OK, we checked into a perfectly nice bungalow resort a short walk from Klong Prao beach. On the plus side, we got exactly what I expected: a clean, spacious, air-conditioned bungalow beside a pleasant pool, with an extremely friendly host and warm staff. I went for safe and predictable, though, because I have had some unpleasant surprises, both on this trip and others, and this part of my trip is supposed to be my proper vacation, from which I go home relaxed.

In a future trip, if I return to Koh Chang, and to this beach specifically, I will look into KP huts or next door Tiger Huts. Although unsophisticated, their vibe and section of beach are awesome. We’re there now, or just beside, having rented two chairs from a surly Russian guy and set them up under some palm trees in the grass. It’s wonderful right here. This is our 3rd full day on the island.

On the first day, we breakfasted then walked through the Blue Lagoon resort, with its bridges, to a shack restaurant on the beach with free loungers. The benefits there were padded lounge beds, available coconuts and watermelon juice all day long (or any other drinks), lunch when we wanted it, shade, toilets, and easy beach. The only downside was that the food was pretty mediocre. All in all, a winner. There are posher places all up & down the beach, but this one had huge lounge beds and cost us almost nothing for the entire day.

The beach here has a strip of broken coral just before the water gets deep enough to swim. I cut up my feet and hands, which stings in the very salty water, so the next day I bought some diving shoes in Ban Bang Bao, where we departed and returned from our snorkeling trip.

At the end of the day, we cleaned up back in our bungalow then watched the sunset from the lounge chairs at the Tropicana resort.

After dark, we walked a short distance to Ka Ti Culinary, a restaurant and cooking school that our host recommended. The food was excellent, but unfortunately our timing was bad and we caught the middle of the dinner rush. I watched everyone around us, including many who had arrived long afterwards, receive their food while we waited for our first course, soup, to arrive. I finally asked the waiter, who looked shocked, said he’d forgotten it, and that he’d go check. Consequently, all our food arrived simultaneously, long after we were too hungry to really appreciate it. Too bad, because it really was very good.

We went back to our resort, paid our balance, and signed up for a snorkeling trip the next day.

So, day 2 on the island (Wednesday) was spent cruising the islands and swimming and snorkeling. I don’t have an underwater camera, so no pictures from in the water, but it was like swimming in someone’s tropical fish tank. It was mostly small colorful fish, lots of them, and interesting anemones and corals. Beautiful. I might do this another day as well.

When we returned to the resort later, we decided to eat on the stilted seating at the Blue Lagoon, which is also a cooking school. Matt may do a cooking course while I lounge on the beach, one of these days. The food was beautifully arranged and very tasty, and the service was friendly, atmosphere excellent. The panang curry at Ka Ti was better, though. 🙂

This morning, day 3, Thursday, we are relaxing a bit further down the same beach, as described before. It’s very windy today, so I’m a little chilly in my bikini whenever the sun goes behind a cloud. I’m staying carefully in the shade of the palm trees, moving my chair as necessary. The water is choppy, and I’m very happy to have the snorkeling mask Nicola gave me, which makes it easier to swim through the waves. It’s warm and wonderful water. 🙂

Near sunset, Matt went for a massage at the beachfront massage shack, and I watched the sun go down while reading.

Beautiful.

When he got back, we packed up, retrieved our laundry, and went back to our bungalow. I showered then went for an after-sun aloe vera massage, which was lovely. Then we went for a delicious dinner & cocktails, yum!