Thailand who need some familiar company, but it's truly a nice place after you acclimatise to it. I did a lot of walking, as well, and it seemed that every time i walked down the main street new shops would appear. They're just all a little crammed together, and to me didn't stick out at first. But now I can see them, and there's normal stuff like Optometrists and pet shops and mini-marts and stuff. Did I mention, also, that in Bangkok there is a 7-Eleven every twenty metres or so and a Starbucks every forty...?? It's both culturally sad and, sadly, comforting.
But anyway, back to Khao San Rd. I wandered for ages and bought some locks but not much else (no room in backpack!) and eventually sat down next to a realy nice lady, don't think I caught her name or country, and later her boyfriend joined us (everybody's
already with someone! it's the pits). But I'm becoming fairly accustomed to approaching strangers! Can't be shy here!
So we got to talking and their advice amounted to, don't go to Pattaya, it's the pits, and full of old men and prostitutes. "Go to Koh Chang". So I did! I ended up choosing a travel agent (Khao San is lousy with them) which was much more expensive than the rest (550 baht return to Koh Chang, as opposed to about 300 baht) simply because there were Westerners lined up outside at the time waiting for their bus, and no others seemed that busy.
But anyway, after that I wandered aound the district for a while an after walking past the same chick about three times I stopped her and asked if she was alone and did she want some company... Brazen, yeah! So anyway we had dinner and drinks and talked and wandered and she bought stuff and we chattered until about midnight (my new favourite beditme). And as I'm walking her to her hotel, which is actually on Khao San while mine is on a street at the end of it, I latched eyes for a moment
with this pretty hunky African dude, of African-American, or whatever. We glanced behind and he and his mate were staring, had a bit of a giggle and kept walking.
But then when I left her and started back toward my hotel he approached me, and that weirded me a bit, that he'd been following us, and I just had a funny feeling, so I was nice but when he started chatting me up I let drop that I was there with my boyfriend and you could just see the reaction, it was quite funny actually, and he soon finished it up and shook my hand and off he went. But I circled around a bit before going to the room, just feeling very wary and all.
So anyway, I caught the bus the next morning and was stuck on it for seven and a half hours (was promised four and a half, and guidebooks also estimate that) because the driver was a bit of an amatuer, kept stopping and starting, going down wrong freeway, etc. Then there was a ferry over to the island, upon which I met Rosie and Katie, two London girls. Rosie had worked in
Aus for a year and we all had plenty to chat about, the usual travel stuff, and it was nice. We decided to catch a share-taxi to White Sand Beach together, but usually these taxis have about sixteen people stuffed into them (just a jeep with two rows of seats in back) and we were too late and had to get one for just ourselves and that cost 350baht which was a total rip-off.
After some unsuccessful traipsing about for a hotel we went our seperate ways (I very firmly wanted something right on beach for those prices) with an agreement to meet up at 8pm. I settled on the "Rock Sands Beach Hut" which must be the very last on the northern stretch of beach. It's absolutely lovely so far, with a room and verandah on the beach - my own sectioned-off verandah, mind you! and my own little breakfast nook table set-up on the verandah, and my own hammock and my own steps leading down to the sand. The ocean's waters lap at the shore only about 10 metres from my steps. And I have my own tiny ensuite (including proper Western toilet and not-so-proper shower), a double bed, mozzie bed net, and plenty of space for bags. All for 500baht a night, which is almost $20 AU and more than I'd planned to pay in Thailand, but still a good deal. If it were less, though, it wouldn't be lovely, it would be gorgeous! Isn't it funny how the price of something affects your enjoyment of it?
But anyway, I met up with Katie and Rosie and we drank and walked and drank and had some lovely dinner and drank and at the end stopped outside a disco-like bar and drank and listened to some nice songs get absolutely butchered with singing in badly-spoken English. Lots of laughs there.
I left at midnight with a vague plan of getting together the next evening. I wanted to wake up early and take some gorgeous photos of 'Paradise' from the balcony. But unfortunately, Paradise was overcast until about noon. So I sat there on my balcony, eating brekkie and lovely tropical shakes and listening to the resort's lovely happy tropical holiday music and the rhythm of the ocean and wondering what to do in the rain. Jealous yet?
Because then the sun came out and everything was sublime. Had a lovely nap in my hammock and a long walk along the beach and wondered idly about whether to go elephant trekking, scuba diving, or spend the day in oe of the island's spas having saunas and a massage. But instead I decided to write to you guys, as no doubt I will soon forget the details of the last few days. This place is very relaxing. So that's it for now; I think I'll do the massage and make reservations fo elephant trekking tomorrow morning.
Strangely enough, the homesickness is dissapating - for now. I wonder why?
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anonymous
non-member comment
Wow
Wow Emma, it sounds like your having a great time in Thailand! :-) I hope you stay safe during your trip and I look forward to reading more of your updates! Zach - Zach