Cerdo con cámara

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.