Paradise Found (again)

This morning I sat on the beach and ate a breakfast of mangosteen, rambutan and bananas, watching Thai fishermen set their nets while the Gulf of Thailand nipped at my toes. Just an hour ago, I sat at a table on the beach at a waterfront restaurant, sandals off, toes in the sand, and ate a bowlful of the most delicious mussels while watching the sun set over the horizon. In between I hiked to a waterfall and swam in a cool pool of water at it's base, sipped on a mango lassi while hanging in a hammock and played with a bunch of puppies. I don't think I have ever been so relaxed and blissed out anywhere.

While Kep is Cambodia's little piece of paradise, Thailand has it's own chunk in the island of Ko Chang (Elephant Island). The island is a national park and is taken up mostly by undeveloped forests and parkland. The main development is the west side of the island. There are about 6 main beaches, each with their own personality. I chose Klong Prao, which is becoming the new haven for upscale resorts. Being the off-season, though, it is very reasonable yet still secluded.

At the Blue Lagoon Resort, I have my own private bungalow - a 2 story unit with a large bedroom on the 2nd floor and an open patio below. Fresh fruit appears in my room every day. Sometimes a cat comes with it (but she usually hangs out at the bungalow one over). Klong Prao beach is a 2 minute walk away. The sand is so fine it feels like silk under your feet. The distance to the water depends on the tide - that can make a difference of almost 200 feet. The water is warm, almost bath water and stays shallow for quite a while. For the last 2 days I haven't had more than 10 people in my sight line on this beach.

You wouldn't know it's the rainy season. There has been no rain today, and yesterday I lounged on my balcony for about an hour (reading Frankenstein) during an hour long gentle rain. Then went back out to the beach for a swim before dinner.

I am returning to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok tomorrow. After the last week in Kep and Ko Chang, this is going to be a harsh impact on the senses. But, the weekend market is calling me - there is shopping to do before this trip ends, after all.