two European (assumption) guys. The sorngthaew featured a poster with inflated (but clearly listed) prices for a trip to each place on the island. The two girls were going further than the rest of us, so should pay more. The driver of course asked for more than the sum of the appropriate fares. I was trying to politely convey this to the girls without sounding too stingy (which I admittedly am) and was offering some low negotiating numbers to the driver. Apparently, the Europeans either didn't understand what appropriate prices should be, didn't think it important to talk to the rest of the passengers, or were most likely on a short vacation and thinking in Euros (a luxury I'm often jealous of) when they not only accepted the price the driver offered, but gave him a tip (for fleecing us?). It was all that Peter, Danthemanstan and I could do to not burst out in laughter the whole ride.Either way, we got to where we wanted, checked into a nice hotel just across the street from the path to the beach (and the 7-11!). We grabbed some beers, jumped in the water before the sun went down, and spent the evening enjoying some beers and walking along the beach (this was on January 19th-think about what you were doing then).
We started the day off experiencing what is part of the touristy island experience: getting taken advantage of practically, but not technically. This happened as we took a taxi to another town on the island to see some of the interior forests. Instead of the main street at the center of town, the taxi took us to the city limit sign and then turned around to go grab another fare. If it wasn't perfect weather and we weren't on a beautiful island, we might have minded. We didn't. On our way up to the waterfall we intended to see, we stopped to let two elephants pass. Well, elephants are pretty alluring when you come from Michigan, Iowa, North Carolina, DC, or, well anywhere in America. So we followed them and had an awesome experience taking an hour ride through the thick forest and calm ponds nearby. The fairly steep hills we rode through were gorgeously green. We continued on to the waterfall, which was quite pretty, but even more relaxing and refreshing. We swam around
amongst old Russian tourists, other backpacker-esque Westerners and young Thai couples (the main patrons of Kho Chang).In the evening we had what Sarah called in her blog a JSTU honeymoon-a delicious dinner with beachy drinks at a beachside restaurant, followed by a walk along the beach. I don't think many people were confused by our group, but maybe they thought that Sarah was from some strange branch of Mormonism where the wife gets to be polygamous.
Our third day on the island was spent in true island fashion. After sleeping in, we all headed to the beach, reading, taking dips in the water, writing postcards, and sipping beer or a fruit smoothie. Sean, Sarah, and Peter took a spin around the island on a scooter. I had already had my dose of over-turning into opposing traffic on every left turn (Thais drive the wrong way) on my motorcycle adventure in the G
olden Triangle, so stayed at the beach. Kho Chang was really pretty not just because of crystal clear water and shell laden white sand, but because from out in the water, the lush green hills of the hills in the center of the island rose right up from the water. While messing around in the water, the numerous sand dollars and a few leaf-imitating fish were entertaining enough. We grabbed dinner together for the second time at a restaurant with good food and a great atmosphere-a live band playing sweet classic rock covers. Generally I like traveling because I can see new and different things and people, but Kho Chang was a blast even as it was just straight beach vacation.
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