Koh Chang
After the New Year's Eve fireworks on Paradise Beach in Koh Kood, we ate breakfast at the resort, Cindy was blessed by some monks, and
we left the island in a speed boat. It was a beautiful trip, coasting next to a very scenic archipelago on our way to Koh Chang.
The journey to our hotel on White Sand Beach was less relaxing. Secure in the back of a pickup trick, we followed a rough dirt road
down the coast and through some serious hills - within a half mile of the beach some peaks reached 600 meters!
Soon, the blue skies and sunshine were replaced by clouds and high winds courtesy of
tropical storm Pabuk, which was pounding the southern
coast of Thailand. Even without the sun, there was plenty to do. The streets are lined with restaurants, bars, massage parlors, stores
and market stalls, while the beach is lined with resorts. We spent our time here peaking into shops, walking down the
beach, sitting by the pool, and celebrating J's birthday.
Bang Bao Pier
When we arrived in Koh Chang, we docked at Bang Bao Pier. The pier is connected to a large, covered marketplace lined with shops and restaurants displaying their live seafood in front. We chose a restaurant called Chowlay Seafood, where Cindy had previously infamously ordered a "cold towel", thinking it was some sort of cocktail. (It was not. It was a cold towel.) We ate scallops, fish bites, and oysters, which were served out of their shells, resting on a dome of ice.
Local Restaurants
We tried several of the local restaurants while in Koh Chang.
Grand View Resort - We got drinks here on our first night in Koh Chang and found that the resort name is accurate - we had a spectacular
view of the ocean.
Monkeys Bar & Restaurant - This restaurant has Thai and Western food. We tried the panang curry with seafood, which was good and spicy.
Boogie Chicken - The real name of this rotisserie chicken restaurant is Kai Mun, and it's so good that we went back
twice. Chicken, pork, rice, kale, nachos...everything was tasty.
White Elephant - Deb, John, and Tyler went to this sports bar geared toward Europeans one evening for a night cap.
Barrio Bonito - Operated by a French-Mexican couple, this restaurant serves traditional Mexican cuisine. We tried the ceviche,
guacamole, and queso fundido, all of which were delicious.