Thailand - Ko Chang and Bangkok

From Siem Reap we went to the beautiful island of Ko Chang on the north east coast of Thailand. I wanted to spend my last days on the beach in sun seeing I wouldn't be getting much of that in Seattle on my return. We found a bungalow on the beach with a very laid back atmosphere. The restaurant was scattered with hammocks and pillows instead of chairs. Every evening we had barbecued fish but the champion chef Utai. Let me describe Utai to you. He is a very tan, small Thai man of about 40 with long hair and is covered in tattoos. To top that he wears a belt of 50 carved penises everyday. They are carved by monks and considered good luck. He is a very kind man and Reid and I became friends with him fast.

Ko Chang

The restaurant at "Porn's Bungalows" (yes, I know the name is funny)

Most of our days were spent riding around the island on our rented motor bike to find different beaches. One day we went snorkeling which was beautiful, 20 meter visibility! It was a great way to end my trip, relaxed and tan.


The most beautiful beach I've ever seen, long beach .....is that Mt Tam in the background?

Long beach

Beautiful sunset

Reid left a day before me (he finally found a flight out). The next day I followed in his footsteps to Bangkok where I would fly out in 3 days. I didn't get in until the evening and knew the Canadian boys I was on the Gibbon Experience with were in town so I met up with them and a fun night out on Khaosan road (the backpacker mecca of SE Asia).

Joel, Carson, me and Luke (aka me and the Canadians) on Khaosan Rd

The next day I went to the weekend market to stock up on gifts and maybe a thing or two for myself. This market is insane! I was there for 5 hours and didn't come close to seeing all the stalls. They sold everything from fake fruit to puppies. Overwhelming yes but good to get out of the way.

Puppies at the market

My second day in Bangkok I went to a few temples and then found myself at the giant shopping mall called MBK in order to find a book (only to find out it's sold out all over Bangkok). This mall was 7 stories high and a block long. Most of the day I just wandered the streets and had a go at the public transportation.
My last day in Bangkok (today, yay I'm finally caught up!) I met up with my friend Yannick (who I was with in Vietnam and Phnom Penh). We went to the Grand Palace and 3 different temples. The architecture here is so beautiful and colorful!

Wat Phra Kaeo

Wat Phra Kaeo with the temple of the Emerald Buddha to the right (the buddha, which is actually made of jade, was discovered in the 15th century and is very sacred to the Thai people)

Grand Palace

Largest reclining Buddha in Thailand housed in Wat Phra (those spirals are the bottom of his toes)

Wat Phra

Mmmmmm, street food for lunch

Climbing the insanely steep stairs to the top of Wat Arun

At the top of Wat Arun

So here I am now, typing at an internet cafe on the streets of Bangkok, my last day of traveling for 3 months on my own. It's a mixed and confusing feeling I have. I am so excited to go home to see my friends and family, to sleep in my own bed, to be in one place for longer than 4 days, to eat cheese and drink good wine mmmmmm. But at the same time this life style has become such a part of me and I don't know how that will effect me when I return. I have learned so much about myself and met so many wonderful people. Only time will tell and you'll hear about that on my last entry in a few days......

See some of you soon!!!