How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand

Five miles north of Koh Phayam in Ranong province is Koh Chang, Thailand's northernmost island in the Andaman Sea.

How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand - Koh Chang Thailand

Do not confuse this Koh Chang with his big noisy brother off the coast Cambodia or uninhabited limestone rock in the bay Phang Nga Bay, with the same name. This sleepy island, which takes us back to peace and quiet, was found in Thailand by the first intrepid tourists. Still running out of hot water, with electricity turned on through a generator for an hour or two at night, Koh Chang retained its original state.

Passing smaller coves, some of which are lined with mangroves, it took only an hour of leisurely sailing to reach Ao-Yai ("Big Bay"), known as Long Beachwhere we anchored.

How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand

From a distance, the sand seemed to look like charcoal, but when we went ashore, we found that it was covered in black, yellow and white grains. At first, there seemed to be not much room to eat or sleep, but peering under the pines, palms and banyan trees that were overgrown almost the entire coast, a colorful bungalow appeared from the shadows.

“I think he's less popular than Payambecause the beach is not typical white sand, ”Dianna, the owner of Café on the Rock... "But the authorities here will not allow any development, and since I arrived, it has not changed."

Dianna from Germany discovered Koh Chang eight years ago while on vacation. She fell in love with the serenity of the island and with one of its inhabitants. Now, they have a daughter who chatted with us in perfect English. “She speaks three languages,” said Dianne. “She learns English at school and constantly hears it from tourists, speaks Thai with her friends, and speaks German from me. I think her English is better than mine. "

Koh Chang Thailand

For us personally, travel has taught that English is becoming an international language, which is used by partners and friends of different nationalities to communicate with each other. Dianna only speaks a little Thai, so she speaks mainly in English.

By far the majority of visitors to the island Koh Chang are Germans. We didn’t meet any British or Australians other than cruisers from other countries and yet everyone spoke impeccable English. This easy way of communication made us lazy and we regret not taking the Thai lessons when we first came here.

This family of 5 has been traveling the world on a yacht for 9 years.

Café on the Rock originally opened its doors like a bakery on a hill above Long beach... But over the years, Dianna and her husband have added a bar, café, tattoo parlor, open rooms on stilts, and hammocks stretched between trees - all around a small courtyard. This is where you can spend the day just relaxing, reading a book and enjoying a fresh meal in the shade, contemplating the idea of a bamboo tattoo. We drank our lovingly brewed coffee and ate warm fresh bread while taking in the views.

How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand - Koh Chang Thailand

How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand - Koh Chang Thailand

Koh Chang meets with the Myei Archipelago in Myanmar, and in geological terms is itself part of this rarely visited group. The skyline is dotted with misty peaks and cliffs jutting out of the blue sea, with pristine islands, coral reefs, and wildlife. For us, it remains a dream, because to go on our own boat to Myanmar - it is terribly expensive, local taxes go up to thousands of dollars. If the bureaucracy changes and fees fall in the future, this archipelago will be our number one destination. Like most cruisers, we are always looking for the most distant places to visit.

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While Dianna is probably right about most tourists hungry for a beautiful white sand beach, there is a second reason why Koh Chang remained frozen in time in the 1980s. Its strict development laws have meant that only the northern part of the island has multiple concrete roads. These are joined by earthen trails and villages with no more than one shop and a few restaurants at intersections.

How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand - Koh Chang Thailand

There is also a small school and a medical center, but the rest of the island is protected rainforest with rubber plantations and cashew plantations in more accessible areas. It means that hikes and walks are the sights of the islandwhere visitors can immerse themselves in the wild or venture into small coves and bays that are exclusively reserved for them.

The island usually attracts tourists for long stays. They spend their days reading books in a hammock on the porch of a bungalow, or taking leisurely walks in the jungle and along deserted beaches. We met several couples who return year after year, usually to the same bungalow. There are even a few families. Typically in Koh Chang the elderly or those seeking quiet isolation are coming. This is one of the few places where great novels and brilliant paintings are written.

How to Find Your Own Paradise Island in Thailand - Koh Chang Thailand

At night, the coastline looks very different and you become more aware of the bungalows and shacks that lie under the trees. Flickering lights appear, usually candles or colored lamps powered by generators. Silhouetted by torches can be seen on the beach.

In most cases, it is very quiet here. There is no music here unless it's a party where all the locals and tourists flock to one of the few big bars around campfires on the beach. Fresh fish from the bar Freedom, directly opposite us, became our usual dinner. Less than 200 baht for a direct-from-ocean meal, juicy and flavorful with local spices.