February 2013 marks the second time I holidayed in Thailand. On this adventure I chose a little more less "Crazy" Thai experience and took a journey to lovely Koh Chang. Koh Chang is one of the largest Thai islands and gets its name from the islands shape. Chang is the Thai word for "Elephant" and the island is shaped just like an Elephant.
Traveling to Koh Chang from Bangkok is a little different than most people's vacations. You can opt for a flight on Bangkok airways for as low as $70(one way). The flight is about 45 minutes and will take you to the city of Trat. From there you will need to source a taxi or bus to the ferry station in order to travel to the island. Total ferry trip is about 45 minutes. My good friend and I decided on a Bus ride from Bangkok to Koh Chang. For 800baht($27usd) you get a round trip ticket that will go direct from the Bangkok airport to the ferry in Trat the to Koh Chang. Suggest to find bus #392 on the 1st floor of airport. The bus trip is about 5 hours with a 30 minute stop for a simple yet delicious lunch. The bus is scheduled to leave at 7:50 am, but expect delays because they don't want to leave until they can fill the bus. We left at about 8:45 arriving at about 4:45. Once on the island the van company will drop you at centrally located areas near the beach your hotel is. I was staying on white sand beach. This is the biggest of the beaches, with the most activities like shopping and dinning very close. Once you've checked in I highly suggest renting a motorbike. Safety is a big concern because they drive on the left, Koh Chang is quite hilly and being a defensive driver is key. Motorbikes generally will cost you anywhere from 200-250baht a day(less than $10). I opted for 250baht because my bike was newer with good tires, breaks and easy to handle. While driving around I would avoid the North part of the island near the ferry, the hills are VERY steep even for experienced riders. However venturing south to the pier is a enjoyable ride with a view large hills but easy to accomplish if you stay slow and keep your wits.. Now that you've arrived enjoy yourself and let loose.
