MADDIE BOWERS

i think bout you too

Koh Chang, the land of recreational weed and shirtless Germans on motorbikes

Only kidding! It’s really a beautiful place with a rich social and natural history among the other Trat islands.

There was not so much for me to explore outside of some simple but delicious meals, ridiculous sunsets in warm water, and a gloriously affordable private room. Or at least, that’s all I wanted to explore after a little chunk of farm living. It served as a beautiful reminder of the deep privilege I have to be here, experiencing the world with such ease.

Before I got to the island, Kwan gave me the lovely gift of some sea kayaking experience. I tried to roll… I failed to roll. Outside of that dizziness I have never done such a peaceful activity, at least until I started thinking about sharks and the Gretchen in me made me turn around to mental safety. Kwan assured me there is no real threat. My genetics are too strong to believe him.

He rented out the whole beach (or it was just empty. I don’t know what to believe from Kwan ever)
Pork blood soup. Delish!
Choppy to start. Smooth at sunset.
Koh Chang side of the sunset
Kwan collecting his goods. They monkeys stole them last time.
Learned some good knots to tie in the canoe
Trat side of the sunset

The ferry ride was beautiful but thick with exhaust. I sat next to a silly and flamboyant guy I met weeks ago before a train to Bangkok. Small world. He was a character I can’t even begin to pin down but it was great to see him again and hear of his tales guided by stoned happenstance (my favorite was how he ended up at a local and lively festival by motor biking along the route 420 and turning onto happy lane. Or something like that).

Though I’m too afraid, and probably rightfully so, to pitch tents willy nilly and trust in the kindness of strangers, I’m in awe of the good that can come from the spaces you enter as a traveler here. The positive energy you give to Thai people you get back in tenfold. This guys stories remind that it is never hard to come upon kindness if you make the space for it.

I never did get his name.

I will put some pictures of my time on the Island, though there aren’t many.

Some rainy days, just what I needed though
The monkeys that stole my sun screen and bananas. What cliches
This is the yogurt drink I love but Billy didn’t care for. Gotta get those probiotics! No food poisoning yet…
Made friends with this one eventually. Kept my distance, but shared a lovely sunset together

After this stop, I went back to Trat to rest up for a night and maybe hang with Kwan again. Luckily for me, but shittily for Kwan, his new workawayer failed to make it on time so he was around to pick me up from the ferry and show me some good grub. The best grub, in fact. I never had shrimp with eggs in soup before… highly recommend. Then I head to Bangkok just a breezy 6 hour bus ride away. This time I remembered to pee before hand : D

Typical tuk tuk
The hostel cats always stoked I come with yarn
Different measures to prevent wave erosion. Kwan says they would work better if they were in a waved formation vs straight. If only he were in charge of it all
Never fails to know a good sunset spot!
Look at those roots and that sassy pose. The tree has small needle like leaves so the roots can stay shallow as it doesn’t lose as much water through photosynthesis. No need for the deep roots!
The trees roots may be huge but mine are showing the most lol
No drugs smoking. Be happy
Some teenage students gave me a ride to the bus station! What a lovely and giggly new group to meet
Concrete jungle not as pretty as the actual jungle. Less skeeters though
Made it to the smog and traffic! Scooter taxis get you there faster but riding behind buses is not fun to breathe in…