Koh Chang - A good place to chill Oct'2010

[DJ Pat]

Journey starts with a night at the Radisson Edwardian Heathrow, the room was great, as was the maze-like trip from lift to room, but on check out they just asked me about the mini bar consumption without checking.


Travelling across continents and time zones requires a mode transport such as this. Great service and very comfortable.


After a 1500 Baht taxi direct to Pattaya that evening after landing, this wiew was what we drew back the curtains to see. Shame that Pattaya is a shithole.


They have obviosly taken into consideration the number of balcony jumpers by installing swimming pools around the 'landing zones', thus increasing the chances of possible survival.

Leaving the ferry port in Trat.

Sunset in the Gulf of Thailand

[DJ Pat]

Approach to Koh Chang


After checking into the Aana Resort, a cat made her presence felt.

And stopped me logging into Teakdoor.


I tried reasoning with her, but she was stubborn so we had to call in the police.

The cousin drew up an artists impression.

Basically we were on the cats 'patch' so we had to pay protection money.

Educational activity was essential to our sanity.

A large group of Uni students were also staying at our resort.


And made use of local hospitality.

The best deal on the island. Genuinely good food.


Essential refreshment at our balcony 'bar'

On the wrong side of a few drinks.


Sabai bar band, on the beach, good sounds.


DJ Mixmaster Mix at the TingTong Bar, Lonely Beach.

[PlanK]

The elusive Abisit's Cat unmasked!

[DJ Pat]

When we got back our cat had a visit.


The next day we hit the beach at Klong Prao.


Kayak downriver to the beach..this was fun.



These sheesh things are overrated.

[socal]

When we got back our cat had a visit.


The next day we hit the beach at Klong Prao.


Kayak downriver to the beach..this was fun.



These sheesh things are overrated.

Bullshit.

The smoke is nice, smooth and tasty. I tell you what is over rated, cigarettes.

[CaptainNemo]

I've got a t-shirt like that... and I wore it when I went to K.Chang (8) years ago... [just chuntering out loud]... it must have been "ruined" with touristy development now... I remember that the beach we were at two people (tourists) drowned... dragged under by the riptide, and there were loads of little red jellies on the beach... my parents went in for a dip, but my Evil Kneevil exploits inland meant my ankles and arms were all scabbed up and I couldn't cope with the briney.

[DJ Pat]

I went to K.Chang (8) years ago... it must have been "ruined" with touristy development now...

Another one saying that those were the days. Did they have electricity and cars?

[pescator]

I went to K.Chang (8) years ago... it must have been "ruined" with touristy development now...

Another one saying that those were the days. Did they have electricity and cars?

I cannot speak for 8 years ago.
But I first spent time there in 1996, 3 months as it turned out.

There were no paved roads and only generators supplying electricity until 10 PM. And then everyone would hit the sack.
Very few cars, only a few pickups. Song Taew.

I just went to visit the island with my then 4 year old son, but somehow got stuck.
I wasn`t the only one. Most farang visitors turned out to be longtermers as well.
We got to get each other very well.
In fact I am still in contact with several of them.

I have revisited a couple of times in recent years. 2-3 years ago.
I still find it nice, just in a whole different way.

[sunsetter]

I went to K.Chang (8) years ago... it must have been "ruined" with touristy development now...

Another one saying that those were the days. Did they have electricity and cars?

I cannot speak for 8 years ago.
But I first spent time there in 1996, 3 months as it turned out.

There were no paved roads and only generators supplying electricity until 10 PM. And then everyone would hit the sack.
Very few cars, only a few pickups. Song Taew.

I just went to visit the island with my then 4 year old son, but somehow got stuck.
I wasn`t the only one. Most farang visitors turned out to be longtermers as well.
We got to get each other very well.
In fact I am still in contact with several of them.

I have revisited a couple of times in recent years. 2-3 years ago.
I still find it nice, just in a whole different way.

you must remember nuis bar then? and hobby hut?

[terry57]

I still find it nice, just in a whole different way.

Yes, The only way to approach the Islands now is to do it in a whole new way.

No use dwelling on the past thinking how brilliant it was 20 years ago and how foked it is now with the tourist influx.

I had some of the best time of my life living with the Thais back then before mass tourism foked it all up.

The " whole different way " to me now is to stay in nice gaffs taking advantage of the A/C, hot water, pools and all the modern conveniences and great value for money compared to back in the west .

The days of living in beach huts for 30 baht a night and smoking mull 24/7 are long gone but held in my memory forever.

Happy days for sure.

[Stinky]

Looks like a nice time Pat, planing on staying long?

[DJ Pat]

^^I'm back for New years after Xmas

[DJ Pat]

No, this cat was a stray, albiet a well kept one.

[Bangyai]

My two nieces just spent a week there from the 14th of October onwards. Unfortunately it rained almost every day but they managed to get some scuba diving in and had a good time anyway. They said that ' le herb ' was much in evidence and was being used openly by locals and tourists alike ?

[larvidchr]

My two nieces just spent a week there from the 14th of October onwards. Unfortunately it rained almost every day but they managed to get some scuba diving in and had a good time anyway. They said that ' le herb ' was much in evidence and was being used openly by locals and tourists alike ?

Nice thread DJ.

Clear prof to anyone that might be in doubt as to how dangerous addictive and damaging this abuse is, clearly those tourists suffer from severe brain damage and addiction.

Any tourist risking the severe punishments here in Thaiand on a one/two week/month holiday, them coming from countries where they can indulge without any significant risk, must be totally brain-dead.

[DJ Pat]

My two nieces just spent a week there from the 14th of October onwards. Unfortunately it rained almost every day but they managed to get some scuba diving in and had a good time anyway. They said that ' le herb ' was much in evidence and was being used openly by locals and tourists alike ?

Nice thread DJ.

Clear prof to anyone that might be in doubt as to how dangerous addictive and damaging this abuse is, clearly those tourists suffer from severe brain damage and addiction.

Any tourist risking the severe punishments here in Thaiand on a one/two week/month holiday, them coming from countries where they can indulge without any significant risk, must be totally brain-dead.

Weed was in evidence but those openly smoking are putting themselves at risk. I didn't participate, said the odd ''yeah man'' to a far out idiot farang dancing and that was about it.
Lonely Beach is the place for that.

[Bangyai]

My two nieces just spent a week there from the 14th of October onwards. Unfortunately it rained almost every day but they managed to get some scuba diving in and had a good time anyway. They said that ' le herb ' was much in evidence and was being used openly by locals and tourists alike ?

Nice thread DJ.

Clear prof to anyone that might be in doubt as to how dangerous addictive and damaging this abuse is, clearly those tourists suffer from severe brain damage and addiction.

Any tourist risking the severe punishments here in Thaiand on a one/two week/month holiday, them coming from countries where they can indulge without any significant risk, must be totally brain-dead.

Have to agree with you. My nieces don't smoke but were surprised anyway as I had given them dire warnings of the various dangers they should be aware of. They were with their father anyway but nonetheless, seeing the casual attitude prevailing it made my warnings look a bit OTT.

Now me .... well I do like a puff but I never indulge here as I have to much at stake. It's a little treat to look forward to when I'm back in the U.K.

[Chairman Mao]

Alright place to chill for a few days from BKK.

More than 3 days though and it'd get boring.

[Jesper]

I love Koh Chang and Klong prao is my favourite beach in Thailand so far. Lived there for 6 months without getting bored just fine :P

[Jesus Jones]

I love Koh Chang and Klong prao is my favourite beach in Thailand so far. Lived there for 6 months without getting bored just fine :P

I also lived there for 6 months and the last 5 were hell.


Koh Chang from the time i was there which was only 3 years ago has gone down hill extremely fast, especially Kie Bea. However, Zion long beach left of the island is unspoilt for the moment and is very beautiful.

[Bettyboo]

Looks nice.

Never been there... Seems like a long trek from Bkk. Maybe one day.

[Chairman Mao]

Seems like a long trek from Bkk. Maybe one day.

Not really.

About 4.5 hrs in a van from Victory monument.

Or an easy ride on the bike using the 344 from Chonburi to Klaeng.

Leave BKK at 9am, you'll be pulling up the ferry at lunch time.

[Bettyboo]

It's standard stuff isn't it Jesus: over development, raping the beautiful resources. You can map it out:

Samui: fuked.
KPG: fuked.
Pataya: fuked.
Phuket: fuked.
Koh Chang: fuked...

The greedy fuking developers. The dirty fuking locals. The stupid fuking tourists. The corrupt government who'd rather take their split today, and for our kids to have nothing.

Look at this flooding now - anything to do with deforestation and over-development??? When making money is concerned the environment stands no chance...

[Rural Surin]

It's standard stuff isn't it Jesus: over development, raping the beautiful resources. You can map it out:

Samui: fuked.
KPG: fuked.
Pataya: fuked.
Phuket: fuked.
Koh Chang: fuked...

The greedy fuking developers. The dirty fuking locals. The stupid fuking tourists. The corrupt government who'd rather take their split today, and for our kids to have nothing.

Look at this flooding now - anything to do with deforestation and over-development??? When making money is concerned the environment stands no chance...

Indeed, BB. Comes with the territory of insisting to be reflectively civilised, borrowed from the Occidentals. Don't cha just love it? Development and advancements. Mindless consumption is everything, you know... SIWILAI

[socal]

It's standard stuff isn't it Jesus: over development, raping the beautiful resources. You can map it out:

Samui: fuked.
KPG: fuked.
Pataya: fuked.
Phuket: fuked.
Koh Chang: fuked...

The greedy fuking developers. The dirty fuking locals. The stupid fuking tourists. The corrupt government who'd rather take their split today, and for our kids to have nothing.

Look at this flooding now - anything to do with deforestation and over-development??? When making money is concerned the environment stands no chance...

Thats BS man. Koh chang is still a nice little place.