The two weeks just flew by (even with all my inhaled dust, dry skin and boo-boo’s), and was time for our group to say good-by.
Our leader, Charles Higham, was not only extremely knowledgeable, but personable and funny. It’s rare to find an academic with such great personality…someone who knew how to make history come alive (I envy his students in New Zealand). We viewed several ““National Geographic”” specials where he was the expert on Ancient Angkor Civilizations. Many thanks to him, and his experts, who had to painfully stand by and watch our group of novices fumble around, learning a little bit about Archaeology, and trying not to wreck their handiwork!

This experience was one that we’ll never forget and would repeat without question.

Earthwatch “Origins of Ankor” group in the pit, Thailand
Most of our group were off to Angkor Wat, Chiang Mai, Laos, Bangkok and other destinations in the Far East. We headed to Bangkok and then down to Koh Chang.

Koh Chang is the 3rd largest island in Thailand – after Phuket and Koh Samui. To reach Koh Chang, we arranged a car to drive us down to Trat. There are inexpensive flights from Bangkok to Trat but all flights were sold out on the day we wanted to fly. And, if we wanted to, a taxi from Bangkok-Trat hailed off the street would have been less than the way we did it. You win some…you lose some. That’s travel.

map of Koh Chang area, Thailand
You can also bus from Bangkok-Trat for a pittance which is what WE should have done.

The buses stop right at the Ferry and it’s only a half hour ride across that turquoise water to Koh Chang.

on the Koh Chang ferry
Your hotel usually waits at the dock, or you take a taxi – the taxis are open trucks with bench seats on each side, and only cost a few dollars. That’s also the way you get around the island. Just hail one on the main road, hop in and you are on your way.
More on Koh Chang tomorrow…