KOH WAI
Page 24
KOH WAI is a small island in Ko Chang Archipelago, Trat Province, eastern Thailand. It is part of Mu Ko Chang National Park. The island has irregular shape and is 3 km long and 1 km wide at the widest point. The island has fabulous views over the other islands of archipelago.
The eastern part of the island is encircled by coral reef and has white coral-sand beaches while the west part is more rugged and hilly. This serves as a nesting ground for numerous species of birds. The interior is covered by forest jungle. There are daily boat connections to Ko Chang, Ko Mak, and the mainland.
I think the charm that surrounds Koh Wai Island is the peace and quiet one can find when they arrive. Koh Wai is still relatively untouched and although it does get quite a bit of traffic during the busy season it still remains beautiful and looks like something out of a dream. The relaxed atmosphere and charm of the locals makes for an unbelievably pleasurable experience. The simple accommodations located right in front of the beach in most cases allow for relaxation that is intensified by the melodies of the ocean waves. If you are a nature lover as I am, you can find an abundance of life all around Koh Wai. Take time to explore and discover many beautiful birds, reptiles and ocean life while your there. Make sure you get a chance to visit a peace of heaven on earth for those who like simple unspoiled pleasures in life! Koh Wai is really a paradise beach resort
|  |
|  |
TOP LEFT: Waiting at the Krom Luang Pier and the Penan Speedboat ferry terminal.
TOP RIGHT: Krom Luang Pier with Koh Chang in the distance looking a lot like the Hebrides until you get closer and notice the palm and banana trees.
BOTTOM LEFT: The Penan speedboat ferry with its twin 250hp Yamaha outboards.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Zooming along at 35knots past Koh Chang.
Movie of the passage over to Koh Wai.
THURSDAY 14th NOVEMBER 2013:
As mentioned on the previous page, we arrived on Ko Wai at around 17:00 after a very speedy trip over from the mainland thanks to the twin 250hp Yamaha outboard engines. First impressions were WOW! A very tranquil setting greeted us as we walked down the seemingly rickety wooden pier. A smallish stretch of gorgeous white coral sand fringed with tall palm trees with a row of small bungalows beyond.
Checked-in at Reception at the Pakarang Resort and quickly settled into our tiny bungalow at the water’s edge. I say tiny as that’s what it is; one small room and a shower & wc with a balcony-cum-patio-cum-veranda at the front which is were I am now writing this.
The bungalow is somewhat basic; nowhere really to hang clothes and no furniture other than a bed and a table and chair. But, I have to say, it’s all we need.
OK, first things first. The sea looked so calm and inviting that we were in it and snorkelling around within 10 minutes of arriving in the bungalow; all of 10 paces to the water’s edge. The water’s crystal-clear and at around 27º it was lovely. Back for a shower to lose the seawater and chill-out on the veranda.
As usual it got pretty dark by 18:00 and the mosquitoes started to pester; big buggers too here. A session on the jungle strength DEET sorted the little devils out.
Electricity supply is by local generator so high-energy items like kettles and hair dryers are not allowed in the rooms.
Koh Wai is a tiny island with one narrow concreted road which is all of 400 metres long. This "roadway" disintegrates at either end into a very rough, rocky undulating track. This track is has many bits which you have to clamber up and down. It passes dozens of tiny white sandy coves and rocky inlets and it merely just stops at both ends and you can go no further. Access to the northern side of the island is by boat only.
There is not a single motorised vehicle on Koh Wai and I have been told there’s a grand total of 5 bicycles which are owned by locals and resort staff…. That’s it!!!
OK, time to take a look around. Naturally, the bar was the first port-of-call. The first surprise was how laid-back the place is. One just helps oneself to any snacks and it’s up to you to ensure it goes on the slate.
Another surprise was how cheap the beer is; 40 Baht for a bottle of Chang and 70 Baht for the bigger 660ml size. That’s amongst the cheapest I’ve seen.
Sat at the water’s edge with the beers and chatted away until hunger set-in. Another surprise was how good the food is and how very reasonable the price of it is. Went to bed around 22:00 with the sound of the waves lapping on the sand just outside the window…. aaah!
|  |
|  |
|  |
|  |
TOP LEFT: This is the view of the Pakarang Resort from the ferry as we approached Koh Wai. This is the "Pavillion"; it's used by Thai Universities as a marine biology teaching centre.
TOP RIGHT: Another first sight as we walked from the ferry berth along the jetty to the resort's reception.
SECOND ROW: Two photos taken when we first arrived and gave us that "wow" feeling. It was all so peaceful!
THIRD LEFT: This is the tiny 'bungalow' which was all ours for three days.
THIRD RIGHT: Photo taken from the veranda of the bungalow. Not far from the sea.
BOTTOM LEFT: This is the main trunk-road of Koh Wai. It runs for around 400 metres before deteriorating into a rough track.
- BOTTOM RIGHT: The Reception at Pakarang Resort.
FRIDAY 15th:
Up and about at 07:00 and by 07:35 we were ordering breakfast. Again unbelievably laid-back. You make your own coffee, tea or whatever and just order from a huge menu (don’t know where they keep all this range of food).
My Aircard doesn’t work here and neither do the phones but wi-fi is available when sitting in the bar/restaurant area at 2 Baht/minute. A sign in the bar says “add up your own internet time” but none of the staff seem to give a damn. It’s a very slow service but better than nothing. Another bonus…. NO TV!!!
After breakfast we went for a long walk along a coastal track which was very rugged in places passing numerous beach bungalows and numerous lovely little sandy coves.
Eventually the track petered-out and we could go no further safely. I made an attempt at attacking the interior of the island but after a mere 10 metres it was literally impenetrable jungle and very precipitous so I was forced to give up. We had been warned by the resort staff not to venture inland because of the dangers; amongst other things venomous snakes.
One irritation, unfortunately, is the wind which had picked up overnight and was blowing a good force 5–6 onshore. This turned last nights gin-clear water into a disappointing milkiness; not good for snorkelling. We did manage a bit of snorkelling at a remote little cove but it was a not as good as we’d hoped.
Lovely and fresh even at 32ºC with a cloudy sky but in the breeze not at all humid.
Later in the morning we walked in the opposite direction until the track petered-out that way and had another swim/snorkel at yet another of the sandy coves.
In the afternoon around four big rickety ferry type boats arrived and disgorged at least several hundred tourists who swamped our tranquil little haven for just under an hour before they all buggered off leaving us to the sound of the waves and jungle noises again. This visitation is a daily occurrence.
|  |
|  |
|  |
TOP LEFT: Could this be the Scottish Hebrides? A windy day on Koh Wai but it's still 30º.
TOP RIGHT: One of numerous bungalows, shacks dotted along the northern coast of Koh Wai.
CENTRE LEFT: A group of thatched bungalows on the beach with a Bhuddist 'shrine'.
CENTRE RIGHT: Yet another deserted white coral-sand beach.
BOTTOM ROW: ... and again. There's so many of them.
SATURDAY 16th:
Khemjira’s birthday is today. Nothing special planned as where we are nothing special can be planned. No posh restaurants or classy shops, just Ko Wai in all its tranquil glory.
The wind dropped overnight and by 09:00 the sun was out and the palm trees hardly stirred in the light breeze.
As yesterday we trekked west along the coastal track until we could go no further. The track happens to terminate at a narrow strip of coral sand fringed with dark volcanic rock. An ideal place to get some snorkelling in. Water much, much clearer than yesterday and we spent a good hour or more poking about amongst the coral. Lots of fish and the coral’s relatively unspoilt and undamaged; not up to Red Sea standards of course but pretty good.
One thing’s clear, Aom loves snorkelling. I can’t get her out of the water once she’s in there.
We had the entire beach to ourselves; not a soul in sight; extremely peaceful surrounded simply by nature. In fact we pass a sign back on the track aways written in English which says “Quiet please… just enjoy Nature”. Couldn’t agree more.
On the way back towards the resort, soft-lad here stumbled and lost my footing whilst gawking at the gorgeous scenery; I didn’t fall but a razor sharp piece of rock gouged a deep cut in my shin which bled alarmingly. No option other than to continue to base by which time the bleeding had ceased.
Had a relaxing lunch after which we borrowed one of the resorts canoes/kayaks and paddled to the far eastern edge of the island and around the low headland. On the way back we nudged the boat into a minute sandy inlet (about 3 metres wide), beached it and snorkelled around for an hour. Back at base by 17:00. The only problem is my gashed shin got more painful, made worse by going into the sea with an open wound I guess.
SATURDAY EVENING:
As mentioned, this is Khemjira’s birthday so when we went along to the bar/restaurant I slipped a mention to the staff who obliged by creating a large fruit salad with a load of candles on it. Of course they were the type of candle that refuses to go out when birthday-girl blows on them; they immediately sparkle back into flame. Anyway, we had a lovely meal and then settled in on the beach under the palm trees for drinks until bed-time; absolutely perfect.
This is the Birthday 'trifle' created by the resort staff for Aom; a nice touch.
... more on Koh Wai on the next page.
