If you're feeling weary, find a place to unwind. For me, anywhere that brings me peace of mind is where I'll go. The sea, therefore, is the answer for this trip. No need to go far, just to Koh Chang will do.

This trip was intended for a serious relaxation, as I usually focus more on sightseeing. However, I still planned ahead as usual. I will depart by private car from Bangkok around midnight on Friday and arrive at Ao Thammachat Ferry Pier to travel to Koh Chang on the first ferry at 6:30 AM.

In reality, we departed at 11:30 PM and arrived at the Ao Thammachat Ferry Pier at 3:45 AM. This meant we had to wait approximately three hours for the first ferry. However, it was not a problem, as the purpose of this trip was relaxation. We decided to enjoy our freedom and wait for the ferry.

6:30 AM. The first ferry departs from the Ao Thammachat Ferry Pier, heading towards the Gulf of Thailand at Koh Chang (Passenger fare is 80 baht per person, car fare is 120 baht per trip). Relaxation is about to visit us. Heave ho (a sound that tells ourselves that we are ready to relax).

The journey was short, taking only about 30 minutes. We arrived at the pier on Koh Chang Island. There it was, Koh Chang, standing tall before us. Hooray!

From the pier, we headed to our accommodation first (just to take a look, as check-in is not until 2:00 PM). The distance from the pier to our accommodation is about 16 kilometers, which is not too far and easily accessible. Elephant Bay Resort is our accommodation for tonight. It is located in Bailan, right by the sea. There is a swimming pool in the middle of the hotel's lawn area. The atmosphere is good and peaceful. There is a pavilion for sitting and reading books, chairs with foam beads inside for comfortable sitting or lying down, a pool table in the lobby, and a lovely and friendly owner (Note: based on my friend's conversation with the owner, as I am not really good at foreign languages). We chose to stay in a bungalow with a sea view for 1,437.50 baht/night (price booked on 04/03/2017 through Booking.com).

The property also features a swimming pool.

There are pavilions where you can relax and chill out.

Look at me.

The accommodation building offers rooms at affordable prices.

The ambiance is truly relaxing and perfect for a getaway. (It's worth noting that most guests here are foreigners who stay for extended periods, likely due to the incredibly peaceful atmosphere. Once you experience the tranquility here, you'll understand why they choose to stay for so long.)

After experiencing the atmosphere at .. Elephant Bay Resort .. we decided to head to the beach. We wanted to relax, sit by the sea, sip a cup of coffee, and rest our eyes for a while to feel refreshed and comfortable. We chose .. Lonely Beach .. as our final destination. I think this tree is an important landmark of this beach. It is the only tree that extends into the sea, and it seems to be blown by the sea wind as if it has no support, causing the trunk to tilt to this extent. However, it is more likely that the tree fell because the soil in that area collapsed.

Due to the abundance of rocks in this area, swimming is not recommended. We strolled past two or three resorts on our way to .. Nature Beach Resort .. This location not only has a beachfront bar but also offers lodging. The ambiance here is fantastic. Relaxing by the sea while enjoying a delicious lunch and listening to soothing music accompanied by the sound of waves and wind crashing together was incredibly calming.

We actually ordered many dishes, but while waiting, I decided to share these first.

We were able to sit outside for about 2 hours before the weather turned, forcing us to move inside. However, the atmosphere inside was just as relaxing, if not more so.

As the rain starts to fall, it's time to head back. Check in, get some rest, and then in the evening, we'll come back to see what the atmosphere is like at Lonely Beach after dark. Right?

I soon found myself back at my old haunt, Lonely Beach, this time in the evening. I sat at a restaurant near my favorite lonely tree, the name of which I can't recall, but the atmosphere was perfect. I stayed there until almost 11 pm, and the atmosphere was truly relaxing, as you can see from my expression.

The next thing I heard was the sound of music coming from the .. Can Cun Bar Koh Chang .. next door, so I decided to go and listen to it up close. I was hooked from the moment I walked in. The atmosphere was amazing, with fire baton twirling and fire jump rope performances. I even tried my hand at jump rope myself, and it was a lot of fun. We listened to music until late at night, and then headed back to our accommodation. Luckily, it wasn't too far away, so we didn't have to drive for long. We were so tired that we fell asleep as soon as we got back. The next thing I knew, it was almost 9 am. Why? Because it was raining in the morning, and the air conditioning was so cold that the blankets couldn't keep us warm. So we had to wake up, take a shower, get dressed, check out, and head back to work.

However, on the way back, my friend had previously bought coffee at a shop called .. Sleepy Owl Cafe & Hostel .. and she loved it, so we stopped by for a coffee before heading back. But it wasn't just coffee, we also had some fried rice. It was delicious! The atmosphere of the shop was so relaxing that we wanted to stay longer. But because we had to go back to face the real world, we could only stay for a short time. Next time, I will definitely visit again. .. Sleepy Owl Cafe & Hostel ..

Before leaving, I went to pay my respects and admire the scenic view at the Krom Luang Chumporn Khet Udomsak Palace for good luck. And then it was time to go home for real, huh?

This short holiday is a perfect opportunity to truly relax and recharge. We've been working hard and it's time to give our bodies the rest they deserve.

*** Thank you for the service at Koh Chang. Thank you. ***