Koh Chang

Accommodation - Koh Chang

After a long bus journey and very short boat trip I arrive on Koh Chang (Elephant Island, Koh = island, Chang = Elephant). It's one of the biggest islands in Thailand but is also one of the most unique. For while it has all the usual attractions that an island should have - clear blue sea, some sun, and sprinkles of sand here and there, it also has a dense jungle which parks right up to the shoreline. Most other islands either lack this feature naturally or have been stripped bare to make way for tourist resorrts. It gives the place a very genuine feel. However, the jungle atmosphere also means one thing - mosquitos - and there are thousands of them here. My wooden beach shack is equiped with simply a bed, a fan (which is about as useless as a condom machine in the Vatican) and a mosquito net (with more holes in it than the film - "Demolition Man"!!!). Least to say - I got eaten alive most nights.

The so called "vibe" on Koh Chang is very relaxed. There are no major parties, just bars on the beach filled with hammocks of lazy travellers. As such, the few days that I spent here were filled with doing very little. Beach football with the locals and anyone else who wanted to join in was of course a big part of my day. I did however rent a motorbike with two other guys I had met on the way here, David and Marco. We soon found out however, that the few roads which intersect the islands jungle interior generally lead no-where.

The story goes - after some cemented roads and some great scenic beach views, the roads begin to appear punctured by giant potholes. Continue further and the road edges dissappear, becoming narrower and more difficult to ride. Eventually the road disappears altogether but continues on the other-side of a large river which had now dried up. Determined, the others somehow got their bikes across the river bed - weaving between huge boulders. The road on the other side then ends up as a small jungle path not made for bikes at all and we eventually give up. Note - if going to Koh Chang - just stay on the beach!!!

After a few relaxing days - I was off again!!!