See you in 5 weeks

[bayerische]

Our internet here on Koh Chang is beyond bad, so I'll post the pics next week from Bangkok, unless things change.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Our internet here on Koh Chang is beyond bad, so I'll post the pics next week from Bangkok, unless things change.

We'll wait for them.

[bayerische]

Seems like pics may have loaded...

[bayerische]

So, we're flying Finnair as usual to Bangkok, direct flight from Helsinki. From Bangkok we continued to "Trat". Propeller driven ATR72's operation during light hours only, as the airfield owned by the airline, Bangkok Airways is very primitive. Very nice airline BTW! Try to do a warm meal for 70 passengers in 40min.

So we arrive at this rural airport (with fellow americans) in the middle of nowhere... The airport is basically a hut.

So 1 hours minibus ride, and 40min on a ferry, or heap of metal really.... And you arrive on the island of Koh Chang. Amazing place. More pics to follow. Surprisingly our internet seems to be working right now.... At midnight... Perhaps the rest of the hotel is sleeping

[bayerische]

Some more pics, showing just how chill this place is. Not exactly overrun with tourists.

[bayerische]

More pics,

Some good food (there's plenty of it)

Our village gas station/drum studio...

Local Bloomingdales.

[MonBK]

Looks very nice Andreas.

If that's tonights special laying on the beach I would go somewhere else?

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Looks very nice Andreas.

If that's tonights special laying on the beach I would go somewhere else?

The dogs here rule the beach. They're all well fed, and picky. We've been feeding them, but they only eat the good stuff!

They like to go out and chill in the cold sand once the low tide kick in.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by bayerische

The dogs here rule the beach. They're all well fed, and picky. We've been feeding them, but they only eat the good stuff!

They like to go out and chill in the cold sand once the low tide kick in.

Try this place, I hear it's pretty good.

[GerardoG]

safe travels!!!!

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Try this place, I hear it's pretty good.

[MonBK]

If you want seafood, try this one.

[Josh36912]

These photos make me miss Asia. I really need to return to Bangkok. If you get the chance Suda just off Sukhumvit does some lovely authentic food although the restaurant looks very basic. We were recommended it by a few locals and didn't regret it.

Safe travels!

[Kingair]

Originally Posted by MonBK

If you want seafood, try this one.

Must be good . . .

[bayerische]

Update coming, finally in Bangkok with a proper internet. I think we had a 2800 bits dial up at Koh Chang.

[bayerische]

OK, let's start with some more views of our Beach which was Klong Prao.





A Hippie shack of some kind. Lot's of "taking it easy" people on Koh Chang. You do see a lot of westerners who have obviously never exited the country. Perhaps they came with a one-way ticket. Most of them look like shipwrecked pirates.



Restaurants built on water, we didn't eat at these as we rather chose the simpler "Beach shacks" directly on the sand.







And the food... Amazing. Simple food done great. "Workers" food really. A few good fresh ingredients and when you know what you're doing, you bring a "Farang" into food heaven.

[bayerische]

But as always, one can not only eat one type of food... There was a great Pizza place on the beach that had an Italian guy making pizzas. I must say, best ones I've eaten outside Italy.

[bayerische]

Let's move to the Fishing village of Bang Bao. The whole village is built on stilts in the shallow waters of the bay. How some of these kids 2 years old or so playing around with no guard-railing and a 10-12 foot drop down into a few inches of water don't kill themselves is a mystery... I know Finnish kids would end up in the water.

But before we go, I need a smoke.




Your's truly. Looking like a nerd I think.


Fishing village pics, are all taken by my wife, I was shooting with my M6.


Decent sized Lure! Plenty of Finnish Rapala Lures at this Fishing shop. Nice equipment for the middle of nowhere.


Trying to look busy.


Preparing lunch at one of the restaurants in the village. We visited in the morning. About 30C though, and no wind. It was really hot at this place, and cramped.


A large kitchen, I figured it was a "communal kitchen".




Fresh catch of this morning.


Fishtanks of shellfish, fish, crabs, lobsters, mussels... Yum Yum!


An "alley".


Giant Oysters. These where as big as a grown mans hands.




A pregnant cat, and her boyfriend?


Imagine they drive their mopeds out here...


Looks sturdy...


A hotel. Although Very small!






Amazing surroundings.








More seafood!

[MonBK]

Fantastic pictures Andreas.

A question, how much is 750 in the local currency?

Trying to figure out how much the tiger P's are.

[bayerische]

About 20 euro

[bayerische]

But I doubt a Thai pays that. Farang price.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by bayerische

About 20 euro

Deliciously cheap.

[greggsiam]

Nice pics.

I might have to wander down south if I can ever get a week off.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by greggsiam

Nice pics.

I might have to wander down south if I can ever get a week off.

It's a nice quiet place indeed. Very laid back. But sadly you don't really interact/see much of locals here, as they seem to exist only to serve tourists, a bit of a bummer.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by MonBK

Deliciously cheap.

It's for half a kilo.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by bayerische

It's for half a kilo.

I see that now, then not so cheap.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by MonBK

I see that now, then not so cheap.

Yeah, exactly. The giant oysters where not so bad though, but still... But I guess they'll cook em for you too. (well hopefully not the oysters).

[Kingair]

Nice Andreas

Enjoy !

[theloxmyth]

Great pictures!

Keep 'em coming, if you please.

[tkerrmd]

Wow!! What amazing pics !! Thanks for sharing the journey!!