Koh Chang

     High blue mountains rise from the sea : a dark silhouette on the horizon. From a distance the land mass takes on the shape of a giant elephant rising almost to the base of the clouds that drift landward with the monsoon's prevailing wind. No wonder early visitors - fishermen and pirates - identified this as Chang or elephant island. It was here they sought shelter from storms, where they found plentiful water and fruits to replenish their boats. Those natural assets continue to attract travellers today.

     As the winds change in November, Koh Chang emerges from the mist and storm clouds - a picturesque destination, an emerald island on the eastern seaboard. Until recently Koh Chang was ignored by tourists but that is changing with improved highways, fast bus services and convenient ferry links from Trat Province, Thailand.
     The incentiv to visit Koh Chang is made attractive by Bangkok Airways which flies to the privately owned airport on the mainland from both Bangkok and Samui. The airport is located close to the ferry port where boats take you to Koh Chang island.
     Koh Chang, the second-largest island in Thailand, stands off the Trat province coastline, representing an area of 492 sq. km. Covered in virgin rainforest, its topography is dominated by high mountains rising from shoreline cliffs. This gives Koh Chang island an abundance of waterfalls and streams, rugged almost impassable interior and rainforests. All the beaches and tourist attractions are located on the west coast of Koh Chang that is accessible by road or boat. Originally Koh Chang island was a temporary refuge for fishing boats and pirates during the monsoon. They settled at Salak Petch bay, noted for its freshwater source and shelter.
     Tourism of Koh Chang started during the 1970s but was controlled by local families who built small A-frame bungalows on Klong Phrao beach. It was not until the 1990s that resorts took shape and even today facilities are basic when compared with Samui and Phuket.
     The peak season begins in late October and last until the end of April, with heavy monsoon rains and storms during the rest of the year.

Transfer Trat - Koh Chang
     Getting to Koh Chang is not difficult. Just take the bus (songtaew) from Trat to Laem Ngop on the coast. Ferry from Laem Ngop to Koh Chang takes from 45 minutes to two hours, depending on the boats used. There are three points from where boats leave for Koh Chang.
     Two piers at Thammachat and Koh Chang centre point, one is a ferry pier for visitors taking their car to Koh Chang island. Cost of ferry depends on the kind of car.
     The other is just a passenger ferry pier with wooden boats. Koh Chang Centre Point pier is about 5 km away. It is also for visitors taking their car to Koh Chang island. It starts serving from 7.00 am until 17.00 pm.
     The third point is Natural Bay pier, about 15 km from the others. Ferries leave from 07.00 am until 19.00 pm.
     Once on the island getting to the beaches is an easy matter. The traditional songtaew to Sai Kaew beach, to Klong Phrao beach and to Kai Bae beach are available (to other places you have to charter a baht-bus). Another way to travel in Koh Chang is to rent motorcycle or a mountain bike.
     From Pattaya an air-conditioned minibus leaves in the morning daily at Malibu Travel, Pattaya 2 road.

Accommodation in Koh Chang
     Koh Chang offers all kind of accommodation, from three-star resorts to simple tents, depending on money and taste. A high-end resort is located on Sai Kaew beach but also has standard accommodation and tents. The best sport to visit during sunset is on Laem Chaiyachet, Klong Phrao beach. Standard accommodations there are available. Beautiful corals for scuba diving and a hotel with full facilities you find on Klong Son bay. High-end accommodations are available. You also can enjoy trekking through forests or coconut plantations or fishing at Sai Yoa beach (Long Sand beach). Accommodation there is standard and budget.

Tourest Attractions
     Yuttanawee Memorial is situated on Laem Ngop beach on the south of Koh Chang island, consisting of the fiture of Krom Luang Chumpon Khet Udomsak who is the father of waterway transportation in Thailand, and a warship-shaped museum building with an exhibition of the historic war between Thai and French naval troops fought over the eastern border, 17 January 1941, near Koh Chang.

Beaches

     Klong Phrao beach is located on Laem Chaiyachet near Kai Bae beach. All year round, swimming is possible. The northern part of Klong Phrao is close to Chaiyachet bay with a beautiful landscape.

     Kai Bae beach is close to Klong Phrao beach. There are also quite a few cheap bungalows in the area.
     Sai Yao beach is located on the south of close to Salak Petch bay. Swimming is possible. Enjoy fishing and visit the forest, coconut orchards.
     Bai Laan, one of the longest and quietest beaches, is located next to Kai Bae beach. Swimming is very safe.
     Klong Son bay is located on the northern part of Koh Chang island's west coast. Near the bay, there are lots of beautiful corals.
     Bang Bao fishing village is very interesting because residents in the area build their houses with poles pitched into the sea and the bridge reaching every house is set up to link the community together.

Waterfalls

     Tan Ma Yom waterfalls is located behind Koh Chang National Park office. Walk through the durian Orchard for about 500 metres. There is wonderful three-storey cascade of medium proportions. In the past, King Rama V and VI once visited this waterfall and signed their names on the highest cliff of the cascade.
     Klong Plu waterfall is three-storey fall about 3 km from Klong Phrao. It takes two hours to walk to the waterfall.
     Klong Nonsi waterfall is located on the northernmost section of Koh Chang island. It is 3 km from Baan Daan Mai or 4 km from the National Park office.
     Klong Nueng waterfall is a small waterfall situated remotely from Salak Petch Community near Salak Petch waterfall.
     Tri Petch waterfall 3 km from Salak Petch Community along the orchards of rubber trees.

Pattaya by night, The Biggest Party Place

     During the day, main promenade of Pattaya, the 4-kilometer Beach Road that parallels the Pattaya city's curving Acapulco-like coastline, looks more like a seaside park - cool and breezy under the canopy of palm leaves with the blue calm waters for backdrop.

     As darkness falls, the road suddenly comes alive with twinkling lights from high rise hotels and condos and the neon signs of bars, shops, restaurants and business that cater to tourists.

     Part of the south end of the Pattaya beach street is blocked off and made into a pedestrian mall appropriately called "Pattaya Walking Street".

     The bars here in Pattaya Walking Street often have "hawkers" on the sidewalk to attract business but they are not obtrusive. No one is harassed or menaced. A simple "no" sends them away. Nevertheless, it is not an uncommon sight to see silver-gray-haired white gentlemen walking with their arms around young girls.

     A word of caution though. You may be a faceless stranger in Pattaya, but it is well to remember that during this Orwellian age of live cams you can't really hide in the crowd. Secret cameras are strategically located along Pattaya Beach Road, Pattaya Walking Street and on Jomtien Beach.

     These real time images are fed live to the Internet, allowing people around the world - wives or husbands back home - to watch you as you walk down these roads.

     Of course, such invasion of a visitors's "privacy" doesn't really matter as long as you don't do anything wrong or foolish, like taking a pick-up date for walk along these wired places.

     Two main streets run parallel to the Pattaya Beach Road - the 2nd Road and the 3rd Road. Both are also sull of shops and restaurants. The three streets are intersected by small alleyways, to create a herringbone grid. There are clubs and bars everywhere as well.

     To attract more upscale tourism and families, a number of very elegant hotels have been built around these areas.

     There is the Hard Rock Hotel, not so far from Marriott near the Pattaya town center. The Siam Hotel chain has two high quality comfortable properties and world-class services.

     Pattaya may no longer be the sleepy fishing village it was over 50 years ago. But, thankfully, life here in Pattaya remains neat and easy.

The Biggest Party Place

Whether it's entertainment, food, shopping or beaches, Pattaya has it all.

     Everything under the sun is possible in Pattaya. Lie on the beach and get a tan. Shop at the malls for bargains. Experience a dizzying nightlife till you drop.

     As for dining, there are thousands of restaurants in Pattaya offering Thai, Oriental, Eurapean and Mexican food.

     On Pattaya Walking Street are several restaurants serving seafood. One of these is Lobster Pot. Catch your own fish and watch it being cooked to get an idea of what freshness really means.

     Also included in its menu is a fine selection of steaks and Thai food, served in a place right by the sea on the old Fisherman's Wharf. Service is excellent and the staff speaks English. Prices are also reasonable. The March 2000 edition of Asian Explorer magazine listed the restaurant as one of the best in Pattaya.

     Also strewn along the Pattaya city's main streets are bars, pubs, lounges, karaoke parlors, discos, even stage shows. Some pubs and hotels have house bands, while others have facilities for darts, snooker, billiards and other games.

     The go-go bars, for those seeking wilder fun, are located in Pattaya Land (Soi 2, 7 and 8 of Beach Road), on Soi Yodsak, Soi Yamamoto, Second Road around Soi 9, and Naklua Road.

     When it comes to all-night dancing, the Pattaya Palladium comes to mind. As Asia's largest disco-theater, it can accommodate up to 6,000 people and features the latest in audio visual technology. Pattaya also has the best cross-dressers' cabaret shows in the country - the Alcazar and Tiffany's.

Rayong : East Coast of Thailand, Transfer to Koh Samet

     Besides Pattaya, on the East Coast such as Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat, are gaining popularity with visitors. Located some 180 km. southeast of Bangkok, Rayong is easily accessible from Pattaya. The 80 km. journey along Highway 36 takes approximately one hour.

     It is blessed with an abundance of natural beauty including its 100 km. stretch of coastline, a series of mountains interspersed by flat plains and forested land, and rubber and fruit plantations.

     Being on a seaside location, Rayong is famed for its seafood products and is also well known for its tropical fruits such as rambutan, mangosteen and durian.

     Rayong is known for its fishing villages that are far less developed than the coastal villages near Pattaya, it is truly a haven for visitors seeking rest and relaxation.

     Noteworthy seaside spots include Ban Kon Ao, Hat Sai Thong and Suan Wang Kaeo. Koh Samet, which boasts beautiful white sand beaches and coral reefs ideal for scuba diving is gaining popularity as a side-trip from Pattaya.

     As national parks go the island has very little vegetation. Most of the trees were cut down or burned, but over the last 10 years secondary growth has taken place giving the island shrubs and bushes and plenty of coconut trees along its coast to provide shelter.

The climate in Rayong is tropical, generally warm and humid with abundant rainfall, average temperature is around 28 degrees C. Best months to visit are from November through February.

Finding your way around Rayong
     Famous for its fruits and quiet beaches, the first stop is usually a visit to Koh Samet (Samet Island),  Rayong premier destination.
     Aside from its 100 km. coastline of prime beaches along the Gulf of Thailand and 10 islands with abundant marine resources, Rayong is also with both domestic and international tourists. There are almost as many fruit lovers in the province as those who seek the solace of quiet beaches.
     Popular among visitors from Southeast Asia, the largest island, Koh Samet is only a 40 minutes ferry ride from the mainland. It is often mentioned as the site of the mythical crystal island portrayed in classical Thai literature composed by famous poet, Sunthon Phu (1786 - 1855).

Transfer to Koh Samet
     Take a ferry from Ban Phe district, Rayong province on the mainland to landing points on popular beaches - Ao Klang, Ao Phrao, Ao Wong Duen, Ao Thian and Ao Wai. Ao Klang Pier is main disembarkation port where other services such as taxies converted from pick-up trucks, ATM, tours and restaurants are available. The other beaches have simple piers used for diving and boat excursions. On Koh Samet island, travelling around is made easy by a fleet of passenger pick-up vehicles called "Songtaew". An alternative is to walk between beaches.

     The most famous and largest beach of Koh Samet is Had Sai Kaew (Crystal Sand Beach), about 800 meter long and popular with sunbathers and water sport lovers. The options include jet skiing, circuits on banana boats, and windsurfing.

     The second largest beach of Koh Samet, Ao Wong Deun, is situated in the middle of the eastern side of Koh Samet. It attracts tourist groups and has good quality accommodation. There are also seafood restaurants with excellent sea views.
     For those who have tried the popular areas and want a more peaceful environment of Koh Samet, then Ao Hin Kok and Ao Thapthim, Ao Put Sa, and Ao Kiu Nok fit the bill.

     Besides Koh Samet, this renowned island, Rayong also proves that it has a big future in the competitive niche markets such as scuba diving. The scuba diving at nearby resorts is of good quality but there are also tour programmes that take divers to east coast sites to see marine life as well. Rates depend on the dive spots and accommodation.
     Rayong also has scenic locations such as waterfalls and sunset viewpoints at Khao Laem Ya an area covered in scrub forest. From the cape there are scenic views of Mae Ramphueng Beach and Koh Samet island.

     Each year during May, fruit orchards deliver an amazing harvest that makes Rayong province famous for its fruit festivals. The venue the main festival switches between Mueang and Klaeng districts of Rayong.
     Tourists can enjoy watching floats decorated with fruits, fruit contests, beauty contests, as well as a fruit and seafood fair.
     Seafood products such as shrimp paste, fish sauce and dried seafood are sold alongside tropical fruits such as rambutan, mangosteen and durian.