Thread: Koh Chang - A good place to chill Oct'2010

Nice thread Pat and thanks for sharing.

Keep the pictures coming.

Nice... Thanks DJ.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Be careful on your bikes there.

The main clinic is reportedly 4,000b before you see the doctor.

Don't like it, get to the ferry port before it closes and drive to Trat.

What kind of fool would go there without medical and road insurance?

Originally Posted by 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...

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

Pat - the water looks brown?
We went as far as Trat in May, didn't go across to KC due to cloudy/dirty water conditions all down that coast from Laem Sing/Chanthaburi south after rainfall
were you kayaking on the Trat side or the west side? Trat's an easy 3hrs from here I'd like to go but only when conditions suit diving/snorkelling
cheers for the pics

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Does the ferry take cars?

Yes, and the roads are lethal when wet. The mini van drivers are also the worst i've experienced yet.

Originally Posted by genghis61

were you kayaking on the Trat side or the west side?

The west side. The East side is pretty bare.

Trat's an easy 3hrs from here I'd like to go but only when conditions suit diving/snorkelling

They have day trips out and around the more southern islands like Koh wai, kud, mak etc.

One company was pick up, lunch, and a day trip of snorkling to four islands for 700b.

Things certainly change.

I lived 3 month at White Sand Beach in 1996.
And I recall this little road side bar boasting 4 tables and with a bill board at the front proudly proclaiming:

"Buy one bottle of Mekhong and smoke all the weed you want for free".

Most guest were at the time longtermers and we got to get to know each other very well.
One from our "crew" a norwegian lad took so much fancy to the Mekhong/weed offer, that we had to carry him to his hut in a catatonic state on a regular basis.

Heaven.

And we had real beach front bungalows in those days.
Norwegian lad never knew what hit him, didn`t wake up till the flood had subsided.

Mac Bungalow on White Sand Beach.

White sand beach seemed pretty ok, our beach was a bit rocky but the sea was clean on the west side.

A few water logged roads but nothing unmanageable.

Originally Posted by Jesus Jones

^^ I just don't understand why Thai engineers and developers can't work it out. I commented a few times to friends on the island that the two new developments at White sands are a recipe. They witness it every year but continue to build these projects in precarious places.

Basically there are no planning laws that bite except the National Park area which is reasonably well defended. The old plantation areas are outside the park and are up for grabs. The only thing that talks is money.

White Sands Beach is reasonably well managed though the latest developments such as KC Grande are far too big.

On my blog you'll find pictures showing the pleasand bamboo huts under the palm trees, then shots of the demolition and building work and finally of a big glitsy package tour hotel.

So very sad.

Andrew

Apart from me pissing in the sea at night on White Sands (to avoid getting 'massaged' and the hot towel treatment every time I visited the mens room) I thought it was quite nice.

What? .. No quips about the cat eating your mouse?

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

One company was pick up, lunch, and a day trip of snorkling to four islands for 700b.

That's now only 500B and is one of the best values on Koh Chang. I've gone on it about 6 times.

Have to get back over to Koh Chang sometime. Any resort recommendations?

Think I stayed at White Sands last time.

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

One company was pick up, lunch, and a day trip of snorkling to four islands for 700b.

That's now only 500B and is one of the best values on Koh Chang. I've gone on it about 6 times.

Next time I pop down I'll probably do:

Day 1: Snorkeling trip.
Day 2: Riding the bike around the island checking out the waterfalls/pools for swimming.
Day 3. Treetop adventure park and kayaking out to the nearby island.
Day 4: All day sitting on the beach eating/drinking.
Day 5: Either home or another snorkeling trip.

I get restless and any more than this down there would get boring.

I think all the "resorts" are way overpriced for what you get there. Give me a simple beach bungalow anytime.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Have to get back over to Koh Chang sometime. Any resort recommendations?

Think I stayed at White Sands last time.

I prefer the south of the Island. Bang Bao is a nice beach. Far less tourists, and people in general.

Bang Bao beach.

Originally Posted by keekwai

I think all the "resorts" are way overpriced for what you get there. Give me a simple beach bungalow anytime.

They are still available.
This is Tiger Hut on Klong Prao Beach:



And this the bungalow operation right next door, forgot the name.

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Have to get back over to Koh Chang sometime. Any resort recommendations?

Think I stayed at White Sands last time.

If you dont mind staying some 500 metres away from the beach, I found this to be excellent value/location and good standard/service:

Klong Prao Garden Hill Resort:





We slept 2 adults and 2 children in the room 2 years ago in december during the xmas holidays.
1.200 baht including breakfast.

The rooms adjoing the pool area are the most attraktive.

Thai Garden Hill Resort, Koh Chang, Thailand

I am with you on that.
But whatever rocks your boat, I guess.

After we spent a few nights at Tiger Hut and the bungalow operation next door, the missus - less impressed with the accomo - declared:
I have slept on a straw mat on the floor under a mosquito net in a stilt house in Isan most of my life.
NOW, I want some luxury. Or something to that effect.
As she is the one who must be obeyed in order to maintain the general good mood, we moved to the Thai Garden Hill Resort.

I visited a very retro bungalow operation at the end of a dirt track of the southeastern side of the island.
It was situated on a hill side right next to the beach.
Here the price of a room was still only 200 baht.

Aana Resort was 1700 low season online offer, cos we wanted a bit of home comforts.

Next time I'd definitely downgrade as there are so many places in White Sands for around 700-1000.