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All things are packed together befor breakfast. So I can have a relaxed breakfast and another time at the pool. Than I have to drive back to the airport. It's just one hour driving ... but the search for a gasstation takes some extra-time.
I check in very relaxed, read my book "Der Chinese" from Henning Mankell... and fly to Hongkong. And that's where I am now. The airport has free internet which gives me the possibility to finish my blog
In the morning I have an appointment with Nuanyai. She, her lovely daughter Kheab with her friend and friends mother are visiting me at the hotel. First we stay at the "hotel-beach". This is about 10m of the beach which are not crowded by rentable deckchairs and umbrellas. Instead its only 10 deckchairs and two tables. Very comfortable! The girls are some hours in the water and the adults are telling about familynews and looking pics on our notebooks. Than we move to the hotel-pool. It's much nicer to bath because the water is clean. Also here it's not too many hotelguests...very strange.
At night time we meat again, this time it is Nuanyai together with her husband Sean and of course Kheab. We're having a nice meal and a walk on the beach.
Back in the hotel I am a bit bored. So I decide to go again to Ritschies bar and have two Hefeweizen. Delicious and refreshing. And here I get my second "Pooltime" this day. It's with poolbillard. I'm not too good but because the Dubai-training-course I manage to win.
Holger went to Trat, the next city, very early. Later I give Barbara a lift to Trat, too. Kurt is still sleeping when we are leaving.
I go back in the direction of Bangkok. On my way I pass Chonburi. Here two old friends of mine, Nuanjay and Graeme, lived years ago. I try to find them. My first way is to the policestation. They explain to me, how to get to the right part of the city. There I have to ask several people, everybody tries to help but it is really difficult. First because of the language and second because of the complicated "system" of addresses here.
Finaly they call me a motorbike taxi. I have to follow him. But even he needs about 15min for the last 100m. And than I get the bad news: They don`t live here anymore... moved away about 3 years ago.
One of the neighbours is writing something down, handles it over to the driver and explains something ... A new try. This time we`re going to a school...the driver gives the paper to the porter, and, some minutes later Nuan stands in front of me!
Of cause she is busy today, but we will meet tomorrow. She´s booking a room for me at the Bangsaen beach, a tourist-place for Thais. I eat some Thai food and drink ... Hefeweizen! That's good at these temperatures!
In the morning I think about staying one more day on Koh Chang but finally I decide to leave. At noon I`m back on the mainland of Thailand.
I proceed down to the Cambodian border, looking at several mostly deserted beaches. It´s like a dream, like paradies on earth (if one likes it calm).
On one of these beaches I rent a bungalow. It seems as if I am the only guest. For dinner I am sitting directly at the long, white, sandy beach.
Than Kurt joins me. He is from Austria and comes to this place every year. After a while Barbara and Holger from Hamburg are joining us, too, as well as Joseph, the owner of this place. He is a catholic Chinese. So together with the two cambodian waitresses we are seven...and that´s all.
The Singha beer tastes quite well and maybe we had a bit too much...
The morning is for relaxation, only few people are at the beach. It's wonderful, not too hot and the water has a perfect temperature: it's cooling a bit but warm enough that you don't have to go out for long time. I have a very good sunprotection which is waterresistant. So I am not afraid of beeing burnt: a fault! n the evening I could easyll detect the spots where it wasn't enough!
The beach is wonderful! especially when you are in the water it looks perfect... a german dream of sandy beach. Unfortunately it's not possible to make a photo which shows the real beuty. So, come to Koh Chang to find out by yourself!
At noon I leave with the car for a trip down the westcost. Unfortunately it's not possible to go round the island. At first I drive down the way to the end. The very end of the road is private. There is one of the resorts which I would like to go next time (Isave some money up to than;-)) the "Koh Chang Grand Lagoona"
Now I track back. First I pass a beach with small resort which has no name, at least not in my map. Nevertheless a wonderfull place for people who love it quiet!
After that I stroll around in Bang Bao. This fishing village is stretching out into the bay along a pier. There are some nice shops and restaurants here. Alsolots of boats for diving and snorkeling are leaving from here. A place worth to stay longer.
On my way back I stop just once more, at a sceenic place which is really nice . Only the light at this time of day is bad for taking nice photos. But the "gas-station" for typicly 30Baht is open...
After that I return home to the BamBoo resort. I'm too tired to look to all the other beaches which surely will be beautyful too. One thing more is to be said: Unfortunately it is very, very dirty on this beautyful Island! No photos of that!
I'm thinking to stay one more day here, but I'm not sure yet
Koh Chang means Elephant Island. And that's where I go today.
I wake up at 6am ... and go back to bed to sleep some longer. At 9:30 I'm on my way. The steets are good and easy to find ... nevertheless some bad accidents are to be seen.
I arrive at Laem Ngop, close to Trat, at around 3pm. First a lady jumpes onto the road, waiving with some papers but I don't stop. Than I stop at the harbour, close to a ticket shop. It's 260Baht (6EUR) for a return ticket driver and car. After I bought the ticket, the lady tells me to follow her brother who rides a motorbike. He drives some kilometers on small roads. At last we are arriving at a pier. Nobody is there but some ferries. He tells me that it will take around half an hour until the ferry will leave... time by time some more people are arriving and after one hour another ferry arrives and takes us to the other size. If Jesus ever has been here he will have had taken the same ferryboat, I'm sure ...
Ingo had told me, that he likes White Sands Beach most. So I go there and look for a hotel. I find the BamBoo Resort, not first class but directly at the beach. I pay 1800Baht (40EUR) for an airconditioned hut. Not too cheap but ok.
In the night I have some food there at the beach. It's better than I thought! Having a lot of nice food and two beer I pay less than 10EUR. And at 8:30 there is a quiet nice "fire-show"
Honeymoon ... thats what you call the holiday after the wedding. Karnda and Derek are on their way. Finally they decided to go to Phuket. I'm on my way too. My "honeymoon" will be to the Gulf of Siam from the border to Cambodia up to Bangkok. If somebody has a hint for nice places ovber there ... please, tell me!
This morning I checked out from the Petcharat garden and went to Ingos shop. There we all met a last time. Everybody told me, not to go the shortest way to Koh Chang but take the deviation over Nakhon Ratshasima, also called Khorat. And that is, where I am now. Here I stay in the Sima Thani Hotel (www.simathani.co.th) .So it was a day without highlights. Tomorrow will be similar. But because the way is quite long I will go sleeping early tonight. Tomorrow at 6am I start again...
Good night!
In the morning I meet Karnda and Derek in the restaurant. We decide to go to the Mekong today, before we meet Ingo and Ohn for dinner
At the house of Karnda her sister Witchai decides to go with us. My car is made just for two, but here they don't care too much about safety. So the girls are sitting in the back, where no safety belts are fixed.
On the way we pass an old Mercedes Benz W110 or similar. I stop, go 100m back and try to park the car .... unfortunately there is a post, made of concrete. The post is stronger than the car... I hope the insurance will pay.
The Mercedes is in a bad condition and so we proceed. After a while we stop at a temple. I don't know the name of it but it will be easy to find out. It is the biggest buddhist temple I have ever seen! It has three stories and thousands of people will fit inside. They are building now for 21 years on it and still it is not ready.
It takes us a long time until we arrive at the Mekong river. I eat some small octopusses from a street grill. But the girls are so hungry that we have to go to a restaurant directly at the Mekong The food is perfect, and the sight is nice.
Ingo, of course, is "not amused" that we can't be back in Roi Et for dinner.... which I can understand very good! After a long day we arrive back in Roi Et at about 9pm
No, I'm not drunken! Here in Thailand we have got the year 2552 now. Nevertheless the customs of this wedding are seeming to be still oldfashioned.
At 6am my mobile phone wakes me up. Ingo, a german friend of Karnda picks me up one hour later. At Ingos house we meet Ohn, his wife and Reiner, another friend. Together we go on two motorbikes to the wedding. The ceremony had just begun and we are allowed to stay inside the house to watch it directly. Today we are something like Dereks family!
After finishing the ceremony we all leave the house, doing some more photos while the seven monks have some food inside. Usually it should be nine monks, but there wasn't enough space in the livingroom...
Outside in the garden some food and refreshments is served. Karnda and Derek are walking from one table to another and more and more photos are beeing taken.
After that the next step has to be done: Derek is brought by his family (That's us, yes!) and his neighbours (the people from the western part of the street) to Karndas house. To Dereks surprise, Karnda had ordered a horse carriage for him. When we arrive at her house, the milkmoney is filled into special "things" and we, Dereks family, are bringing it to Karndas family. Milkmoney is the money that the husband has to give to the parents of the bride to say thank you for your efforts they had to rise their daughter. Unfortunately Karndas parents died years ago.
Now the real meal begins for us guests ... but not for the couple! They have to sit down on special chairs and a lot of things are beeing said ... in Thai of course, so don't ask me about the meaning. Maybe I will find out later.We are washing their hands and, of course, photos are taken. Any possible combination of guest has to pose fore the cameras and every scene is taken by one Canon and one Nikon Camera. Maybe the better camera will win a price?
The neighbours are disapearing one by one ... and so do we. At about 11am we were back at Ingos house.
In the city Ohn helpes me to buy a prepaid SIM for my mobile. If there is somebody who needs to call me these days (remember, I'm 6 hours in advance) it will be possible at the
+66 8035 25239
At 6pm we join again for wedding ceremony part 2, this time in the hotel. It's hardly discribable what's going on there. After entering the gate everybody gets a small Chang, an elephant, as present. After that, of course, photos with the couple are taken. Within the next two hours 500 guests are appearing. Inside food and drinks are served. At the same time different singers trieing to attract the folk. On two giant screens life-shots from inside and outside the hall are on display, exchanged by spots from the morning celebration. We are seated at one VIP table directly in front of the stage. The other VIP table is for the family of Karnda.
Unfortunately my Thai-knowledge is at zero, so I can't report about what has been said. But it was said a lot, that I know for sure! The stories of Karnda, Derek and Karnda&Derek are told. And a very nice DVD about both is showed. I saw it in advance and it is really good.
Finaly they make me dance some Thai dance (the rest of "Dereks family" had disappeared!)
And than, at 10pm, everything is over. That's exactly like I was tolde before: they come, eat, drink, take something home for neighbours and leave... Derek finds some time to eat two prawns.Thats all he got for the whole day. Karnda had two prawns less than Derek... ;-)
So I find some time to try to enter this information into my PC......but the internet today is at 0, hopefully tomorrow it will lbe better again.....
The translation of the Thai word for wedding is "Big Party". Meanwhile I am pretty sure that this is not just a name...
Yesterday Karnda checked my outfit after I asked her for this. And there was a big fault: I had the same outfit for the private and the public part of the ceremony! So I got a job to do for today: buying some black slacks.
In the morning I slept very long. After breakfast I went to the lobby to refresh my blog ... and that was no fun. The internet is extremely slow and gets stuck every now and than. So I managed to leave for the city at lunchtime. The sun was burning down onto my head, but fortunately I use a very good sunprotection.
After strolling through the streets of Roi Et I finaly found the Roi Et Plaza, the number one place for dressing. Some very nice ladies tryed to help me ... unfortunately we couldn't understand each other. But like always in Thailand they found somebody who could talk english. So I got good information and I bought slacks, shirt belt and tie. It wasn't that easy, because germans don't fit easyly into Thai sizes... and the changing room was thai size too....
Back to the hotel I just relaxed and slept and ... tried to put pics into the blog. But I failed completely. With this internet together with the beeplog server it definitely does not work. So I am sitting at the pool now, having a beer and writing offline.
That's much more fun!
Early wake-up ... I decide to start without breakfast for being in the airport one hour earlier. The driver doesn't understand english. So he drops me off at the Departures. It's a long way to find the Car Rentals ... but the agency from which I booked has no desk! The airport information is realy good over here, they are calling them, redirecting me through the airport and finally we meet after announcing me.
I rented at "auto#europe". This is just a broker. The prices are best but it can be an adventure... like this time. The agency just brought my car, a Toyota Hilux Vigo Pickup from a garage. The paperwork is made by camera, because there is no office. Finaly I can start some later than 9am
The driving is easy, just two times I was stopped by the police. First time I was 119 instead of 100, "So Sorry" - "OK, Good bye", the second time he just wanted to see my licence. First time a German one, very intesting. He than helped me with Karndas phonenumber. because the international one didn't work ... so instead of +66 12345678 I have to dial 08 12345678. Well, why should it be easy if it also can be complicated...
Entering Roi Et I called Karnda for helping me with my way. Since it was a bit difficult I stopped, gave my mobile (with Karnda on the other end) to somebody on the road ... and after 15 min she and Mary arrived!
I got a very nice room in the Petcharat Garden Hotel (www.petcharatgardenhotel.com). Sitting at the poolside a lady came up to Karnda, offering her to have a look to the wedding DVD. We did and it was great! I have never ever seen such a thing! Nice pictures, many different outfits and some movie clips "The making of ..."
In the night I was out with Karnda, Mary and Derek ... but the girls had to leave. So Derek and I had a lot of time to talk
Ja, viel Zeit ist nicht vorhanden. Habe mich erst einmal ausgeschlafen und gut gefrühstückt. Dann so gepackt, dass im Koffer nur 15 Kg sind. Air Asia ist da genau so mies wie RyanAir: alles gegen Aufpreis!
Da ich die Skyline schon gestern ausgiebig betrachtet hatte fange ich heute morgen mit einem ruhigen Besuch in den Gartenanlagen von Kowloon an. Hier wird Sport betrieben, tanzen geübt, Vögel bestaund oder einfach nur dagesessen. Ein schöner ruhiger Tagesbegin!
Anschließend mit der "Star Ferry" übergesetzt. Kostet ganze 0,20€... und gehört ebenfalls zu Pflichtprogramm. Auf Hongkong Island hat man das Verkehrsdurcheinander Fußgänger/Autofahrer besonders schön gelöst: wir Elektroniker würden sagen es ist ein Multilayer! Die Autos bleiben auf den Straßen und die Bürgersteige laufen einfach eine Ebene darüber
Damit ist der Fußgänger echt schnell. Und um noch einen draufzutun gibt es den "Escalator", die "Rolltreppe". Dieses ist eine Aneinanderreihung vieler Rolltreppen als Bürgersteige, sinnvollerweise in Richtung Bergauf.
Durch den öffentlichen Botanischen- und Tiergarten gelange ich zur Basisstation der Peak Tram. Da die Zeit begrenzt ist gibt es das Returnticket inklusive Aussichtsplattform. Der Fahrkartenverkäufer weist mich auf die schlechte Sicht hin, Danke! Aber ich kann ja nicht warten bis es besser wird. Auch so ist es schön, nur eben nicht so fotogen.
Ja, und das ist es auch schon. Langsam zurück zum Hotel, Bus zum Airport Express, toller Flughafen, 3 Stunden Flug, Immigration, Hotel Shuttle finden (immer ein Erlebnis) ziemlich einfaches Hotel und gute Nacht...
Hatte ich vergessen zu erwähnen: ich bin total erkältet. Am Sonntag Abend dachte ich noch, ich müsste die Reise stornieren. Aber dann bin ich Montag Morgen zur Ärztin und hab mir eine Tüte Drogen geben lassen. Die futter, tröpfel und inhaliere ich so in mich herein. Der Flug war etwas böse, da trotz der Medikamente die Druckschwankungen in der Flugzeugkabine alles mögliche zum verstopfen gebracht haben. Hoffentlich gibt es keine Nebenhöhlenentzündung...
In Hongkong angekommen musste ich feststellen, dass ich die Hotelbeschreibung falsch interpretiert hatte. Der "Free Airport Express Shuttle" bringt einen nicht kostenfrei vom/zum Airport/Hotel sondern nur zum Bahnhof des "Airport Express" . Na ja, sind ja nur 16€ extra. Und den Shuttle hat man im Preis des Airport Express's immer for free.
Im Hotel kurz ausgeruht und dann nach alter Wolfgang Art einfach raus ins Getümmel. Die Nathan Road, eine der Haup-Geschäftsstrassen von Kowloon ist besonders empfehlenswert ... wenn man gerne von Verkäufern angesprochen werden mag. Wer's 10 Sekunden ohne Anmache schafft ist wirklich gut!
Zum Sonnenuntergang am Pier zu sein und nach Hongkong Island rüberzusehen ist ein Muss.
Vorwort: Da ich dieses Mal wohl nur Menschen treffen werde die kein deutsch verstehen werde ich den Blog in englisch weiteführen. Ich denke, das werden alle verstehen. Kommentare hierzu (aber nicht über jeden einzelnen Fehler von mir) nehme ich gerne entgegen und werde diese bei künftigen Reisen beachten.
Since it`s most sure that during this trip I will meet mainly non german speaking people I will change the language of this blog to english. I think this language will be understood by everybody reading it. I apreaciate comments on this (But, please not about every single fault!) and will consider about it on my next journeys
