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Published: August 14th 2011
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KC Grand
Room with a view. Final installment of video and blog. It has been an amazing time. Thanks for joining us!!
http://www.youtube.com/user/MattSeanConnor#p/a/u/0/6eYuXc1-SIY
The journey from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Koh Chang, Thailand was meant to be an 8 hour journey including a 4 hour bus ride, an hour at the border, another 2 hours on a mini bus and then the ferry. Reality was that it was a 13-hour, scorching hot, mystery tour and ended up with us barely catching the last ferry to Koh Chang and then being overcharged by the taxi drivers on the other end because we were their last ride into town (and we really didn’t have an option by then). The long story is that the first big bus (fairly comfortable) stopped every hour for 20 minutes so that people had to get off and buy things from the restaurant we stopped at. We must admit that it is all a bit of a logistical puzzle as all of the bus loads of people from Siem Reap are heading in different directions once they cross the Thailand border. The buses (there were at least 3 when we arrived) drop all of the foreigners and we line up for 2
Sunset
From the cooking school. different ticket windows to leave Cambodia. This takes around 45 minutes. We then walk 400 metres (each carrying our large back pack, small back pack, purses (for the ladies), Matt’s Cambodian guitar, and an extra suitcase that has somehow decided to come along for the rest of the trip). This 400 metres is done in scorching heat all for the purpose of arriving at the Thailand border with 2 ticket windows receiving all of the same people that just left Cambodia. An hour in this line, we finally get to the front which allows us in the building to get into another line for another ½ an hour (but at least we are in air conditioning now). Once through Thai customs, we are taken a couple kilometers down the road where we are dropped at another restaurant. By now we are a little famished, order some food only to have the organizer tell us our mini-van for Koh Chang is departing. We quickly chow down and jump on board and begin the Indy 500 race for the next 3 ½ hours to see if we can make the ferry. All of this left us feeling somewhat tired as we arrived
Spring rolls and noodle wrapped shrimp
We made this so look out Iron Chef Sivia's. at the KC Grand on Koh Chang, unsure if we had a room as we had cancelled our week long booking the night before (because their massive ocean-side pool was under renovation). All worked out and they had a room so we put off decision making on where to stay until morning and explored the gorgeous beach. It had been a long day.
Once on Koh Chang, we had a fantastic time all week. We stayed at the KC Grand for a couple of nights (amazing rooms and incredible beach) and then switched further down the island to the Dewa so that the kids could make use of an incredible pool. We were finishing the trip by treating ourselves to nice places (these are really 4 star hotels at 2 star rates). Our time on Koh Chang flew by with some days spent enjoying the beach and ocean while others were centered more around the pool. It is a wonderful island that has enough to do without the incredible partying and commercialism that has taken over some of the southern islands (like Ko Samui and Krabi). Courtney was the one that had planned our adventures here so one day
Eating what we have created
We cooked and ate, cooked and ate, and then cooked and ate. The incredible riverside location was golden. was spent in a cooking class with Yaa from Blue Lagoon Cooking (see her webiste if you are going there- fantastic activity). Courtney had done her research and this turned out to be another highlight of the whole trip. The food that we learned to make would most certainly win some iron chef competitions (we will now take on all comers) and we were absolutely stuffed by the end. We are prepared to go “Thai” with anyone who wants to come over where we will serve you up with dishes such as Pad Thai, spring rolls, noodle wrapped shrimp, cashew chicken and more (salivating a little bit as we write this!!!).
Another day, Courtney had us snorkeling and jumping off the boat at different swimming stops. Again, this was an incredible day ($80 for the whole family including 2 big meals with huge prawns and fresh fruit). After having done a similar snorkeling trip in Vietnam 10 years ago, we had kept our expectations low in terms of how good the sea life was going to be. Well, we were blown away as we saw more than most of us have ever seen while swimming in the ocean. Not
Airborne
One of many jumps by everyone (except the Mom) at our snorkeling stops. only was the variety of fish and coral incredible but the shear number of fish was exciting as well. Marla and Trevor even spent some time watching an octopus make its way around the coral and then swim off. We felt like we were filming “Finding Nemo” and diving in the aquarium. It was an incredible day and whenever the Connor kids can jump off of something high, they are happy.
Like we have done on a lot of our vacation, we also just enjoy “being” and never grow tired of the different culture. We rented mopeds one day and proceeded to tour the island very carefully, being extremely aware that this is how many tourist ruin their holidays. The opposite side of the road was also a bit of a concern but this was only an issue during transition times (pulling on or off the road) and you just had to make sure you triple checked because your first glance down the road was invariably in the wrong direction. There are no intersections on the island (just really one road around) but it was very fun driving as the road starts at ocean level and then climbs steeply
Playing in the waterfall pool
It felt like you were in a swimming tank as you tried to swim up to the falls. over cliffed out areas only to descend just as rapidly at the next beach. We went as far as we could down one end (it is probably around 60 kilometres around the whole island but the road doesn't connect). During our moped meanderings, we took a side trip to the Klong Plu waterfall which plunges down a narrow drop-off into a pool where you can have an awesome swim. The 20 minute hike to the falls was just enough to build up a sweat that was wonderfully answered by a dip in the river. We spent the afternoon playing in the water and enjoying the sun while lying on the rocks. The "three moped gang" (either in Luang Prabang or Koh Chang) will definitely rank among the trip favourites by all.
Whether it was just walking along the beach or enjoying dinner at a table right on the beach, Koh Chang has been a fantastic place to finish our holiday. We have had an amazing stay on this wonderful island but we are ready to go home. No matter how great all of the adventures, Dorothy had it right when she said, “There is no place like home!” Thank
Dewa pool
Great time playing in this really cool pool (did the swim up bar for afternoon milkshakes). We were roughing it!! you for enjoying our journey with us this time and we are already scheming where we might go for the next adventure. This is probably the last time we go as this unit of family with the kids all getting older but we will make sure we get to continue to find ways of exploring this incredible creation of ours.
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