Koh Chang

Koh Chang (Thai for "Elephant Island") is quite a large island, hence the name. However, and typically, we saw only the short road to Aiyapura and (aside from one boat trip) we never left the resort. Back packers we're not, so if you're hoping for Russell's Rough Guide you'll be disappointed. I thought I'd be upfront about that. Our plan was to relax after stressful periods at work/uni, and we most certainly did.

Flying from Bangkok was a good choice I think. I don't like long coach rides and the small airport at Trat is nice, a collection of large thatched sheds with nice gardens around. From there we got a minibus for the ferry ride to the island. The minibus took us right to the resort, which is very close to the ferry port, maybe ten minutes drive. Maureen had gone ahead a few days eralier (by coach, ha!) with the Skyros group who were doing the full spa/yoga thing. We only wanted to drink, eat and sunbathe.

Our "Oriental Villa" was very nice, right next to the shore and adjacent to the pool/bar. On dropping our bags off we made a bee line for the pool and within five minutes we were sat with our first cocktail in the sun. Annnnnd relaxxxxx....

Key. Room 001 of course, la di da

Our villa

Regular visitor to our porch. He left when I didn't feed him.

Aiyapura is situated in a bay so we spent many happy hours watching fishermen put-putting along in their small boats. There is a small beach but neither of us particularly likes sand so we avoided it. From the lobby/restaurant area you can look down over the whole resort, which is on a fairly steep hillside. There are golf carts for the more lazy types to get around, chauffeur driven of course.

View from the lobby restaurant

Panorama by the pool

We sat at this pool bar on underwater stools and swigged cocktails.

View from the pool back up to the lobby restaurant.

Lyn studies a menu

On day three we went with M and the rest of the Skyros crowd on a boat trip to some outlying islands, for a snorkeling/beach bbq/general relaxation trip. Snorkeling was new to both of us, and we took to it like ducks to water - or at least one of us did. Eventually Lyn was persuaded to don a mask, but defiitely not flippers. When I managed to get her to take a breath through the snorkel with her face in the water she was fine, although doing that and actually swimming along at the same time was too much for her, bless. I ended up keeping hold of her hand and dragging her along, while we exchanged excited hand-gestures at each new wonder. Magic moments. At one point I fed a croissant underwater to about a hundred vividly coloured fish. They even tried nibbling my arm in their frenzy to get some french cuisine. Lyn gets up close and personal with the fish

By the way, there's one obvious problem for fair-skinned people - your back is exposed constantly and if you forget to use the old factor 30 in your eagerness to get in the water, then pain is the only outcome. Sunburn is famously old ground on this blog, and I'm not saying I got as badly cooked as last time, but definitely there was considerable discomfort that night. In fact I'm still itchy now.

One event during the boat trip was a stop for refreshments at Koh Wai, which is an island without proper power supply. It attracts hippy types as far as I can tell, and Lyn seemed keen on the idea of spending time there. I'm skeptical because, whether due to age or affluence, we tend to avoid roughing it. The place looked scruffy, was full of cats and dogs, and populated by bony people with dreadlocks who look like they smell of Patchouli oil.

Halfway through the trip we realised that Lyn's tolerance of insect bites is as low as ever. Most of the trouble was with her lower legs.....and in fact the problem got much worse later on. We're talking 50-60 bites, all turning into bruises. We think it might have been unwise to play volleyball in the grass with no shoes on.

That's about all really - I've run out of pictures so have nothing more to say. It was a lovely break and I don't rule out returning to Koh Chang some day.

A blog on my first Thai drumming lesson is imminent. Meanwhile, be good.