Transport in Thailand

So I decided that my first account will be of the various means of travel which we used during our time in Thailand. Besides the bus from the airport we embarked on the super efficient Thai Skytrain, the ultra efficient public bus down the east coast to Koh Chang, the beautiful boat crossing to the island, pickup truck taxis, a motorcyle, a tuctuc, a water bus and we must not forget Malai the elephant.
Bangkok recently opened the skytrain service which is a train service which does as its name suggests - it travels in the sky on a platform above the traffic. I love public transport at the best of times especially since my public transport options in Dhaka are limited to rickshaws and CNGs; however, the skytrain in Bangkok is a up there with the best of them. Trains ran on time, were cool and clean, and came fully equipped with a sign on the first seat next to the door - 'please give up this seat to monks'. It will be even more wondeful when the skytrain extends all the way to the airport.
We were up early our 1st morning in Bangkok to catch the bus to Trat from where we where we would get the bus across to Koh Chang. When we arrives at the bus station we were qucikly ushured onto a waiting bus which was just about to depart. Once comfortable in our seats a man came round checking where everyone was getting off - that was a first for me but I was impressed! Next we were served biscuits, coke slushies and bottles of water through out the journey, and for those of you with weak bladders no need to worry as Thai public buses come fully equipped with toilets. The journey was uneventful with lots of reading and eventually being drawn into watching a hollywood movie dubbed in Thai about dogs being stranded in Antartica - amazing that one can watch a movie ina language they have no clue about!
We arrived in Trat early afternoon where we waited for a time for an hour or so for the boat to return from the island. So as a wonderful bonus to the day we were making the crossing to the island at sunset. It was so beautiful as the sun went down behind the mountains of the islands and we left mainland Thailand and any sense of time that may have lingered behind from Dhaka. An hour later we were on Koh Chang and a pickup truck taxi took us from the dock on the 40 minute journey to Kai Bai beach.
On our first afternoon on the island we decided to rent a motoecycle and explore the area. Having had some perious experience on motorcycles I volunteered to drive first - we made it half way up the first hill and then had to puch the bike up the rest of the way! But then it got easier as I discovered the joy of full power ahead and of we went flying over the hills and sharp curbs of the narrow roads. We discovered Nature Beach Resort as recommended by Josefin and booked 3 nights there. My confidence grew as we made our way back and Anna began to feel the joy of driving motorcycle and decided to try the task out for herself. I wipped a little tear when we had to return the little orange bike the following afternoon.
The high point for all on day three was our elephant ride. We meet Malai our 31 year old elephant shortly after 2 in the afternoon and set out to first explore a route through the island's rain forest. Malai was a little cheeky at first and kept stopping and only continued on his way when the elephant driver had given him half a dozen bananas. The greenery and fresh air was almost too much to take in as I felt as though I had slipped into another world - one of peace and beauty. We left the rainforest path and headed down towards the river. Malai didn't even blink as we wadded past a bab crocodile. The sun was beating down and he was thinking of only one thing - his afternoon swim. At a designated place the elephant driver removed the seat from Malai's back and asked us if we wanted to swim with him. I - the one who is always saying one must always try everything once - was seized by a moment of panic and chose to stay on the bank and photograph the event. I don't know who enjoyed it more Anna or Malai but I can honestly say fun was had by all. We headed back to camp and gave Malai lots of bananas as a reward for his hard work.
Back in Bangkok we once again had the joy of the skytrain but this time we also managed one tuc tuc ride - they are even louder than CNGs in Dhaka, but this one had disco lights! We also managed a trip on the Bangkok water bus system. The boats run the length of the river through the middle of the city and travelling from one point to another is so cheap and pleasant as you chug along admiring the many beautiful buildings on the river bank.
So a variety of transports but each with a story to tell. Tomorrow will give you a insight into our accomodation and time doing nothing on the beach.