Travel

Mattopia Jones and the Righteous Chi
12 December 2022 – 8 January 2023
Miles Walked: 107.86

Chapters:   Interview  •  Itinerary  •  Snorkeling  •  Parasailing  •  Koh Chang

“I know it sounds like a quote from a movie, but most of the time during these expeditions, I really am making it up as I go.”
Mattopia Jones
(comment made to the Times while enjoying a Singha at Oodie’s in Koh Chang)

Koh Chang

It was only two days before Matty arrived on Koh Chang that he recalls having even heard of the island.

The trip’s original plans to ring in 2023 were ambitious. New Year’s Eve in Varanasi, India,followed by a trek across the country to Mumbai and neighboring areas for some temple visits.

But, after beach time, relaxation, snorkeling and parasailing, the thought of hopping on a plane had lost its appeal. It certainly didn’t help India was returning to random COVID tests in the wake of China allowing citizens to travel again. With a troublesome head cold, Matty didn’t need the extra stress of that travel environment. Plus, the luggage was already getting heavy, weighed down in part by a decent-sized haul of cashew nuts from Phuket.

So, with that, alternative plans had to be made on the fly. One key criterion: snorkeling.

And some of the best snorkeling in Thailand was in nearby Koh Chang.

An evening at Oodie’s. Never got the name of the smoking girl, but she was quite a character as she danced her way throughout the bar.

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