|
|
Koh Tao, little more than 21
km², is located about 70 km east of the coastline between Suratthani and
Chumphon, in the Gulf of
Thailand.
Koh Tao means Turtle Island, because in the past the waters in the area had
been rich with sea turtles, nowadays they have mostly moved on to other
breeding grounds.
Initially the island was not inhabited, there was only the occasional
fisherman from the neighboring islands, looking for shelter in a storm or
just taking a break before continuing his tiresome journey.
On June 18, 1899, His Majesty the King Chulalongkorn (Rama V 1868-1910)
visited Koh Tao and left as evidence his monogram on a huge boulder at Jor
Por Ror Bay next to
Sairee Beach.
This place is worshipped even today and should be treated with respect.
From 1933 on the island was used as a political prison. In 1947, Khun A-Paiwong,
prime minister at the time, pleaded and received a royal pardon for all
prisoners on the island. Everybody was taken to the Suratthani shore and the
"Turtle" was abandoned again. But not for long. In the same year Khun Ueam
and his twin brother Khun Oh reached Koh Tao from the neighboring
Koh Phangan by trying out their traditional sail boat, for that time a
quite long and dangerous journey. Even though the island was still under
royal patronage, it didn’t stop these pioneers claiming themselves a good
piece of land on today's Sairee Beach. Having brought their families over,
they began to cultivate and harvest the excellent soil. The first generation
of today's community had settled!
 They lived a very
simple and tough life harvesting coconuts, fishing and growing vegetables,
which were also traded with Koh Phangan. Despite the difficulties in
reaching the island, the population then grew steadily.
In the eighties the first travelers discovered the island paradise and their
special "backpacker-network" quickly made it widely known and a popular
destination. As a consequence, bigger, faster and safer boats were used to
allow easier access to Koh Tao.
During the past ten years the reputation of Turtle Island's natural beauty,
especially its marine life and coral reefs, spread the world over and the
number of paradise seekers increased rapidly.
It soon became one of the major dive sites in Thailand, attracting beginners
and professionals alike. The local businesses expanded immediately to catch
up with the needs of the new clientele. The island today, though still
remaining an absolute paradise, caters for all tastes and budgets.
If you are interested in more historical details and stories about the
Turtle, go to visit Khun Orawan at Seashell Resort, Sairee. She is the
great-grand daughter of Khun Ueam and will be more than glad to give you
further information.
|
|
