It took a plane, a bus, a ferry, and a van to get here, but it was well worth the travel. The island of Koh Chang is a beautiful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city, but it still has an unmistakable energy.
Yesterday morning, a couple people chose to walk around and explore the area. Others chose to go see the elephants. I went with a group to Khlong Phlu Waterfall, where we were able to hike up to the falls, swim with the fish in the pool at the base, and repeatedly jump off the rocks into the water in an attempt to perfectly capture the moment on camera. Luckily, we went early enough in the morning to beat the heat and the crowds and we were able to spend the rest of the day in the sun relaxing by the pool and swimming in the ocean.
Snorkeling around the islands was the main item on our agenda today. We covered five islands, two of which we were able to beach at and walk along the sand. If anyone ever offers you an opportunity to snorkel, DO IT. It's such an out-of-this-world experience. We saw different coral formations, sea cucumbers, giant mollusks, hundreds of sea urchins, even a sea turtle. The fish were so colorful; from pastel purples, to vibrant blues, to yellows and greens and blacks, nature didn't miss a single shade of the rainbow. Jesson said it well: "I can't paint this! It's just too beautiful, you can't capture it!" Today I experienced something that I've only seen in pictures. Something that I've only seen on the other side of the glass at aquariums. Today I, and I'm sure many others, made memories that will last a lifetime.
Spending the last few days on Koh Chang has been a perfect way to wind down our trip. After spending weeks in the more rural north, we were able to experience the bustling tourist industry that Thailand depends on. We relaxed, we ate at a variety of restaurants (some of us sticking to Thai cuisine, while others chose the more familiar meals from home that were readily available at the restaurants here), we walked on the beach at sunset and have the pictures to prove it. We miss our friends and family at home, but it will also be difficult to leave behind this beautiful country in a couple days.
