A traveller's reflection: Solo Cambodia Ride 2015: Day 06

"All dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them..."

(End of the Walking Street at Bang Bao Pier)

Day 06: 11 February 2015

Route: Koh Chang island tour

Hotel: Gold Sand Guesthouse

(Nan tandoori for brunch at India Hut Restaurant)

White Sand Beach is the first beach after about 15 minutes ride from the ferry piers. It is a very long beach with powdery white sand and by far, the most developed beach on the island.

(Visiting one of the many waterfalls)

(The lack of water because of the drought season)

(Taking a rest after a kilometer jungle trekking)

(Elephant ride is available for visitors)

Klong Plu is the principal waterfall on the island. We have to pay an entrance fee to enter the area. There is a one kilometre path that follows the river to the huge plunge pool and the falls. The pool has small cliffs and rocks on its edges from where one can dive. The park has recently added a nature walk through the canopy with clear signages along the main path and this is well worth taking as a diversion on the way back.

(Riding the twisties to the many beautiful beaches)

(One of the many resorts away from the crowd)

(A secluded beach for picnicking and swimming)

(Taking a rest at a vantage view point)

(Cool iced-blended mango at a hippy hang-out)

(A nice view of the jetty and the light house)

(A hospital on stilts at Bang Bao Pier)

(Guesthouses on stilts)

(A nice place to stay with many seafood eateries)

(Boats for scuba diving trips)

(Small huts on stilts for rent)

(A light house at the end of the pier)

(Walking streets for tourists and shoppers)

Bang Bao Koh Chang is the original fishing village which now serves as the departure point for diving and island hopping. There is a 700-metre-long concrete pier that stretches into the bay. Until about halfway out, it's lined with private houses, shops selling touristy trinkets and beach towels, seafood restaurants and guesthouses, all on stilts. Beyond that, the pier is used for boat parking, and it gets noisy when double-decker scuba and snorkel boats disembark in the mornings and return in the late afternoons.