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TonyT's 9th Thailand blog:
18 days in and around the country:
Christmas 2025 to January 2026.
Page 2
The Road to Chonburi and the drive to Ko Chang
SUNDAY 21st DECEMBER:
Rise & shine at 07:00 and down for breakfast. Our swish pre-booked taxi arrived at around 07:45.
Traffic largely light and we made good time until we tried to locate my brother-in-law's house in the suburbs of Chonburi. After a host of wrong turns we made it and there parked outside the house was my trusty Toyota truck. My other brother-in-law had driven it down from Surin for me. As said, Surin, along with many other provinces along the border with Cambodia were effectively no-go areas.
Young son, Jack, endured a haircut at a local barber shop which delayed our departure by an hour.
Once on the road to Ao Thammachat ferry port the going was easy with light traffic. We got the terminal in plenty of time and were parking the car at our resort by 15:30.
Straight into the sea and then the pool worked up a thirst and an appetite.
Decided on dinner at one of the beach restaurants and supped beers and several large glasses of white wine.
A night cap on the apartment balcony with eldest son, Dan took us to near midnight.
LEFT: On board to Ro-Ro ferry to Ko Chang.
RIGHT: Pole position for our first breakfast on the beach.
MONDAY 22nd DECEMBER
Up and about at 7:30 and managed a pole position for a breakfast table [see photo]. Some swimming in the upper pool took us to 1pm.
Later in the day we took on a mini tour of the island; as much as anything to show first-timer, Dan, a bit of the landscape. Took in some drinks and lunch at the rastafarian place we've been to on previous Ko Chang stays.
At this point I must add that I'd inherited a nasty chest infection from my young son and wife. They'd got over theirs before arrival. This bug really spoiled my time here. My wife got some medicines from a pharmacy so let's hope they kick-in soon.
I was too much under the weather in the evening so I insisted the others go down to one the beach restaurants and enjoy!
TOP: Group poses on the beach.
CENTRE: The KC Resort.
BOTTOM LEFT: The Viewpoint.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Bang Bao port.
TUESDAY 23rd DECEMBER
A very leisurely morning apart from packing our cases. Down for breakfast after which we had time before check-out at 12 noon.
Everyone we came across on the island were saying how incredibly quiet everywhere was. The main reason for this was most certainly the fighting along the Cambodia border. The UK Foreign Office had deemed both Ko Chang and Ko Kood (our next island stay) no-go areas. This had resulted in numerous cancellations. Not us though. In reality, the islands are well away from any shellfire... a case of sheer over zealousness.
Time to go...
Joined the very small queue for the ferry and we were on the road by 2pm. Not far to drive to our next overnight stay which was the Banpu Resort near Trat, getting there by 4:30.
Banpu Resort was a pleasant surprise. It's a large convention centre near Trat city built on stilts mainly over shallow tracts of water. They supply bicycles to get you about as it is so large. However, once again this huge place was deserted; like a ghost town, and purely due to the fighting along the borders with Cambodia. In the event, our room was good and the food good too.
A leisurely breakfast; no rush as we only had a 20 minute drive to the ferry terminal at Laem Sok and our next leg onto Ko Kood.
The Banpu Resort & Convention Centre.
Rise & shine at 07:00 and down for breakfast. Our swish pre-booked taxi arrived at around 07:45.
Traffic largely light and we made good time until we tried to locate my brother-in-law's house in the suburbs of Chonburi. After a host of wrong turns we made it and there parked outside the house was my trusty Toyota truck. My other brother-in-law had driven it down from Surin for me. As said, Surin, along with many other provinces along the border with Cambodia were effectively no-go areas.
Young son, Jack, endured a haircut at a local barber shop which delayed our departure by an hour.
Once on the road to Ao Thammachat ferry port the going was easy with light traffic. We got the terminal in plenty of time and were parking the car at our resort by 15:30.
Straight into the sea and then the pool worked up a thirst and an appetite.
Decided on dinner at one of the beach restaurants and supped beers and several large glasses of white wine.
A night cap on the apartment balcony with eldest son, Dan took us to near midnight.
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LEFT: On board to Ro-Ro ferry to Ko Chang.
RIGHT: Pole position for our first breakfast on the beach.
MONDAY 22nd DECEMBER TOP: Group poses on the beach. CENTRE: The KC Resort. BOTTOM LEFT: The Viewpoint. BOTTOM RIGHT: Bang Bao port.
TUESDAY 23rd DECEMBER
The Banpu Resort & Convention Centre.
Up and about at 7:30 and managed a pole position for a breakfast table [see photo]. Some swimming in the upper pool took us to 1pm.
Later in the day we took on a mini tour of the island; as much as anything to show first-timer, Dan, a bit of the landscape. Took in some drinks and lunch at the rastafarian place we've been to on previous Ko Chang stays.
At this point I must add that I'd inherited a nasty chest infection from my young son and wife. They'd got over theirs before arrival. This bug really spoiled my time here. My wife got some medicines from a pharmacy so let's hope they kick-in soon.
I was too much under the weather in the evening so I insisted the others go down to one the beach restaurants and enjoy!
A very leisurely morning apart from packing our cases. Down for breakfast after which we had time before check-out at 12 noon.
Everyone we came across on the island were saying how incredibly quiet everywhere was. The main reason for this was most certainly the fighting along the Cambodia border. The UK Foreign Office had deemed both Ko Chang and Ko Kood (our next island stay) no-go areas. This had resulted in numerous cancellations. Not us though. In reality, the islands are well away from any shellfire... a case of sheer over zealousness.
Time to go...
Joined the very small queue for the ferry and we were on the road by 2pm. Not far to drive to our next overnight stay which was the Banpu Resort near Trat, getting there by 4:30.
Banpu Resort was a pleasant surprise. It's a large convention centre near Trat city built on stilts mainly over shallow tracts of water. They supply bicycles to get you about as it is so large. However, once again this huge place was deserted; like a ghost town, and purely due to the fighting along the borders with Cambodia. In the event, our room was good and the food good too.
A leisurely breakfast; no rush as we only had a 20 minute drive to the ferry terminal at Laem Sok and our next leg onto Ko Kood.