Koh Kood (aka Ko Kut) is an island in Trat Province in the Gulf of Thailand and the easternmost island before Cambodia. The island has virtually no night life, so if you are after partying this is definitely not the place to go.
Koh Kood is a major island ringed by sleepy seaside villages and coconut plantations. It is about 60+ minutes from the mainland by speedboat.
The island has limited infrastructure and hence is not as popular as nearby Ko Chang. Several resorts on the islands cater to tourists who prefer a quiet and family-friendly atmosphere. The island has great beaches and is a great spot to get away from the "farang crowd"(tourists).
The West coast has some breath-taking beaches, many of them bordered by undeveloped plots of land. Most resorts are along this coast. The water is warm, and many beaches are essentially empty.
Koh Kood is fairly mountainous and is thickly forested by dense jungles. Straying off any of the roads is near impossible without a machete and in any case there are numerous venomous snakes and other nasties in there.
Thus the only natural villages are fishing villages right on the coast. Right on the coast is precisely that because of the steep jungles the place to build the settlements is literally in the sea on stilts. Houses, warehouses, shops and jetties are all linked by timber walkways also on stilts sunk into the seabed.
In recent years (10-20) the Thai government has financed many of these original, sometimes very rickety, walkways with concrete ones on sturdy concrete legs.
New "villages" or resorts are springing up mostly on the west coast to cater for the ever-increasing tourist trade. It remains, however, an extremely tranquil and unspoilt island.
WEDNESDAY 18th: (continued)
Up and about at 05:30 to finalise packing and clearing our room. Well we thought we had everything sorted with plenty of time to get down for one of Citin's big breakfasts at 06:30. Alas, that was not to be because a phone call at 6:20 told us our mini bus had arrived. So, no breakfast and we had to make the driver wait while I checked-out and paid all the bills. Great Thai communication skills; they've all got cell-phones and don't use them when it's important.
Anyway, we were on the road by 06:45 with only two other passengers on board there was ample room to spread out and sleep. Pretty smart mini-bus too very plush inside; full-recline leather seats, air.con, the lot.
Made reasonable time to Trat (240km) within 3.5 hours.
 Aboard the minibus bound for Trat.
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Nearing Trat. |
This was the easy bit as Thai's talent at overcomplicating things kicked in. We exited the mini-bus at a service area where we were to be picked up by another vehicle "within 10 minutes". This turned out to be 40 minutes and eventually a Baht-bus type wagon rolled up with a bunch of unbelievably noisy Chinese tourists on board who screeched and bellowed at each other the entire way to the ferry terminal. Good job we were on an open-sided bus.
We then stopped at what turned out to be sort of grass roofed transit terminal where we were issued tickets for the boat-taxi/ferry. 40 minutes wait at this very hot terminal then we were back on the bus and along the 500 metre long pier to the ferry. Straight on board without delay.
 The open-sided buses.
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Aboard said bus. |
45 minute wait at this hot and humid transit shed.
The boat was a bit scruffy but adequate. About 25 meters long it trundled along at a noisy 20 knots.
One thing worthy of mention is that I was impressed by the crews insistence at donning life-jackets. But my being impressed was short-lived because as soon as we were out in open water and out of sight of land we were told to take them off again. Unbelievable!!! Of course, life-jackets should be worn at all times but especially in deep offshore water.
It took 1.5 hours to reach Koh Kood. We tied up at a jetty used by all sorts of other commercial and trading boats. Interesting arrays of fish and prawns drying out in the sun. Also coconuts in their the thousands.
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TOP LEFT: Ferry.taxi-boat jetty near Trat.
TOP RIGHT: In sight of land? Wear a lifejacket. Out at sea? Take 'em off.
SECOND: On board the "Koh Kood Princess"
THIRD: Laem Ao Salat port on Koh Kood.
FOURTH LEFT: Laem Ao Salat port again.
FOURTH RIGHT: A cargo of coconuts.
BOTTOM LEFT: Tons of prawns drying in the sun.
BOTTOM RIGHT: TT on the bus-taxi on Koh Kood.
We were met by an agent from the Shantaa Resort where we're staying. Up onto the quayside and into yet another Baht-bus type wagon. Just the two of us this time. Bounced along the single track road to the resort.
First impressions OK. Greeted very presently and where then shown to our villa type suite.
Quickly unpacked and sorted stuff out and then, of course, down to the bar for a few thirst quenchers. That done a long stroll down part of the beach under the coconut trees; potentially dangerous in parts due to falling coconuts which can actually kill if they land on your head.
We didn't bother going back to our "hut" as it was 7pm and getting dark, so it was up to the restaurant for some eats.
Both a bit weary so it was bedtime by 9:30. And that was the end of a long day with a huge number of transport modes crammed in.
So to summarize, the Thai way of making simple things complicated:
1. Mini-bus to Trat; 3.5 hours.
2. 40 minute wait at a service area (good coffee).
3. Open sided taxi-bus to a terminal waiting area.
4. 45 minute wait.
5. 2nd open taxi-bus to pier/jetty.
6. Sea journey to Koh Kood main port; 1hr 40mins.
7. Yet another open taxi-bus from the port to Shantaa Resort complex.
But we got here in the end.
