The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

The east side of Koh Chang is not that explored by tourists, being a bit of a hike over the mountain and so it remains more of a traditional Thai area. But there are some great things to do and the best way to do it is to grab a scooter or car and drive over. The roads are in good shape for the most part (see the Long Beach outtake for where it gets bad). if you are looking for some great places to stay that are quiet and some cool restaurants then this might just be the place to hang also. Things to do: Grab some great Vietnamese food in Paradise Behind The Sea, head down to the mangrove forest and kayak around this amazing area. Take some really great pictures on Salakphet Bay, visit the most remote beach – Long Beach. Catch some great seafood at various restaurants. Take in some of the best waterfalls on the island, see what a more traditional and less touristy side of Koh Chang looks like…

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Mandalay Restaurant: Definitely a hidden jewel here on the island! Based behind the Amari Hotel and right on the beach: it is a perfect getaway for both locals and travelers. Nothing quite like relaxing right on the beach and watching the sun go down. They have an extensive western and Thai menu with many cocktails and great service. The view of the ocean from here is breath-taking! Seriously this is a beautiful view and well worth the time of coming here! Drive to the Amari Resort in South Klong Prao, and follow the road to the right (follow the river) and keep going. It turns to a dirt road and then keep left all the way to the beach. Hard to find but well worth it! View Klong Prao in a larger map

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Sabay is by far Koh Changs leading go to and be seen nightclub. Don’t let the name “Bar” fool you, this is a full blown, on the beach, big nightclub. Located in the heart of White Sands it is probably the most famous place on the island for nightlife, live bands, great fire-shows and lots of extras. Their house band is a tight performing and excellent group based out of the Philippines and they are good – they play almost every night. Sabay Bar is usually hosting live bands or doing great house music, either way it is something to take in. Done in a  Thailand meets Kon Tiki style decor you can head inside to the non-smoking but A/C dance floor or hang outside on their massive stage and open area, the choice is yours of course. Either way you will be tracked down and considering how busy and how big the place is the service is still great… They have done a ton of renovations over the last year and improved the place basically to the point it is a new place. Still rocks, still a great party and the renovations actually made it just all that much better! Bigger deck, huge outdoor stage, more bar area and food has come on board also! They are listed as hot location for a reason, the biggest club, great live music, great nights every night and overall excellent place, just go and see, I think you will agree View White Sands in a larger map

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Situated just across from the Bangkok-Trat hospital is the (Prince) Admiral Chumphon Memorial. You cannot miss as you look towards the seashore, that’s opposite the mountains you will see a long winding staircase going straight up a small hill. The memorial was started to pay homage to Admiral Chumphon and his life and times. There is a small temple, some old anti-aircraft guns and for most people that come here, if you are not a native Thai and versed in their history; a really amazing view of the island. He was the son of King Rama V, who was instrumental in modernizing and bringing Thailand into the modern age. To say he is a respected King in Thailand is a bit of an understatement, he is very, very revered.   And his life was an interesting one. Many rulers outside of Europe and America at that time the mid 19th century, were rather self-involved and inward looking. On the other hand King Rama V actually was one of the few to send his sons and princes to be educated in the west. Quick Notes about Rama V. He saw the devastation of the the American Civil War had upon his ally and was able to end slavery in Thailand and also forced labor.  He actually offered war-elephants to President Lincoln and although he declined he was very grateful. He also established the modern postal service, railways and first electrical generation plant. If you have some time read up on his life, try to, as it is quite amazing what he brought Thailand out of and into in such a short span of time.  One of his sons to be educated in the west was Prince Chumphon, who attended an American Naval Academy and came back to Thailand to found the modern Thai navy around the turn of the 1900s. He passed away in 1923 and afterwards has also been known as “Admiral Phra Boromawongthir Kromluang Chumphon Khet Udomsak” hence the name of the Memorial on Koh Chang. In Thailand you can find a lot of shrines to him and he closely associated with the modern Thai Navy and the shrine here is built on their land that dots the coast around Koh Chang. Considering the naval battle that occurred here on Koh Chang during WW2, it a good place to have this. It is worth a look to see one of the most respected sons of a beloved King of Thailand and for the average tourist, the view is quite amazing. Two good reasons to go. Please be aware at this time , the area is still under semi-construction so watch your step!

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

In Thailand tattoos were the norm for nearly all men. Men would be tattooed as a sign of spiritual and religious faith. Very rarely were they done as some kind of meaningless artistic display of the tattoo for its own sake but more often as a catalyst for change or to mark a stage in their lives. The most popular style of tattoos in Thailand are the depictions of Buddhist Temples or Buddhist deities. Those who got these temple tattoos or Buddhist deities believed that they contained power to protect them. These tattoos are usually done by Thai monks using India Ink or Rotring ink and were often accompanied by prayers while they were being done. Bamboo tattoos take much longer than western machine tattoos and as such please be prepared for a bit of time in your schedule; the result though is well worth the wait. Thailand is a country and a people that have deep roots in animism and the connection between the spiritual world and the realm we live in. The Thais people believe that all living things have a soul, an indestructible force and that even non-living things have a life force that may have a bearing on a person destiny. So how does this relate to tattoos? Traditionally getting a tattoo was a deeply religious and life altering experience as the tattoo chosen would be an amulet for the bearer and offer some protection or mastery over certain aspects of life. Some protect from evil influences, others protect against physical harm etc.. One can get a gold tattoo on the tongue to make for better salesmanship and a sweeter tongue or even some to keep away bullets, bring luck or even love. Something for everyone.. If you look carefully on Koh Chang you will see that  a lot of people here on the island have very traditional tattoos and they are almost common place per se. Either done at the local shops or even in far away monasteries by monks. There are some great artists here though and compared to the expense back in the west – you will find it a great bargain. So if you are looking to get a tattoo on Koh Chang the question is where to go. There are numerous shops situated in almost every village from White Sands to Lonely Beach and everywhere in between. Best bet is to take a day tour, hit a few shops, look at their work and see if you can see some real examples. Nothing like a great Koh Chang tattoo to remind you of your time here!   Beware of any high quality photos of their “work”, lots of them are taken off the web. Be sure to see some real ink on skin examples     Some good ideas are actually here also:

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

The Silvery Langur is another monkey found on Koh Chang but are much rarer than the macaque. They live in social groups that include usually a single male and several females, with the infants being raised communally. They eat a variety of vegetation and if you want to spot them head into the jeep jungle and look towards the treetops or check out the mangrove and river areas.

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

This a fairly common bird found from India to the Philippines and all through SE Asia. The swift enjoys an open area and farmland makes it easy for them to be spotted . They have a deep fork in their tail and spend most of their lives flying through the air catching insects while in flight, they will never really touch the ground at all. Their lives are truly in the air with them clinging to rock faces and cracks when they need to rest. Their nest is quite uniquely made with it being made on the underside of a palm leaf put together with their own saliva. If they do need to drink they will do it in flight and skim over the water they want. They are superb fliers.    

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

This is the Ashey Drongo, as pointed out below. Found all over SE Asia and certainly here on the island. Started out as the Crow Billed Drongo, but we had to change that look for them deep in the jungle on Koh Chang.  

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Finding a decent steak sometimes can be hard on Koh Chang, but if you want some thing very filling, steaky and good then we can certainly recommend The Hungry Elephant as a remedy for the I-need-some-meat blues. The owners are French and that shines through in their great cooking. They have a great selection of steaks done up just right and with side servings including salad, bread rolls and some of the best mashed potatoes on the island – it certainly is a restaurant that is hard to beat! Throw in a really good price, which they have and it is definetly worth a visit! The decor is simple yet charming with large open air windows, lots of greenery and great service. As an added bonus the service is always top notch and they have wine! To be honest, we eat here a lot and have never had a bad meal. A bit off the beaten track but well worth the drive! They are located in central Pearl Beach about 100m north of the Honda dealership.

Robert

The Koh Chang Sun - The Real Koh Chang Guide

Buffalo Bill: located right across from Sabay bar in Central White Sands. Buffalo Bill Steakhouse is a great place to have a very, very western feel. When we say western we mean really western with a cowboy theme and lots of great food! The servers all have western hats and there is a mechanical bull for the brave to ride. Anything from sirloins to fillet, cheeseburgers and topped with great side dishes – there is something for the carnivore in us on the menu. They have extensive side dishes and be sure to try the garlic mashed potatoes (one of our favorites!) View White Sands in a larger map

Robert