I went to Koh Chang exclusively to meet up Shirley. Koh Chang is an island placed in the south east of Thailand near Cambodia. It is a nice place to enjoy a weekend of white sand and turquoise beaches. Shirley lives there in a placed called Ban Kwan Chang Camp. She is 45 years old, barely a bit older than me, but who does it matter?, even she is also a bit fatter, taller and skin-rougher than me with her around 9 tons and 3.5 meters. However, Shirley is pretty, kind and docile. It is said that chicken-girls like her have a good memory, but I will hardly forget her and the superb hours that we shared in Koh Chang, the Elephant Island.
Many but easy ways to go there. Mine was ok. Left Ekamai bus station in Bangkok at midnight and went to Ao Trammachart ferry pier directly (500 bhats round trip), never saw Trat and Naem Ngop towns. I arrived around 5am and wait until 6am when ferries departs. From Ao Trammachart to Ao Sapparod in Koh Chang by ferry (120 bhats round trip in less than 30 minutes). From Sapparod to town depends on your place at the island. To White Sand Beach is 50 bhats between 5 to 10 minutes by a shared soanteng (truck with seats back). Hotel 400, but care that places are scare and usually booked. Finally, a visit to Shirley, 800 bhats that includes a ride and then, elephant bathing (total, around 2 hours). Mahouts are very friendly. They allow you riding on the elephant´s back head. There is lack of information about the elephants, camp and policies of conservation, but elephants seem living in good conditions. Ban Kwan Chang Elephant Camp was set up to help combat the loss of elephant´s habitat by giving retired show and logging elephants a safe and comfortable sanctuary. Ban Kwan Chang is supported by the Asian Elephant Foundation.
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
In strict, Ayutthaya is located on a small island, encircled by rivers in the central Thailand. Ayutthaya was the place where The kingndom of Siam existed from 1351 to 1767 and absorved the Kingdom of Sukothai. In 1765, Burmese armies invaded the territories of Ayutthaya destruying and burning the whole city and its art treasures. At present, the signs of this destruction are clear. Although the Burmese occupation lasted only some months, Ayutthaya could not recover. It was during this period that the budhism was a official religion in Thailand.
To go there from Bangkok, a van from Victory Monument (60 bhats). From the station walk to the right 10 minutes, even the temples and ruins are distributed in the whole island. Rent a bicycle (50 Baths). Ticket for each place is 50 Baths but a ticket for all the places is costed 220 Baths. You can go early in the morning and go back at the end of the day.
To go there from Bangkok, a van from Victory Monument (60 bhats). From the station walk to the right 10 minutes, even the temples and ruins are distributed in the whole island. Rent a bicycle (50 Baths). Ticket for each place is 50 Baths but a ticket for all the places is costed 220 Baths. You can go early in the morning and go back at the end of the day.
Sukhothai -that means "Dawn of Hapinness"- is placed on the central Thailand and it is believed that it was the first important early kingdom of Thailand. Sukhothai was established between 1238 and 1257. So when the Inca Empire was also founded by Manco Cápac.
Sukhothai was my first incursion in Thailand. I arrived very early at the city and could take shots during the sunrise. From my place in Bangkok, I went to Mo Chit MTR (22B). The I took the bus 154 to Mo Chit bus station (11B). I booked my bus ticket that departured at 11pm (around 240B). I arrived at 5:20. Too early for songthaews (truck with seats back), so I took a motorbike (100B). This because I wanted to arrived before dawn. If not, wait until 6am and take a songthaew.
Enjoy
Sukhothai was my first incursion in Thailand. I arrived very early at the city and could take shots during the sunrise. From my place in Bangkok, I went to Mo Chit MTR (22B). The I took the bus 154 to Mo Chit bus station (11B). I booked my bus ticket that departured at 11pm (around 240B). I arrived at 5:20. Too early for songthaews (truck with seats back), so I took a motorbike (100B). This because I wanted to arrived before dawn. If not, wait until 6am and take a songthaew.
Enjoy
Thailand is one of the most privileged countries that I have visited. Rich in all the senses: culture, food, history, landscapes, beaches, so on. I left Thailand with the sensation that I need a whole life to know each detail that this country offers.
Sri Lanka is a country that just recently is opening its secrets and richeness for the travellers after a cruel civil war. This album only shares -through some shoots- some pieces of these true paradises. The pics are shown as a slideshow below but you also can click in “Pieces of Paradise still Exist: Thailand and Sri Lanka”.
