Koh Chang

So, as Jordi mentioned we took a very long, hot bus ride to the beach from Bangkok. The bus was showing the movies, and they were subtitled - I think translated from English, into another language, and back to English. So while the guy on the screen was saying, "Hurry up, we have to go now!" the subtitles read, "Nobody is the vegetarian food and say yes!" It was really pretty hilarious, and I think more entertaining than the movies themselves.
We got to the island, and as Jordi said, got a room at the Luxury Guesthouse, which ended up being the best value on the island! The first full day we were on the island, we got a really janky moto that could barely make it up the hills. Also, nobody informed me that tailpipes are excruciatingly hot, and I totally burned my leg on it! It hurt sooo bad! So I got to spend the rest of the week with a blistering purple wound on my leg, it was beautiful. The island really was beautiful though, and it was fun to explore it a bit.
The next day we hung out by the beach, and that's where Jord left off.
The 3rd day on the island, we had an amazing time pretending we were on a second honeymoon. We figured that although seemingly expensive, it was still cheap and gorgeous, so we enjoyed it for what it was. We got tropical cocktails on the sand and rented a kayak. We went for a small hike along the ocean, and swam in the hot water. The water is not even warm, it's hot - sometimes hotter than the humid air! That night we went out for pizza - Italian food was everywhere, and it was pretty good!
The next day we rented a moto again, only this time we got it from a different place and it was really nice, automatic, and came with 2 new helmets. We went the other way, and explored the other side of the island. We found a waterfall that was gorgeous, and we climbed around and swam for about an hour. Then we kept riding, stopping at gorgeous viewpoints along the road. We found a remote beach called Long Beach, that had a couple little hippie lodgings and restaurants. We got fruit smoothies and lied in the hammocks, and then went down to the sand. The water was incredibly clear and turquoise, and super shallow! You had to walk for like 10 minutes to get up to your neck! Anyways, we were swimming around in the water when all of the sudden Jordi yelled, "OW!! Move, move move!" As he was saying that, I felt a piercing sensation in my back. I had seen these flying swordfish things earlier, and my first thought was that a flying swordfish was dangling from my back. "WHAT'S ON MY BACK??!!!" I screamed. "Nothing! We just got stung by a jellyfish, let's get out of here!" It took a minute for me to realize there was nothing poking my back, and we finally made it out of the ocean. Jordi got stung across his arm and chest, and I got stung across my ribs and back. We must have been tangled up in that thing! Anyways, we were drying off on the beach when a German couple told us to put lime on the stings. So we went to the restaurant right on the beach, but the owner assured us the stings would stop hurting soon. So we ordered spicy red curry and cold Chang beer, and took his advice of not worrying. We sat on the sand overlooking an idylic beach, eating our spicy curry, and letting our stings subside. Life was good :)
We got back on our moto and chugged up the impossibly steep and unpaved jungle roads back to the main road. We continued on, and found another waterfall. It was a 15 minute hike, and another beautiful fall. We swam, and climbed down to the pool below it, which had a rope swing :)
After that waterfall, we drove back to our side of the island. We were just in time for sunset, so we took our towels and Skipbo, and went down to the beach to play cards and watch the sunset. Somewhere along our journey our camera stopped working. We could not figure out what happened, or why. We think it's still taking pictures, but the screen looks totally busted, like it looks blank except for a purple splotch. So that is really discouraging, but other than that, we had a great day. We got Pad Thai from a cart off the street (sorry Mom.. but I think it's so fried we would never get sick!) Luckily his cart wasn't right next to the durian carts. I think durian is in season right now because all the fruit vendors on the side of the street are selling it. Every time we walk down the side of the street, I hold my breath. I had heard of this fruit, and it's really as bad as people say. The smell could make you nauseous. Anyways...today we had to pack up and leave the island. We took a taxi back to the ferry, and then the hot, uncirculated bus back to Bangkok.
My dad used to sing a song that went, "Where do all the hippies meet? South Street! South Street!" Well, I have a new one for you Dad - it goes, "Where do all the hippies go? Khoa San Road! Khoa San Road!" After hours driving through the countryside, and a couple hours more driving through Bangkok, we pulled up to Khoa San Road, and the hippies were teeming the streets. Dreaded hair and flowy pants dominate in this backpacker epicenter of Asia. We joined the masses - eating from a little plastic table restaurant on the side of the street, shopping, and relishing the cheap (room - $6, dinner - $3), funky, exciting scene that is Bangkok.

Goodbye, SEA (mainland)
Tomorrow we are flying to Bali, which technically is still South East Asia, but ends this portion of our trip. I am sooo glad we had the opportunity to see this part of the world. It's amazing how different it is over here. But while the way of life might seem so foreign, these people have families, jobs, friends, drama, routine - same as everybody. I am glad I have gotten to see their way of life, and be more understanding of their culture. We have encountered so many friendly people, and learned a lot about this part of the world. Also, I cannot be thankful enough for the chance to see Scott and Andrea in their element, and all the amazing people they know already.
Anyways, with that I would like to leave you with a memory of each country...

Vietnam:
"Look, 4 people on a moto!"
"No, wait there's 5 - I think that's a record."
"Omg, there's another little head - 6 people on the moto!!"

Cambodia:
Our cooking instructor talking about local pork -
"Pigs in America, they eat corn and msg and things. Pigs in Cambodia, they eat Happy Herb and rice!"
Much fresher.

Thailand:
The best thing about Thailand is the writing. I already mentioned the subtitles. Also everyone walks around with shirts that make absolutely no sense - "U know My hair and Kittens" in glossy, colorful letters.
Signs on the side of the road -
"Laundry - Washed, Roasted"
"Peachfulness, Freshness, Safety - Identity" I have no idea what they were advertising, but I really wish I could find out...!
In a brochure at our hotel -
"Koh Kood - The second largest of the 52 islands that comprise the Koh Chang archipelago and if it wasn't located so damn far away would easily be the most popular..."
Although I have to say - the fact that all these foreign countries can even speak English is impressive, and I realize how spoiled I am. When's the last time we tried to learn Vietnamese or Thai?

And here's one for all the countries:
"HELLOOoooOOO!!"
Jordi responds, "Hi!"
"Where are you frooom?"
Jordi responds, "California!"
"How long you here?"
Jordi responds
"You want massage / taxi / suit / etc etc

Although I find it pretty easy to ignore people, Jord insists on being polite, which leads to many many of these conversations....

See you in Bali!