The Reason We Were Up Early,

was that we were going on holiday,

to Koh Chang, we had been keeping it a a secret from Diana's younger brother and sister, so if you want to make the trip to Koh Chang here is how we did it, drive to the dolphin roundabout and go up the hill towards Nagkula just past the Bon Cafe franchise, on the other side of the road look out for Soi 16/3

  I have to admit in may a have been 18/3, this is it,

 drive down the slightly unmade up road,

till you see the sign, go past the front desk and through to the Malibu Travel office, the quoted price is 1,400 baht, for that you will be picked up from your hotel or the front of the estate you live in, they do not go to individual houses, the price is for the minibus to the ferry, the ferry crossing and then another minibus to your hotel on the island, plus the return to your hotel or estate in Pattaya,

 so at 07.30 we waited and as expected the mini bus arrived on time,

 we had three stops on the way down,

 for drinks and a bite to eat,

 also keeping a surprise was the fact that Nick had baked a Christmas cake for us to snack in whilst we were travelling and to eat on the beach,

 the journey to the ferry took four and a half hours,

 guess who had all of the luggage!

 this was the ferry we just missed,

 but it was not a worry, as another one was on it's way to meet us,

 it executed a 180 degree turn,

 as it neared the dock,

 a touch of left hand down a bit,

 and we were on board,

 we went up 1 deck and took our seats,

 there were not as many cars and passengers as our last trip,

 so we were loaded in no time at all, next to us was moored a disco boat, there were no spaces for cars, I guess you would call it a party boat,

 any way I decided on a beer, well we were on holiday!

 meanwhile Diana and her family went one more deck above,

 to admire the view,

 whilst I looked after the luggage,

 then all back downstairs as we neared the island,

 we meet another ferry as we were coming into dock,

 which was quite surprising as the last time we were here there were just two ferry's running,

 we then spotted another one loading up,

 getting ready to make way as we arrived,

 the sign we were all waiting for,

 and here we were,

 next a transfer to the mini bus,

 to Paddy's Palms Hotel,

 getting to the hotel is an adventure in itself,

 the hills are steep and most bends are blind, forcing this three wheeler on to our side of the road because we were on his side of the road as we over took on a blind bend,

 and this is what it looks like overtaking another vehicle on the wrong side of the road going round a left hand bend,

 it was all so exciting, 

 but we made it safely to Paddy's Palms,

soon we were booked and our holiday had really started, 

 so after a shower,

a quick swim in the pool,

 which everyone enjoyed,

 though I must admit,

I stayed upstairs and started on tomorrows post, but it did not go according to plan, it was taking so long to up load pictures we decided to wait till we returned to Pattaya, now we are back home on with the posts!