Second trip: Koh Chang

               
                Hello everyone! welcome back to Miami is traveling.

Second trip, here you are :)

Koh Chang, Trat 11-13 Dec 2015

Expense
Bus 20 baht
Van (round trip) 640 baht
Boat (round trip) 180 baht
Public car in the island (round trip) 160 baht
Food and beverage approximately 800 baht
Elephant ridding and feeding 600 baht
Motorbike renting 150 a day total 300 baht

Total 2700 baht

Right away to Koh Chang, Trat

First Day

       I stated with buying minivan ticket which is directly go to Koh Chang so the most important thing is that you don’t have to worry about transportation. The minivan station is at Victory Monument and it costs 320 baht from Bangkok to Ferry Pier at Koh Chang. It tooks about 6 hours!! Don’t forget to prepare your iPod cuz good music helps a lot. 

      The minivan dropped us at Public car center, then we had to take a small truck. This truck will depart every 15 minutes. It also took about 30-45 minutes to Ferry pier. The truck costs  50 baht but it is free for those who brought 320 baht ticket. Then I had to pay more 80 baht for the ferry to koh chang. It departs every 30 minutes so don’t worry that you will miss the ferry!

      After I arrived at Koh chang, there will be red truck which will send people around the island. The price it up to distance I guess? I booked a hotel by using Agoda because I was afraid hotels may fully booked. Choke Dee resort was a place I decided to stay. It was nice and breakfast is one of the most delicious food I have had so far! I arrived at the hotel about 3 pm. And it was a perfect time for checking in so I did not have to take all my stuff with me. After put all the thing at the hotel, I decided to rent a motorbike, it was better to ride around the island than waiting a red car; red car is a public transportation in this island if you cannot ride, or if you are not good at it please do not ride a motorbike by yourself, it is not EASY to ride a motorbike there, in order to go from place to place you can choose a red car instead.

People said “when you feel sad, go to sea, when you feel happy, go to sea when you have nothing to do but you have some money, go to sea” That people is me. I stated to explore Koh Chang with Kai Bae beach, this beach is only 1 km from my place, according to google. But the hardest thing was I had no idea how to go to that beach, all the way, both sides of road are full of hotels, I cannot even see sea. What I see is hotel, hotel and hotel. I must say that Kai Bae beach is not a perfect place for swimming, sun-bathing or relaxing.

Then I moved to another beach which is Lonely beach. This beach is the most popular beach in Koh Chang according to trip advisor. When I arrived there, I still had no idea how to get in to public beach. It seemed like there always be hotels along with all beach but then I decided to drop at Siam Lonely beach hotel. I waked in this hotel and then I can enjoy a beautiful white sand beach. It was a sunset time, what I see was orange and red sky with a bright blue sea. There was some people did sunbathing and also another enjoy swimming. I did not had time to swimming because first of all, I must realize that this is not a public beach, this beach is belong to the hotel and I did not stay in this hotel, so how can I enjoy swimming? Sightseeing is all I can do.

Next place was Bailan beach, this beach is situated in south part of Koh Chang, it is where time literally stop. I decided to go to lighthouse because I believed that it is where I could see the whole island but it was too hard for me to find a way then I got lost. I unintentionally went to Cliff cottage hotel; it was famous for beautiful view, and it was right this place was magical. I fell in love with this place and I thought that I could stay here, sitting on a chair and watching sunset with beautiful surrounding around myself.

It was dark very fast oh yeah now is winter. So I decided to go back because it would be very dangerous to ride a bike here in koh chang. Way back was torture and what I kept telling myself was “be careful, be careful and be careful” then I arrived at hotel safely and it was about 8 pm, dinning time!

Since there was nothing to eat near the place I stayed, so I decided to go to white sand beach which is very near and there was so many things to explore. I found 2 big stop where most of restaurants, bars or night clubs located but the most amazing thing is a night market, it was near Seashore restaurant. You can enjoy Thai street food, fresh sea food, sweets and fruit there! 

Second Day

      I stated a very bright Saturday with Ban Chang (Elephant’s House) well this place was not in my plan but I accidentally saw those beautiful creature and I knew that I need to stop and explore. There was 3 main thing you can do at Ban Chang. 1. Elephant ridding 30 minutes 500 baht. 2. Elephant bathing and ridding 1.5 hour 1500 baht and 3. Elephant feeding 50 baht per basket. If you had time I suggested to choose the second one Elephant bathing and ridding, one people may has chance to take care of one elephant, I strongly believe that this would be unforgettable experience.  After played with elephant. It was time for waterfall.

As the old plan was created, I thought that waterfall would be the first activity. There are many waterfalls you can enjoy at Koh Chang but the famous one is Klong Phu waterfall; according to rural people. Klong Phu water is the biggest waterfall here. It can guarantee that there will always has water, no matter summer, raining or winter. The way to Klong Phu waterfall was easier than I thought. But I was sure if there has a red car directly to that place or not.  The entrance ticket is 40 baht for Thai adult and 20 for children. But for foreigner 200 and 100 following. The waterfall is only 500m far away from starting point and it took about 15-20 minutes’ walk. No food allow! (Suggestion: buying popcorn so that you can enjoy feeding fishes) There are two officers who take care of people, no climbing, no shouting are the rule we need to follow.

Thing that I enjoyed the most was sunbathing on the rock! Highly recommended!

my cousin

After swam with fishes, it was perfect time for beach and I should White Sand beach for my calmly evening. White Sand beach is where we can easily enjoy public beach; I realized that if you did not stay at the hotel with beach then it was so hard to find public beach. This beach is very beautiful. Soft sand, blue sky, nice bar and beautiful view. It was actually all I want for my perfect holiday. Just on chair on the beach where I can see sea and also enjoy my novel at the same time. If you love this type of thing, White Sand beach would be your number one spot then. I had such a great time there, it was really great. If you did not book the hotel there; like me, you can rent chair; but I did not know how much or you can brought cocktail and then you can get free chair and   also table, enjoy music and pizza! The restaurant owner said there always be party at White Sand beach on Saturday night, the night you can enjoy fire show and also sea food!

                                          my mom and sister

Last Day

           I woke up early, after breakfast, I decided to swim. Luckily, Chook Dee resort has (white) sand beach too! It was a first time I tried to swim in the morning and I did love it. It was so great. It was calm, and I could enjoy my private time which was so good. Last day was pretty boring, we packed our stuff and check out the hotel around 11 am then we had to wait for the red car. The red car which is going to pier will drive around island at XX sharp, every hour, there will be one red car that is going to the pier. You need to look at the window, the will be a board “Pier” while the others red car will just drive around the island. So be careful. Moreover, you have to wait it at XX.50 in order to make sure that you won’t miss it!!

It took about 30-45 minutes from where I stayed to the pier and of course the price was 80 baht. You can choose between pay for the minivan to Bangkok or just for the ferry and then buy the ticket to Bangkok later. There are many agency near the pier and it was very easy. All in all, Koh Chang is really amazing for family vocation or even when you need a break. It is easy to go; very convenience, plus the beach is very beautiful!! I will there again for sure.