Welcome to Koh Chang! News, Views, Information and Opinion
May
In what is quite an exclusive for Koh Chang we are pleased to learn that Akil the MC will be performing at One Nightclub in White Sand Beach on Saturday the 19th of May. If the name doesn't ring a bell then you might recognise his former band Jurassic 5 - one of the very best hip-hop acts of the last decade - in our humble opinion. He's appearing with DJ Tech 12 and MC Hydrophonics as part of their "Revenge of the Boombox" tour. You can buy tickets in advance for 150 Baht or it's 200 Baht at the door (with a free tequila for ladies). Excellent.
Here's Chai Chet this morning. It's sunny and fiercely hot again (40 degrees!) after a couple of overcast days and a shower or two had lowered temperatures down to slightly below the boiling point of lead. Use factor 100 if you're out in the sun or risk getting burnt to a cinder.
We've been waiting for the tours to begin to this ancient lost temple complex that has been discovered up the Klong Son valley. Before you get your hat and whip out and start planning a raid on Koh Chang's lost ark it is probably worth mentioning that this is the just the gatehouse to a large and pleasingly eccentric private residence. It might not be to everyone's taste but it's pretty good fun and it is a damn sight more original than the hideous faux-Doric column and extra shiny tile combinations that adorn many of Thailand's more luxurious residences.
One thing to take note of is that if you're the road on Koh Chang can get very greasy just when it begins to rain after a long hot spell. If you find yourself on the road when this happens then just go slow and don't hit the brakes too hard. The unfortunate/ fortunate vehicle pictured had a real near miss. They were unlucky to slip off the road but given that this is just a few metres past the viewpoint on the hill over White Sand Beach they were incredibly lucky not to roll a couple of metres further and go over the cliff.
We visited the golf driving range up the Klong Son valley again the other day. It's still a pretty entertaining way to pass an hour. You can't fault the location, the equipment or especially the price (200 baht for a couple of hundred balls). You can use it in preparation for a foray onto the new pitch and putt course down at Siam Royal View if you like.
Or if you aren't an expert golfer then it is still quite a nice stress relief to hit some small white spheres as hard as you can with a big metal stick and watch the often very peculiar results.
April
This picture was taken during the parade that marks the end of Koh Chang's second songkran which this year took place between the 22nd and 28th of April. Some effort was made this year and a host of fairly big Thai bands played each night at a stage erected in Klong Prao. One idea for the future would be to give people a little more advance notice of what is happening, and when. This is especially the case for the closing parade which very few people on the island knew about, Thai or foreign. If it were advertised with some detailed signs in Thai and English it could prove to be a popular and successful tourist attraction.
Pure as the driven snow... you'll notice that we have some new white lines on the road through White Sand Beach. The road surface has been relaid as well. This is a good thing.
So now we have a real road with real road markings.
Wouldn't it be marvellous if we could now have some real pedestrians who realise that meandering down the middle of the road is not a smart idea? And whilst we're dreaming how about some real drivers who drive normally and sensibly from A to B?
Klong Son European-Style House For Sale
This property is located on one Rai (1,600 sqm.) of Chanote land on the quiet road that leads down to the Siam Royal View village. It's just a ten minute stroll from the beach.
The bungalow itself has two bedrooms, both ensuite, as well as a seperate bathroom, lounge, kitchen and a large balcony all set in a nice garden in a green and leafy valley.
The asking price is 7 million baht so if you are interested then Contact us to find out more.
Click on the images on the left to download PDF copies of our most recent Koh Chang Guides and Maps. You can also pick up free printed copies when you come to Thailand. You can find them in Bangkok and Pattaya, at Bangkok and Trat Airports and at hundreds of locations around the Koh Chang area.
Books: Koh Chang's largest bookshop is next to the main Post Office between White Sands Beach and Chai Chet. The Online shop is at www.BooksThailand.com. There are thousands of books in about 20 languages so feel free to come and browse or download a spreadsheet of all current stock here. We also buy books individually and in bulk in case you have any taking up valuable shelf space.
You can also win two books of your choice each month by entering a monthly competition on their Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/BooksThailand. Just answer the questions, choose your preferred books and see if you have the winning entry.
Over the years there have been quite a few businesses and individual 
photographers who have sold CD's of photos of Koh Chang. There have been some good photos but the overall standards have been fairly run-of-the-mill. But now there's a good one that we can endorse wholeheartedly. The photo collection is called - appropriately enough - Koh Chang Photography and has been prepared by Jon Milnes. There are some striking and original images and not just your standard beach view stuff. If you don't believe us then check out the new issue of our Koh Chang, Trat and The Eastern Islands guide. It contains lots of Jon's images and looks great as a result. You can get yourself a copy of the disk at offices of Scuba Zone all over Koh Chang or by calling 084-727-5413 or mailing jonathanmilnes@yahoo.com.
You will find all our Previous Front Page stories and lots of other articles and features here.
