Our First Full Day On The Island,

the adventure had begun,

 

 

and we were not even on the road yet! never having driven a automatic motorbike before I went for a spin around Paddy's Palms car park, feeling all was well we set off up hill and down dale, Diana screaming all of the way, I was not sure if it was with happiness or fright, for me I was screaming with shear terror! the roads looked bad from a mini bus, but on a bike they were even worse, but eventually we arrived at the Chinese temple,

 

 and made our way up the steps to view it,

 

 on both sides of the steps there was an elephant on each step, almost disappearing into infinity,

 as we climbed the steps the by now familiar sound of a lorry struggling up the hill took our attention,

 and it was struggling, a full load of concrete slabs,

 reaching the top of the steps the shrine in front of the temple looked stunning in the early morning sun,

 the temple was just as ornate,

 but the shrine with it's spire at the side of it was just so colourful to look at,

 

 it's ornate dragons seemingly protecting it from all 4 corners,

 plus the ones on top of it,

 looking closer there were 2 on top as well,

 

 plus even more climbing up the 4 supporting columns,

 a real riot of colour,

 on to the temple itself,
 

guarded by elephants,

 

at the rear of the temple there was a cut away,

 

with small elephants and other animals all the way up it,

 

at the side of the main temple,

another dragon was making it's way out of the wall,

 

but then back to the shrine,

we started to make our way back,

when looking behind us we looked at the main temple roof,

 

and spotted this horse like dragon,

 

but there was one thing we had to do before we left, a few coins into one of the bowls the elephants were guarding,

on both side of the temple, some from me,

and some from Diana,

lets hope they bring us both some luck,

 

then for both of us,

 

back down to the bike,

 

I was surprised how easy the bike was to drive,

and so smooth,

next port of call a local view point,

looking over the coral islands we visited last week,

 

looking at this one,

I noticed a boat steaming behind it,

 

but as I zoomed in I realised it was not steaming,

it was at anchor,

naturally we had to have a few pictures taken,

of Diana,

and of myself,

 

one more of Diana,

 

then I had to take a shot in panorama mode,

 

we then took a walk to the next viewing level,

looking down to where we just were,

and this is the view point,

 

after looking at this,

 

I took a walk further up the hill but there was not much more to see,

so I joined Diana at the lower level,

 

being interested in stamps I had to take a picture of the Koh Chang post boxes,

before leaving,

we decided to have a coffee,

 

walking back across the car park,

we sat at one of the benches to drink our coffee,

next stop down to the coast to one of the beaches in Kai Bae,

I am not sure which one this is,

but although at high tide there was not much sand,

 

it certainly looked very pretty,

imagine sitting here watching the sun go down,

a view from the jetty in the last picture,

 

lost and confused? never we have a map!

which took us to this beach,

again we are not sure what it is,

but if you arrive at Treetop Adventure park,

it is next door,

looking at the jungle walk ways we decided to give this treat a miss,

but when we arrived,

there were a few intrepid jungle walkers,

or swingers giving the ropes a try,

 

but for us we were happier with a tea for two on the beach,

with a nice view along the beach,

to one of the many private resorts,

if I thought it was bad getting here,

 

getting back,

was even worse,

the road was as rough as a rough thing,

uneven and rutted,

 

Diana took pictures from the back as we went,

until we eventually made the main road again,

then we were up,

 

and down again,

 

and I mean really down!

 

until we made it to Bang Bao pier and shopping emporium,

 

in case you have not been here before it is a concrete walk way which stretches out to sea with shops on either side of it, like this one,

but I could not see what this was for,

I mean in this shop if some one does not pay does the rabbit get the drop?

moving on along the walk way,

there is even a hospital,

but this was more me,

a fishing tackle shop, but I would guess these lures catch more fishermen than fish!

whilst most shops are built, there are a few that need a bit of TLC,

then the shopping fest began,

naturally I wandered off,

and pretended to be interested,

in this bike,

as well as clothes shops, there were a few restaurants,

with a full selection of local fare,

back to the clothes,

but then a changer of pace,

 

I had managed to lose a clip for my snorkel, so a trip to BB Divers, 50 baht later and I had a new one,

another home looking for an owner,

at the end of the walk way a resort,

and nice it looked too,

past the resort a few boats,

and a few bigger ones,

 

on another jetty a nice looking house,

 

looking back towards the resort,

 

and a boat across the bay,

looking out to sea,

 

naturally I had to strike the pose,

 

making our way past a restaurant we had heard of before,

El Greco,

 

then the shopping fest began,

we both just loved this necklace,

continuing on,

we past a dress shops, so Diana just had to buy a skirt,

also past a few shoe shops, but thankfully these were a bit small for Diana!

then the dried food shop,

but these were gifts for our next door neighbour who is looking after our plants whilst we are away,

 

back on the road,

or unmade track again,

 

as we made our way to another beach,

 

the Bang Bao Beach Resort,

arriving there were huts both sides of the road leading in,

this is the place if you want peace and quiet,

 

hardly a soul on the beach,

looking back to one of the private resorts we had just passed they too were quiet,

 

but back to the Bang Bao Beach Resort,

 

the beachside huts looked really nice,

next along another unmade up road to,

the Tropical Beach Resort,

this I guess the restaurant,

yet again totally deserted beaches,

which ever way you looked,

 

back up the unmade road again until we hit the concrete road to,

Nirvana,

the reception area,

and gift shop,

the pool was first class,

with on one side bromeliads,

one of the staff directed me to a part of the grounds,

 

that had a few monkeys visiting,

 

there were on the walk to the beach,

making their way along it,

looking for titbits as they went,

 

a last look across the bat at Nirvana,

 

 

before we made our way back to the Palm Beach restaurant on at Chai Chet,

 

like the last time we were here hardly a soul on the beach,

 

just the water feature making a noise,

 

after our drive a well earned coconut for Diana,

and a soda for me,

 

I have to say I like this, plenty of space between each table for dinners on the beach,

 

we just ordered what we  thought was a snack, chicken with bell peppers and masanan curry with plain rice, delicious, but there was lots of it!

 

we arrived back at the hotel safe and sound so my first beer of the day,

 

 after a shower and a swim in the pool we went down town, taking a few pictures as we went,

 there were a few more tourists here than last week, in fact Paddy's Palms was fully booked,

 walking along the main strip it almost ahs a night bazaar feel to it,

 

 one of the lager hotels,

 we made our way to the Sea Bar where we had eaten with Nick and Maureen,

 there are only a few places where you can access the beach walking through here is one of them,

 

 a blue wave,

 hoop and coconut palm is one way for a restaurant to stand out,

 

 a not very well centred shot of the moon,

 

 and this is where we ended up, the Bamboo Bar and restaurant,

 

 Diana chose a pina colarda as a appetiser,

 

 we were then up to chose our food,

 and what a selection, fish,

 shrimps prawns and squid, 4 of the big tiger prawns already have our names on them!

 plus a few mussels,

 moving along the table,

 a few kebabs,

 

 I had a quick look at what was already cooking,

 

 we had a second look,

 there was still plenty of room to eat a meal and catch the show,

 a overall view of the restaurant,

 

 a quick 'Cheers!', from me,

 then our food arrived, garlic bread mussels and corn to start,

 other dishes soon arrived,

 including the 4 huge King prawns,

 

 we also ordered a baked potato,

 

 as I said the prawns were huge,

 

 then the show began, a fire show,

 

 all along the beach each restaurant puts on a show,

 

 for us we were so lucky,

 we could not have been sat any closer,

 as the performers threw lighted sticks into the air and then caught them,

 or made,

 patterns with cans of kerosene attached to wires,

 

 the performers were so skilful,

 

 then the finale,

 as one performer stood on the others shoulders,

 making patterns of flame,

 and if you thought our guys were good look at what was happening next door!

 

 as you might expect every show is different and so enjoyable to watch,

 

 meal and show over we went back on a baht bus,

 this is a restaurant we might try at some time, the Indian Hut,

 we called into the White Elephant next door for a night cap,

 a beer for myself,

 and a malibu for Diana, also somehow she ended up with a jagermeister,

 and of course as Frank was playing we had to have a second night cap there, we were both tired so then for us we were off to bed.