Return to Koh Chang - The Island Tour

Try to refrain yourselves and not make any comment regarding the colour of Suzanne's "hat" - remember the aunties.
After island hopping for ten days we came back to Koh Chang and got a bike. We then went touring the island staying here and there whenever the fancy took us.



You get to see some of the 'wilder' unvisited parts of the island when you have your own wheels.







Look at the sheer expertise of that rider, whoever it is, taking those hills and corners in his stride whilst keeping a respectful eye out for fellow road users.





Some of the smaller islands can be reached by kayak, so we did a bit of that too. We also kayaked to a pair of islands that are joined by a bridge. It was one of the daftest things we've ever done. It looked only a short distance away but it took two hours. When we got back and told the bungalow owner where we had been he was amazed, his words 'you haz bin vhere? (He's German) - but zis I cannot be believing - non oft miner guests have ever don zis'. If he knew how to say it in English he probably would have followed that with - 'Are you around ze so called heffing bend or vot?' We were both 'cream crackered' by the time we got back and the blisters had formed and burst on the way - ouch!!

More rummaging amongst the mangroves - I'm fascinated with these plants, you can see how they transform sea into land.

Elvis carefully navigating our way back to the sea through a mangrove forest.

This is a place called Zion on Long beach. For a mere 500 baht (10 pound) you get a cabin on the beach, a bit of private sand and your own dog - that's what the dog thought anyway. After we didn't feed him for an hour he got bored and went off with his mates. The conversation would have gone like this - "Alright Rex, did you get owt?" Rex:"Yes, Australian couple give me a few crisps and some chicken bones, what about you Shep?" Shep:"Naar - I've sat outside cabin 5 for an hour - tight English sods never even give me a cup of tea. I tell you it's getting rough man - rough, rough rough."

This is Salakphet and a major fishing village, we stayed a night and went to the fish restaurant on the night - beeeeyoutiful. Rusty, nee cod and all fish with heads on and bones in - I can almost see you retching!

Another sunset to keep you on your toes.

This is town on stilts, Bang Bao - we stayed here for a night in a homestay (a room in someones house) and on the night we had the biggest prawns I have ever clapped eyes on. Mini 'lomsters' to my untrained eye. Shifted the bloody lot - shells included.

Another beautiful bay around the West coast. Before any of you ask, my 'hat' is 'orange'!!

For another COT voucher (and of course a bonus one if you get it right) can anyone explain what is happening in these two pictures? Anyone who knows Elvis will know she has a strange affliction to "Things stuck on things" so quite how she ended up in this predicament is any ones guess.

Speaking of COT vouchers, we loved the guesses to the song in my mind for the guy with the European hair mountain on the heed!! Ginny, I better give you a voucher for creativeness with 'Tie a mingin door mat round yer auld cauld heed' - very good. Jenster.com not bad and Rusty, nice work changing the lyrics - but alas, you were all wrong. The song in my head (which I still can't stop singing) is a few years old and uses a sample of music from the Jacksons song "Can you feel it". The line of the song is "What are you gonna look like with a chimney on yer head". I was also thinking of another song - 'Lifting'.
So no vouchers and with time running out it looks like I won't be troubling the tea pot too much this year. By the way Jenster, I did recognise your correct answer for the rubber tree, but I'm deducting a voucher for sheer cheek.