Koh Chang, Thailand (pics)

[PK]

Last week I decided to take break and get-away for a while. It began by picking up Ming, whose working in the cement jungle of Bangkok (a stark contrast to Nong Khai). Bangkok is no place to relax so we made plans to get out of Bangkok and go see the beautiful island of Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand.



It's about a 5 hour bus ride from Bangkok to Trat ($8) and then a 30 minute ferry ride to the island ($5). Once you're on the island you get in the back of a truck and then ride around until they stop at the place you need to go.



Neither one of us had been to Koh Chang so we just randomly chose a place that looked nice on their website. Once we got to the island we realized we made the right choice. The more popular locations (the first few stops on the island) were VERY "touristy" and crowded. Ugly is a good word for it. The place we found was a small village on the southern part of the island called Ban Bao. The entire village is on stilts above the sea and very quiet. It's incredible. Our bungalow was near the very tip of the village and it was also on stilts.





A boat at the bungalow took us to the nearest beach so Ming could try out her new swimsuit and so I could check out her in her new swimsuit.



We only spent 2 days on Koh Chang so, needless to say, we both want to go back and spend some more time there. Hopefully it won't take another 5 years to have a holiday.
pk

P.S. This topic is dedicated to pohui, the King of visual travel posts.

[Ginafish]

What a wonderful place for a vacation!

First off, awesome blue hut! It looks very relaxing, like there isn't a computer port or tv cable in sight. Nice.

Second, is that a working lighthouse? It's beautiful!

And then there is Ming. You are a hottie in the bikini!

[pohui]

P.S. This topic is dedicated to pohui, the King of visual travel posts.

Hi PK.. thanks so much for the dedication and sharing with us the wonderful sights of Koh Chang and of course, hope you guys dont have to wait that long for another vacation ..

[KitKat]

Loving the photos. Yea!! Finally, you took some time off from work! Looks like a tourist free island, great choice!
Ming, I'm happy you were able to get some time away, you look great in your blue bikini!
Pretty cool Isara Sandman with his cool sunglasses! Couldn't leave without leaving Isara on the beach? 
Thanks for the map showing the island location. 

[M3R1IN]

You picked the right place for a vacation PK and Ming.  I spent a week on Koh Chang 2 years ago just before I went back to Canada and I really enjoyed it.  Koh Chang is nice and quiet especially Ban bao, I went scuba diving from that village and it is nice and relaxed there.
Have they completed the road around the island yet?  It wasn't done last time I was there.
I'm glad you finally took some time for yourself PK, you definitely deserve it.

[thartley]

WOW!!!  That looks like the perfect place to go for a bit of down time!  How long was the ferry ride from the mainland to get you to Ban Bao?  The lighthouse is beautiful, and the room!  If a room could give out hugs, that one would be a GREAT hugger!  It just looks so relaxing with the natural woods and flowers.  I bet the night sounds were great (as long as there werent drunken crowds of people raving on the beach! haha!!)

Beautiful!  Thanks sooooo much for sharing those pics!  Ming looks like she wants to stay on that beach.  I dont blame her! 

[M3R1IN]

The ferry ride is about 25 minutes from what I remember, but it varies depending on which dock you leave from, one is longer.

[Ginafish]

I forgot mention that I love the sink, I'm just curious as to why you posted it's picture.

[ZeroG]

I suspect the pict of the sink is to show they are not in your normal resort.

Very nice spot PK & Ming!

[Ming]

Thank you everyone. It was an amazing mini vacation.(Not the bikini thing)
Bang Bao,Koh Chang is beautiful and quiet place good for relaxing. Please visit if you have a chance.
But PK is being sick, hope he feel better now.
PK's first vacation for 5 years good for him to relax himself.
Hey Pk it's only one photo of you!

[lambie83]

Nice!  I luv the houses on stilts!

[Mus.]

Good for him, first break in years and he gets sick.

[Ming]

Yes, Mus but it wasn't that bad though.
 
M3R1IN: Yes, the road are finished.

Thailand have so many Islands and they're all beautiful, a differently beautiful. Wish everyone can come to check it out.

[PK]

Just got access to the photos on Ming's phone. So here they are!




The last one is on the boat ride back home, which is obvious from the protruding bottom lip on our faces.  

[Ginafish]

Ming looks pretty even pouting. Thank you for posting more pictures, you two will have to go back soon when pk's not sick. When you go back, see if you can climb higher in that tree.

(hehe, I see my beach! Oh! And thanks to looking at all the beautiful pictures and daydreaming of a beach vacation, I have managed to boil dry my noodles for lunch. )

[pohui]

The last one is on the boat ride back home, which is obvious from the protruding bottom lip on our faces.  

Yeah.. that's always something I always try to overcome too..which is why many guys always say, "Good things never last.. " *SIGH*

[Ming]

Ginafish LoL. Thank you.

Pohui Yes,"Good things never last..  " *SIGH*