May, oh, May

Koh Chang # 2, day first

Before we finally arrived to the designated beach on that day, we got completely soaked on our way literally sitting in a pickup car. Water shower came so unexpectedly that we couldn't help ourselves to be saved, neither our luggage. It took some time and several water attacks, before we realized what was happening. It's simply Thai New Year (which was 2 weeks before) "amusing" tradition of pouring water over each other. Nice for those how stood there with the water hoses in a swimming shorts only and a disaster for us, who were wet up to pants.

Fortunately we survived as did our luggage, documents and camera (!) and were the last ones who got out at one of the remotest beaches - the Lonely beach. There were our two friends already living in there, so we decided not to make simple things complicated and settled down at the same place. 

The plan was to explore the island first and then to relocate in case we find any better beach, but finally we stayed at the Lonely for all 4 days and it happened to be simply the best. It's relaxed and chilling atmosphere, semi-wildness, friendly backpackers and almost no Russian language within earshot made it an idyllic place.

So, here we woke up the next day: five meters away from the sea line in our bungalow. The weather was great, so we went to the beach immediately. Later had a yummy lunch and motorbike exploration of the island's most well-known beaches: White Sand and Klong Prao.       

the Lonely beach

Rainy season was bringing a downpour almost every day. Morning was the best beach time.

Tom Kha soup

Laundry...

@ White Sand beach

The longest beach on the island with the widest coastline.

Getting a coco guidance.

@ Klong Prao

A little smaller than the White Sand, but much, much more quite and cosy. Loved it!

Snackes were great either.

and swings...!

Fishing village and pier for dessert.

Tired, but so happy we watched sunsent at our bungalows @ Sunset Hut.

Way to Koh Chang #1

Survived horrible thunderstorm up in the air in the very middle of a thundercloud - worst flight ever, slept for two hours in the airport hotel, had coffee and cookies for breakfast at Suvarnabhumi airport, listened ipod for 5 hours in the lotus pose in the bus, took 3 pm ferry to get to the island Chang finally.

Red & Rainy

Last weekend I spent under the rain and breathtakingly blossoming Flamboyant tree, which already shedding so heavily that no wonder if by the next weekend it'll turn to ordinary green tree.

Feilai 飞来 & Feixia 飞峡 temples in Qingyuan 清远.

One week ago on Monday April the 2nd, whole China started 3 days celebration of Qingming Festival (also known as Ancestors Day or Tomb Sweeping Day). On this occasion we decided to make a day trip to Qingyuan 清远 in Guangdong province to see ancient Buddhist temples Feilai 飞来 and Feixia 飞峡.

Qingyuan is located 70 km from Guangzhou, and accordingly around 200 km from Shenzhen. In order to escape rush for the local transport, it was decided to take the most expensive and the fastest - high speed rail.

We took one at 7.10 am and for 80￥in 1h20min and we were at Guangzhou East railway station. It cost us another 30 minutes by taxi to get to the South railway st., where we were supposed to transfer to another high speed to get to Qingyuan in 23 minutes. But there was a big fuckup waiting for us at the station. All the tickets for trains were sold out, since the final destination - Wunhan in Hubei province is the motherland for the vast majority of Guangdong province inhabitants. 

The only possible way left was to take 2,5 hour bus to the destination... And we did. Tough time on the bus, instead of super-short ride at 300 km/h, but at last we arrived.

We had to hire a boat on the pier, which would take us to the temples. Soon we did so. Got a boat for 350￥+ 15 ￥/person for cooking some seafood and fish for us, which we bought at the neighbor boat - kind of floating market. And the journey along Beijiang river began.