Different than usual, second week: KOH CHANG (part 2)

KOH CHANG

Angela: I don't like to write in I person so that He and She is used in my travelogues. HE: then 55 years old as a firefighter by profession, now retired and now 68 years old. Adventurous and sporty and a bit macho. SHE: then 54 years now 67 years fond of luxury and pampering. Studied the Thai language for 6 years at Thaibel nu Thaivlac.

Instead of half past seven, it became after eight before the driver of the van found our address. SHE was already in all states. So did the driver when he saw her suitcase.

All the backpacks had to go back from the van, after which her suitcase went in first. Result: part of the luggage had to go with the passengers. The driver's comment: “Is this the First time you travel lady”? SHE still has a lot to learn. She had bought that suitcase in Bangkok in the past and it already weighed almost 10 kilograms when empty, but then the organization arranged the luggage…

To make up for lost time, they drove irresponsibly fast because the ferry to Koh Chang had to be caught on time. The view from the boat to the nearby island is spectacular. This tropical paradise offers everything a beach lover could wish for: an azure blue sea, white beaches with powder-fine sand against a background of coconut palms and mountains with tropical rainforest.

Via the internet they had rented a bungalow near the sea at Penny's bungalow resort. The resort is located 2 km south of the busy White Sand Beach on the beautiful Hat Kai Mook Beach. HE actually wanted to stay with acquaintances who had a restaurant “the Buddha View” in Bang Bao. But as it turned out, there was no private bathroom in the room and… With all of Antwerp, but not with her.

KOH CHANG (BooDogz / Shutterstock.com)

You can't do without a moped on Koh Chang either. Routine as they already were, this was of course no problem. It was less busy here, but the roads were very steep up or down. So steep that SHE had to get off at one point because the machine couldn't get her weight uphill anymore. Walking up on foot in that heat was really not easy. SHE was therefore out of breath and sweaty from the effort. However, HE was cracking up with laughter.

To do justice to the name of the island, a jungle trip on the back of such a pachyderm could not be missed. At the time we thought this was great, but now we know that this is not recommended for the back of the elephant! Now always go to a Sanctuary where the elephants can retire peacefully.

On the island there are also some waterfalls that are worth a visit. We had the misfortune that they were not open to the public because there was not enough water during the dry season.

Third Week: BANGKOK AND SIEM REAP (Cambodia)

HE and SHE had now entered their last week. The first part they stayed in Bangkok. The transfer went smoothly this time and around 17 pm they moved into their room in the Prince Palace Hotel. This hotel is located in the Bo Bae district close to the Golden Mountain where Wat Saket is located.

As accomplished tourists, they took the water taxi here at Bo Bae Pier. An attraction in itself! Local custom requires all passengers to board and disembark simultaneously without touching each other. This takes some getting used to. Copy this art from the Thai people. Just make sure you sit on the right side before getting off at the pier. If you do not do this, you will have to climb over other people when getting out and that is not polite by Thai standards; And one last tip: BEWARE OF YOUR HEAD!!!

PANITA AMPIAN / Shutterstock.com

The ride was ideal for trekking up to the Wat Saket with its 318 steps. It was quite a climb to get to the top, but the view was worth it.

To escape the bustle and heat of Bangkok, they took a River Express Taxi to Nonthaburi in the north on the Chao Praya River. The trip took about an hour and they had cooling and sightseeing for only 10 baht. In Nonthaburi there was another typical local market where time stood still.

The days in Bangkok were full. They visited the Suan Pakkard Palace (a tip from her Thai teacher Oua), a set of six traditional Thai houses, sometimes connected by bridges, with an exhibition of all kinds of objects inside. It really was an oasis of peace between the stately buildings of Bangkok.

A trip to Lop Buri was also on the agenda. Rented a minivan with a private driver through Greenwoodtravel, SHE got her way again… They had plenty of time to visit the monkey temple. Very different from having to do this with a bus full of tourists, then you barely had twenty minutes to see everything and then hop back on the bus to a shop where the guide probably got a discount? Experienced in the past, but HE now wants to arrange everything on his own. SHE didn't feel very comfortable among all those monkeys, especially after one of them had zipped the bookmark from between her travel guide along her leg.

After a nice lunch (ahaan arohj lae sanoekmaak) the driver took us to Ayutthaya to visit several temples. However, that day was a Buddhist holiday and they could walk on heads, so to speak. The Thai people were therefore not stingy with the incense sticks!

Khao San Road (tavan150 / Shutterstock.com)

Now that SHE had to play the backpack tourist, a visit to Khao San Road could not be missed. He could enjoy his favorite dish. HE ordered Som Tam in the morning, ate it for lunch, snack and as a side dish for dinner. SHE didn't understand that he didn't have a hole in his stomach yet. SHE could properly practice her favorite hobby “shop until you drop” here, although SHE actually had no more room in her suitcase. The many night markets made it even worse. What you could buy there. Stroll, saunter and that stupid suitcase was packed. She was therefore forbidden to buy anything else.

The last days it went towards Cambodia (continued)