I’ve been already there one year ago, but Royal Palace is well worth a second visit. Admission price is 250 baht for foreigners and free for Thai people. Wat Arun contains the emerald Buddha, one of the most venerated Buddha images in Thailand. In reality it’s made with huge piece of Jade.
A long travelling day. From Koh Chang to Trat, then to Cambodian border and back to Trat for the night.
Waiting to embark in the small boat.
On the minivan going from Trat to Hat Lek (1.5 hours – 110 baht).
The new bridge to Koh Kong (completed in 2002). Now it’s possible to drive to Koh Kong without need to get a boat. The fare is 11 baht. Despite being in Cambodia everything is baht driven, also because very near to the Thai border. This motorbike is of a 22 years old Cambodian guy who drove me to Koh Kong, show me a little around the small city and drove me back to the border.
He asked me 20 baht for 12 km ride, which is of course too few even to pay the gas. It’s Cambodian style to get the customer, but of course he then try to explain that his costs are higher for gasoline, renting the bike, day visa to Thailand and so on. Every day he can take care of just one customer, maybe two if he’s lucky. I gave him 200 baht that for 24 km ride and a few hours together is a fair price. He asked me why I don’t give him 300, but after he said ok for 200, didn’t complain. Actually it’s already a good price. After all he has been a good guy despite I was very suspicious about him in the beginning.
He also has the full range of products: marjuana, exctasy, prostitutes, cigarettes, alcohol and can suggest accomodation. For everything you buy he gets a small commission. He showed me a nice guesthouse room with private bathroom, fan and mosquito nets for 200 baht a night, including his 20-30 baht commission. But I decided to go back to Trat on the same day.
View of Koh Kong from roof top restaurant. No big buildings in sight and many houses are self built by locals. Many streets are untarred.
White sand beach where is my accomodation.
The sand is not really white but it’s a very nice beach and not crowded at all. Now it’s low season but I had three days of sunshine already. I’m a lucky guy.
This bungalow is only 20 meters away from the beach. It’s a very nice one for only 400 baht (around 8 euro) per day. Normally this kind accomodation sell for 800 baht per day but mine has no air conditioning (it’s broken). In this season, with the fresh sea breeze you don’t need air con, fan is enough.
And the wash basin has also an extra feature: you can wash both hands and feet at the same time!
I’m now in Koh Chang island, Thailand. The nearest city on the mainland is Trat. Trat is less than 100 km away from Cambodian border.
To reach Hat Lek, the last Thai city there is a minivan starting from Trat bus station. One way fare is 100 Baht to the border for about one hour.
[Edit: now the fare is 110 baht and it takes 1.5 hours]
Source: http://www.pattayacity.com/kohkong/overland.html
From the border it should be possible to reach Koh Kong in about 10 minutes with taxi or motorbike taxi.
Accomodation in Koh Kong:
http://www.itisnet.com/english/asia/cambodia/kkhone/e-all-kon.htm
I had a long but good bus trip, from Chang Mai to Bangkok (around 9 hours overnight, 518 baht – 10.8 euro). I arrived in Moh Chit, North Bus terminal. Normally to go to Trat you need to go to Ekkamai, Eastern Bus terminal, but I was lucky to find a bus to Trat from Moh Chit only two hours later (around 5 hours and ha half – 266 baht – 5.6 euro).
I took a Song Thaew, a modified pickup truck to carry passengers (50 baht – 1 euro for around 20 minutes), then bought boat ticket for 120 baht – 2,5 euro. Finally in Koh Chang! From the pier another Song Thaew to White Sand Beach, for 40 baht – 0,8 euro. A very long journey … from my room in Chiang Mai to the final destination it took me 20 hours.
Moh Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok. Every window sells tickets to a particular destination, so you’ve to find the right window and there are probably around a hundred of them. The destination is written on the top of the window, sometimes in Thai only. Most popular destinations have English names too. In case of problems finding the right one it’s possible to ask to any window, because they are always very helpful.
On the boat to Koh Chang.
