The Eastern Pearls of Thailand - Koh Chang N.P. <2009.11.2>

I was thinking a lot about our next trip – the passage from Cambodia to Thailand by land.



So many stories had been told, warnings everywhere about scams and people who want to rip you off, advises to go by plane etc. Fortunately history – as of today, the trip from Sihanoukville to anywhere in East Thailand is as easy it gets.



There are 2 reliable bus services that take care of you from the pick up, over the boarder until your final destination … in our case the 2nd biggest Island of Thailand Koh Chang.

Our trip started early in the morning with the VIP bus (highest luxury standards) …





… at lunch time we passed on foot the land boarder at Koh Khong …



… and in the afternoon we were already on the ferry to Koh Chang …



… where we finally found the true island retreat to relax on the beach and enjoy truly fresh seafood.











Koh Chang changed a lot since I came here the first time 10 years ago. The number of resorts and accommodation exploded and the entire island is now accessible by road.

Thus we hired a scooter and explored the beautiful beaches around, the huge waterfall and the fishing village Ban Bao.











Koh Chang – literally meaning Elephant Island – is a national park with great diving grounds. Several Islands, some not inhabited invite for a great diving experience.



Following to local recommendation we picked BB Divers as our guides and joined for a 3 dive adventure around Koh Rung. We got great service, personal tours, good food and great diving spots … just perfect.








The last days we spent in the southern tip Ban Bao Sea Huts where you get an Maldives feeling on Overwater Bungalows with even a glass bottom inside your room.









This little fishing village provides everything you need in very small distance – shopping, dining, sleeping and most important … laid back atmosphere!



Fishermen Friend

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Chill Out in Tropical Sihanoukville <2009.10.30>

Our last stop in Cambodia leads us to Sihanoukville – the most famous beach area – about 230km south of the capital.



Still (slowly) under development, it features real backpacker atmosphere along the small beach line and the hidden back alleys.



Here you can go for a swim, sip on your favorite cocktail, order some local delights or get pampered by one of the massage ladies who offer everything from manicure to head massage or hair removal with simple rubber bands ;-)





For the more deserted beaches we rent a scooter and drove to the very end of Otres beach which is a real Gem all for ourselves.





The southern Islands of Sihanounkville are famous for pristine waters and good diving grounds. So we went out with “The Dive Shop” for 2 boat dives which surprised with a great diversity in macro live - much better than Vietnam.













This is already the end of our Cambodia trip which went by too quickly. Surprised by the great hospitality of the people, the beauty of the country and rich cultural heritage it is definitely a place to return.



I`ll be Back

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Escape to the Island - Lady Musgrave <2009.08.07>

Now we arrived at the same spot where Captain J. Cook set his first foot on Queensland - guess when - correct 1770.

And to make things easier let`s name the place like that - so here we are at Seventeen Seventy!



This place is mainly a small harbour town with a beautiful carvan park directly at the beach and people gathering around their campfires.



1770 is the hub for a daytrip to Lady Musgrave island - which is located just 1hr boat ride away.
Perfectly for a daytrip which promise you an other day in paradise!





The choises of activities are endless - snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom boat tours, fishing, island walks, sunbathing ...



So first we went to the outer reef for a morning dive. Pity the reef was seriously hit by a typhoon several months ago.




But still there is plenty to see:









Let`s check out the rest via glass bottom or snorkeling!















It was great fun and a lot for just one day. But if you wanna escape to paradise - follow us - thats the place to be!





What a Lady!

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