Travel to Bangkok - Koh Chang

The journey begins on 3^rd December 2005, Saturday at 11am.

Boarding the plane of Air Asia Airline, I was feeling both excited and worried. It was the first time for me on a budget airline. Surprisingly, it was quite spacious and comfortable. The seats were of leather material. What made me felt uneasy at that time was the easy access the crew has to the cockpit. The chances of someone hijacking the plane seemed quite high at that time.

I guessed I had allowed my imagination ran too wild.

Arriving at Bangkok International Airport around 3pm, we stopped by at the information counter of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, just to get a map and to find out more about Koh Chang’s weather condition. It was a relief when we heard that Koh Chang is safe to visit and the weather is good.

Just before we caught a taxi, I realized that Jo has yet to get a confirmation on our accommodation in Bangkok. After a phone call to the hotel, our worst fear came true, no reservation has been made for us. To pay the walk in cost was a no-no for us, we decided to go with our backup plan. We were more worried that my credit card will still be charged.

Picking up our bags, we headed to Khao Sarn Road in a taxi to look for a backpacker’s inn. Silently, I was enjoying this, as I have wished for this kind of backpacking experience for a long time. It seemed to be taking place now.

Khao Sarn Road is popular amongst most backpackers, especially with its cheap accommodation easily available. It is deemed unsafe amongst locals and some other tourists. Mainly because of the rowdy and drunken crowds loitering the streets around midnight. They consist mainly of the locals and as well as the tourists, mostly Caucasians. The road is cornered off in the night, vehicles not allowed to pass through it. Along the 2 sides of the road, little stalls were set up and it looked exactly like the pasar malam in Singapore, just more crowded and interesting.

Most tourists will definitely have their hair braided/drag-locked here, as its widely available here. Sitting on a small stool along the road, with a lady or two braiding your hair, yourself looking at cockroaches passing by every now and then, praying that they will not stop to sniff. Depending on the amount of one’s hair and strength of the braiders’ arms, the process usually takes 3-4 hours.

We have our hair braided the last time round, so we are giving it a pass due to our work requirements (damn!).

Heading straight into an Internet café, we needed to check on the status of our accommodation in Koh Chang as well as send a couple of emails. Engrossed with our discussion and checking our mails, we were quite irritated when we were interrupted.

“Ah noh…”

Turning our head sharply towards the voice, our head frowns.

“You not Japanese?” asked the voice again.

“No” Turning our head immediately back to the screen.

Just a nanosecond later, it struck us and both of us turned back to the voice and saw the cute face of a Japanese guy walking away.

Staring at each other “He’s so cute…” Shucks! We missed the chance of helping him and chatting with him. Throughout the trip, we couldn’t get his “Ah noh” out of our mind though we have forgotten his look completely.

So cute guys out there, never interrupt girls engrossed with a computer, one problem at a time please.

As expected, accommodation in Koh Chang has not been confirmed as well, we decided to give it another day. Walking down the street, we came to Khao Sarn Palace, the same place that Jo has stayed in previously. The price is good, 750Baht per night, about SGD20+. It comes with television, private bathroom with hot and cold shower and 2 beds. That’s all we need, since we will be out most of the time during the day.

Dumping our bags, we were soon out of the room to begin our shopping spree.

First stop, Chinatown, to have that bowl of bird nest’s soup that we have missed previously. The ones that I have previously cost 500baht for a really huge bowl, which you might have to pay probably more than SGD 100 in Singapore. Searching around Chinatown, we nearly got lost and went in circles. I was searching for a shopping complex that I have been to but to avail. I tried asking around for this restaurant to have our bird nest as I have forgotten its name. It seemed like we were in a different part of Chinatown. In the end, we decided to try a restaurant in a deserted alley of Chinatown. What tempted us in was probably our thirst, not the look of the bird nest.

Choosing the 500baht range of bird nest, we sat and waited patiently for our delicacy. My jaws nearly dropped when I saw the size of the bowl, it was the smaller than our normal rice bowl. What a waste of my money! Disappointment clouded over us as we take really small slips to savour the taste, which was surprisingly good. Jo nearly wanted to buy some bird nest back for her mom, I had to stop her as we have no experience in choosing and I did not want her to get cheated.

Second stop was at Suan Lum Night bazzar, night version of the famous Chatuchak market. We have agreed on that this time round, we will buy whatever we like and not let anything stop us. Both of us definitely do not want to come back to Singapore with regrets like before. We spent about 5 hours there, had a late dinner before continuing to comb the rest of the place. We got cheated for about more than 3 times. It was depressing but got over it real soon since we were having fun. Last stop was a foot massage which cost 250baht, last for 45 minutes instead of an hour and not as good as a foot reflexology.

Heading home, we had Phad Thai for supper. Fried rice noodles with cabbages and carrots, topped with sweet and spicy sauce and crushed peanuts. Jo as usual, has hers drowned in the sauce and covered with crushed peanuts. Not forgetting the oily but delicious spring rolls. I did not managed to finish them as I was down with flu and cough for the whole holiday.

While I was having my shower, a cockroach crawled in from the door to say hi. Shocked, I immediately ran out from the toilet and started screaming with Jo. Terrified of cockroaches, both of us were practically cursing and swearing at it, in the hope that it will die from it. Armed with her slipper and myself on the toilet bowl with the showerhead, I forced the cockroach out of its hiding place, half the time worrying that it might possess the skill to fly. Jo threw her slipper on it, I placed the dustbin on top of the slipper and smashed it down. Letting out sounds of disgust and worries, we finally killed it. Continuing with my bath, I was so full of guilt that I kept my eyes on the bin and the toilet door, worrying about it or its relatives coming out to take revenge on me.

What a night!