25 Sep

25 Sep - Coup fever has died down here on Koh Chang, where a warm welcome awaits all members of the Council for Democratic Reform under Constitutional Monarchy. The tanks are off the streets of Kai Bae, the Klong Son militia is back in its barracks & life on KC is as normal as it ever was. But what passes for normality on Koh Chang if often rather unfathomable. As the following example will attempt to prove beyond all reasonable doubt:

In this role-play you put yourself in the shoes of a DASTA official. Remember, they're the guys responsible for building only half a road around the island, a monstrous concrete walkway though supposedly protected mangroves, building toilets without any water supply and generally making a balls up of any project they come within a mile of.

You are supervising the project to add visitor facilities to the view point above Sea View hotel, Kai Bae, which really does have great views. You decide that what the area really needs are two things in order to attract more visitors. The first is a no-brainer. There should be a huge concrete tower (see photo), as there aren't nearly enough of those on the island and tall structures are popular the world over. I'm betting that they'll be a large sign atop of this pole flashing 'Scenic Viewpoint' in blue neon.

The second is a postbox, so that people can drive up here and post stuff - it's obvious really. However, your challenge is to decide what design you should make the postbox. Something traditionally Thai? Something nautical? Something environmental? Something elephantine? But, if you work for DASTA it's pretty obvious that you want to go down in history as a forward thinking guy, and what's more forward thinking and up-to-the-minute than a scale model of Flash Gordon's rocketship from the 23rd century?

So, now instead of having any of that annoying scenery crap in your holiday snaps, you can pose next to a little red V2 flying bomb.

Good news . . . . 10 days ago the entrance fee to the waterfall was increased from 200 to 400 baht however, on 23 Sept, Thai National News Bureau & Bangkok Post reported that the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department has now seen sense and postponed the increase until November 30, 2007. The department said it did not want the fee adjustment to affect tour businesses which sold the trips to these national parks at old prices. Why they didn't bother telling anyone that they wouldn't increase the prices on Sept 15th, before Sept 15th came around and not a week later is information that can only be divulged on a need to know basis . . . . and members of the public don't need to know, otherwise they'd already know, wouldn't they?

All of which begs the question . . . Why, as of today, is the sign at the entrance to Klong Plu waterfall still showing the entrance fee as 400 baht for foreigners and who's keeping the addition 200 baht/head that's being charged illegally?

Anyone interested in what I'm reliably told is the nicest coffeeshop / internet cafe on Koh Mak? It was built by the owner of a resort but she doesn't have time to run both it & the resort, so it's for lease. Annual rental of 200,000 baht. Brand new, got most of the equipment you need. Includes living accommodation for the owner, high speed satellite internet connection, large garden area, covered outdoor seating. Best of all, unlike every small business you'll see for sale on Koh Chang, there's no 'Key money' required. I'll have photos in a couple of weeks time when I go to Koh Mak. If you're interested let me know & I'll put you in touch with someone on Koh Mak who can provide more details.

Also 1 Rai of land to rent on Whitesands, koh Chang for the same price as renting a couple of shop units. Clifftop, with uninterrupted seaviews - ideal for a restaurant or long stay accommodation. 9 year contract possible.