Paradise Regained

I have found paradise, and it has taken shape in the form of Bailan Bay, Koh Chang.

On my front porch at sunset.

Yesterday was an exploration of Bangkok's public transportation system: I got up and took the #49 bus from in front of the 7-Eleven near my guest house. That took me to Hua Lamphong station, where I connected to the 'tube' and rode underground a ways to Sukumwit station, where I made yet another connection to the skytrain to get to my final Bangkokian destination, Ekamai bus station. This hodgepodge of connections was actually rather easy, impeded by my large suitcase though I was. I have to say, the tube in Bangkok is much cleaner, pleasant, and more quiet than the tube in London. My bus to Trat was five hours, and the attendant on board looked like he couldn't have been older than 13 or 14. I wondered whether he was a refugee, orphan, or something similar. I couldn't think why he wouldn't be in school at that age. He was very good at his job, nevertheless, and was constantly offering all of us drinks, snacks, or the like.

Once I got to Trat, I was dropped off at a taxi stand where I bought my ticket for the Koh Chang ferry. I should mention that at this point (3pm), all I had eaten all day was six donut holes from Dunkin' Donuts at the Ekamai bus station at 8am that morning, and I was beyond starving. I had attempted to get food at the Pattaya bus station 2 hours before, but was thwarted when the conductor re-boarded our bus, and, panicking that I would be left behind, I sprinted across the parking lot to the bus, leaving my fried rice in the wok where it was cooking and I'm sure a very annoyed chef behind me. At the taxi stand, I had to choose going to pee or getting food, and as I had had about four bottles of tea and water on the bus, peeing won out--by the time I got back to the street, they had already loaded the taxi.

The ferry to the island was quick and smooth, as I was on one of those giant car/truck ferries. I saw the other, smaller one being buffeted back and forth by the waves and was really happy that I had gotten on the big one. I took yet another taxi once landing on the island to my first choice of hotels, The Mangrove, which much to my dismay appeared closed and deserted once I arrived. It was very Canada-esque with the bungalows in the middle of the woods. I was kind of happy that it was closed (even though now I was virtually stranded with no car on this very deserted, hilly, and long road), because you couldn't see the beach from any of the houses, and that wasn't what I had wanted. Thankfully, my taxi driver had turned around somewhere up ahead, and I flagged him down as he came past again. He waved me on toward the next group of hotels, which mercifully was only 100m or so up the road. I saw Bailan Bay Beach, and that was it.

My bungalow. It's so nice and welcoming.

Inside--everything is spotlessly clean, and very stylish.

Oh yes--the view from my front doors.

(The white part is ocean, you can't see it, for some reason)

700 baht/night for air-con right on the water! I LOVE the rainy season! I have to think that these bungalows would go for 2,000/night during the high season. Not only that, but upon further exploration, I found that I have the whole place practically to myself! Only one other bungalow is occupied. AND---the food is amazing. I had paneang curry chicken last night for dinner and wow. It was good.

Above is the view from in front of my house.

Thoroughly enjoying the air-con!!!!!