Monkey See, Monkey Do.

Male monkeys are either completely stupid or they are so used to the tourist traffic they just ignore it, often just sitting in the middle of the road whilst the traffic goes around them.

On the other hand, the females are a little more wary of human activity, especially when they are protecting their young.

And when I returned to my hotel, one of them had taken up residence next door!

The locals say that to see a monkey brings bad luck but to see a snake brings good luck. Sadly, I haven’t seen any snakes today. The locals also say that if geckos start making a noise, it’s bound to rain. They have and it hasn’t!

I got talking to the hotel’s (English) owner earlier today – an ageing, Harley Davidson riding hippie type! He told me that business is very good this year but that last year was a disaster not only for him or Koh Chang but all over Thailand. Perhaps this explains why there are a number of unfinished or empty buildings around.

This resort ‘village’ project was started (and almost finished) by some German guy who went bust in the process. It’s now up for grabs for US$50 million or thereabouts if anyone is interested!

Projects of this size are actually few and far between on this island, especially in the south where I am. Neither are there many ‘luxury’ hotels, much of the accommodation being of the lower cost bungalow type

or the beach side ‘shack’

both of which appeal to the large quantity of backpackers around here.

I get the strong feeling that this whole area was, not that long ago, a backpacker and hippie paradise ,the legacy of which still continues in some places.

Scott (my scooter, as you may recall) and I are beginning to get along nicely – but carefully. This is more than can be said of many of the scooter riders I have seen. I have lost count of the number of entire western families on a single scooter with not a helmet in sight.

And of course, you have to have the unprotected child sitting right at the front, don’t you?! Sheer madness and something, I’m sure, these lunatics would never think of doing back at home!