Scott (my scooter) and I didn’t get on very well at first today. Going in a straight line was no problem but being a hilly island, there aren’t many straight line roads. There are, however, lots of twisty twiny bits, some of them quite narrow. That’s fine when there’s oncoming traffic but not when there’s a big articulated truck thundering towards you on a hairpin bend! Anyway, we survived and returned to the hotel in one piece.
The decor of my residence is rustic. The rooms are full of antique style furniture
and in the bathroom there’s something I’ve never seen before – a concrete bath!! Odd.
Outside, there are a lot of signs reminding guests not to encourage and feed the monkeys. Clearly this advice has been heeded as I’ve only seen two so far which is two fewer than my sightings of snakes. I am reliably informed that these are not poisonous (?) and that they just like to lie on roofs and sunbathe. I have had a thorough check of the inside of my roof to ensure there are no gaps!
This morning Scott and I explored the more remote part of Koh Chang – i.e. further south from where I am staying. Up to a point the roads were OK
but did get increasingly bumpy and potholed before ending up at this idyllic beach.
What a marvellously secluded spot. No jet skis; no banana boats; no paraglider. Just a few bungalow cottages and a couple of bars
where guests were busy doing – absolutely nothing.
Beyond my hotel going north on the west coast it’s a slightly different story. The road which is set back from the beaches is almost one continuous line of bars, market stalls, restaurants, banks, beauty salons and massage shops erected with little or no thought to the beauty of the surrounding countryside. It could be so, so different if the few planning rules that exist in this country were strictly adhered to. But they’re not. Corruption is rife and if the statistics are to be believed, getting worse. In the short term this will not substantially effect tourism here but I fear that in the long term it might if the more discerning travellers find alternative and more authentic spots to visit. There are some beautiful and exclusive resorts in Thailand but building more of these is not the answer. Better control of the mass tourist market would ensure that Thailand’s reputation for being the No 1 long haul destination remains intact.
Surprisingly, the beaches adjacent to this long, long winding road were not as crowded as I had anticipated
but I still much prefer the quiet, uncluttered solitude of the place I found this morning.
This rustic furniture in my room may look good in photos but my chair is bl**dy uncomfortable. So it’s time for a shower and off for food and watering. I’m not sure yet where I will eat but it’s not going to be anywhere near where they were preparing for cockfighting earlier.
Phileas
thelasthurrahsite 