Monday -- Koh Si Chang

Ferry from Koh Loi (Si Racha) to Koh Si Chang: 40 baht one-way. leaves on the hour until 6 p.m. and then you're stuck.

Tuk-tuk: 250 baht for the day. we found this to be a fantastic deal, and split it 5 ways.

This was my second trip to Koh Si Chang, and I saw the island from a completely different vantage point. First trip we thought we could outsmart them and their attempts to bamboozle farangs out of money left and right. The difference with Koh Si Chang, though, is that it's not really a touristy island. The only tourists there are other Thais from the mainland, so the same rules don't apply. We tried to walk everywhere and do everything on our own. It's much too big and we missed a lot as a result, including the main attraction: King Rama V's (1868 - 1910) summer palace and grounds.

This time we opted to pay for transport, and were surprised by how incredibly reasonable it all was. Plus, we were obviously able to see a lot more in a shorter amount of time. The palace (more like a cottage surrounded by its own mini-city, equipped with swimming holes and lots and lots of stairs carved from the rock) was a great find, and it was fun to share with so many people. It's so very different from the other tourist islands I have visited in Thailand. The locals seem to be living their lives in spite of your existence, rather than them being dependent upon us, as they are in Bangkok and Koh Samet, etc etc.

Our yummy appetizer before our absolutely amazing meal. All the seafood was as fresh as you can possibly get, and it's western owned, so they did it just the way we liked it. Unbelievable.

Our tuk tuk driver sleeping while he was waiting on us to eat our meal.

The palace. For a more complete history (as opposed to the nothingness I have given you) click here. King Rama V traveled through Europe, apparently really dug it, and wanted his palace and grounds to have a European style. Well, it's definitely not Thai..

All of us in front a swimming pool that was made to be like the bottom of the ocean, right in front of the actual ocean. It seemed pretty dangerous to me to swim in that thing.

I'm not sure why they do this, but it's pretty!

Exploring on the grounds.

Hands up!

Another one of the many pools. We were showing off our talents; obviously, we're chock-full of 'em. 

A tree growing out of the cliff (obviously you can see this, but I felt like it needed a caption).

A temple where the king used to meditate and pray to buddha.

All of our shoes outside of the very, very un-Thai, European temple.

What is that over yonder? No idea, we didn't have time to find out; but I'm intrigued.

Trying to climb, unsuccessfully, of course.

Walking back to the tuk tuk. I had to do it. This is Liza, Lia and Denise, btw.

Colorful colorful boats at the dock.

Getting ready to head back to Si Racha, Thai-style. We don't need no stinkin seats, we'll sit on top of the boat thank you very much. Oh wait, you're cool with that?! Of course you are..

Boys swimming and playing in between the boats. Some might say this is dangerous (because it is), but they definitely know how to have fun and enjoy life while it's there.