Trek to Trat

After being informed of a direct bus from Bangkok to Trat that would arrive around 4:30 pm in Sri Racha, Howard, Jacqueline and I waited and waited and waited for the bus to arrive. After about an hour, we called Ms. Bpun, who told us that the bus would not come through Sri Racha. So, Howard and I decided to catch a direct bus to Rayong, which does pass through Sri Racha, and then a bus from Rayong to Trat. Jacqueline, who was feeling very tired, decided to wait until the morning. Since the bus started in Bangkok, it was pretty full, and Howard, who offered the only available seat to me, stood most of the way to Rayong, along with all the other passengers it picked up along the way.

We arrived in Rayong around 7:15, and got a ticket to Trat for a supposed 7:30 bus departure, which actually didn't come until around 8:00 pm, and didn't even pull into the station, but rather, we had to run to the main road and jump on. This bus was jam-packed full! So, we got front row "seats" on the stairs next to the driver. Despite the bus' metal floor pattern being imprinted into our butts, we had a great view! And just when we thought another person couldn't possibly fit, they managed to squeeze about another 5 people on, whom they picked up along the way to Chatanaburi.

We arrived in Trat around 11:00 pm, and hopped on a sawngtao to Ban Jai Dee Guest House. Howard had called the guest house from Rayong to inform them that we would be arriving, and Serge, the owner, said he would wait up for us. Serge is a frenchman that owns Ban Jai Dee Guest House and an exchange book shop in Trat. When we arrived, he checked us in (signed a book), gave us our keys and showed us our rooms, and then left for the night. He also explained to us the "trust" system - in which guests take what they want from the refrigerator (i.e. Singha beer, Chang beer, soda, H20, etc.) and then tally mark it on a piece of paper with their room number. This is then totaled the next morning at check out, along with paying for the room.

After a long day of trekking, Howard and I relaxed in the lovely lounge downstairs with some Changs. A Thai man, who was staying/ living upstairs joined us, as he was unable to sleep. He told us that he worked there, but this explanation must have been lost in translation, as many things are, because he certainly was no help for what was to happen next...

Around 11:45, two girls showed up at the front door asking for rooms. It turned out that they were also English teachers and working at a private school in Bangkok. One girl was from Ireland, the other from London. Howard explained to them that we had only just arrived about an hour ago, and that this Thai man worked here, so we directed them to him. He sat there confused, and didn't say much. So, finally, Howard and I decided to just check them in ourselves! We showed them where to sign their names, Howard found the keys and showed them to their rooms. After dropping off their bags, they then joined us for a few drinks. So, T-I-T - after only an hour of having arrived as guests ourselves, we were checking people in! They were headed to Koh Chang as well, so we decided to meet the next morning to take the boat over together. Howard had to go to Cambodia to do a quick visa run (though, it turned out not so quick or easy), and then he was coming over to the island in the afternoon.