27 May

27 May - It appears that some of my fellow countrymen are made of sterner stuff than myself, as the results from the KC Triathlon bear out. Englishman Peter Gibney (not pictured right) proved to be the toughest competitor at the Koh Chang International Triathlon on Sunday, leading all legs of the event before winning the title and 150,000 Baht in prize money. (I have a feeling that this wasn't his first triathlon.)

In second place was another Brit, Simon Thomas. All in all, around 150 people took part in the event which cot around 3 million baht to organise. Unfortunately, none of this amount was spent on informing locals that the road outside Chang Park Resort in Kai Bae would be sealed off for an hour or two whilst the cyclists U-turned there - resulting in a tailback.

Yesterday, I went to see the GM of a resort to get some info for an article I have to write about them for a tourist mag. She wasn't there but an underling was dispatched to speak to me and let me know that "we" didn't know what she wanted to say about the resort as "We haven't had a meeting about we what to say yet." I went away fearing the worst . . ."we" will want to use the word 'paradise' way too often; will make repeated references to a 'pristine, palm fringed, white sand beach' that exists only in the eye of your graphic artist; and will probably expect me to include some slogan that your marketing department came up with that has zero meaning to anyone with English as a first, second or third language. Fortunately, that didn't turn out to be the case when I went back this morning I had a cup of tea, a nice tour with her and permission to write whatever I wanted, with the proviso it was all positive. :-)

'The Nation' newspaper will be running a Koh Chang special shortly. Their salesgirls are currently phoning businesses on KC to try to sell advertising spots and mentions in the upcoming feature. Another option for anyone wanting to see their resort or business's name in the national media is the offer from TATV - (Tourist Authority TV, on UBC Channel 9) to make 25 minute long TV show about your place, and just how great it is, for only 35,000 baht - discounted from 45,000 baht. On the face of it it sounds like a good deal but I've yet to meet someone who's actually sat through a program on this station.

8 May

8 May - Photo on the right taken at Klong Son, there's no need to head to Bangbao to see fishing boats and locals doing local things.

The Koh Chang International Triathlon organisers have surprised everyone by getting a website (www.kochangtriathlon.com) up & running before the event actually takes place on May 21st. It includes all the information any potential competitor needs . . . in Thai. But worth checking back as the event draws closer as content seems to be added every few days.

The three killers of Jimmy '"The best pianist I've ever played with" says Elton John' Hall, who was murdered on Whitesands in late 2005, were sentenced to 30 years in jail last week. His mate Stevie Strong bought out a tribute CD 'Rainbows Cafe' containing the last recording Jimmy ever made. Try as I might I cant find it in iTunes, maybe not as popular as Elton's 'Candle in the Wind' which, no doubt, would have benefited greatly from having Jimmy tinkling the ivories.

Had an email from the boss of Siam Beach Resort on Lonely Beach, assuring me that they are going well and truly upmarket with a 4-star resort being the aim. No doubt complete with guards to shoo away unwanted backpacking types. 24 new rooms have already been built with another 60 on the way next year. Take a look at the new website: www.SiamBeachResort.in.th. A site that is actually well written and interesting to read, which makes a change for a resort webpage.

Get your handkerchiefs ready, the Associated Press ran the tear jerking story of Bangkok woman Ariya Manee who was planning to drive down to Koh Chang for her honeymoon. Due to a rise in the price of gasoline she was now seriously considering abandoning her dream honeymoon. (Apparently, this was the best case of an oil price rise induced hardship the journalist could find in a city of 12 million.) My first thought was, gasoline cost to drive Bkk-KC-Bkk 6 months ago = around 800 baht. Cost now = around 1200 baht. So, this woman will consider cancelling her honeymoon for the sake of 400 baht, but she can afford to own a car which I'll bet she still drives to work everyday, rather than taking the bus.

24 Apr

April 24 - The Koh Chang International Triathlon Championship, is set for May 21st. Competitors will start at White Sand Beach with a 1.5km swim, then cycle 40km before a 10km run to the finish line at the Koh Chang Lagoon Hotel. Prizes, medals for participants and no doubt lots of posing and handshakes from local dignitaries. No idea how you can enter though as the tourist authority's finely tuned publicity machine hasn't made this info public yet.

Spa Samui, will open their new Koh Chang operation aimed at the healthy and want to be healthy sections of the tourist market, on May 1st. The new venture is named either 'The Spa Koh Chang Resort' or 'Seamazon Spa the Health Resort Koh Chang' depending on if you read the info on www.spasamui.com/spakohchang.htm or www.seamazon.com. It's located down in Salakkok, hidden away amongst the mangroves. I had a quick look in when I was in the area the other week and very nice it is too but still needs quite a lot of work doing if it really is opening on May 1st. But it may well be the resort to put Salakkok on the tourist map.

Anyone want an internet cafe on Whitesands? Good location, well known, everything in place - just turn up, hand over 320,000 baht and it's yours.

Anyone want to rent a bungalow long term. A friend has one for 10,000 baht/month to lease long term - 6 or 12 month renewable contract. Bedroom, bathroom, living room and additional room that can be used for storage/spare room etc. Quiet location, off road parking, and has a private swimming pool you can use. (We lived in the bungalow next door to this when we first came to Koh Chang.)

Lots of traffic jams on Koh Chang over Songkran, the Thai New Year holidays. The Bangkok Post reckoned on over 2,000 cars coming onto the island. The traffic flow wasn't helped on the day when everyone was leaving, as a Thai royal decided to come here for a day trip which resulted in roads being cordoned off for her and her entourage. The party ate at Aana Resort, (wouldn't be my choice for a mid-afternoon meal) and I'm sure my excitement at seeing her matched her delight at watching the farang opposite.

The second installment of my 'Koh Chang Real Estate' trilogy for Thailand Real Estate Magazine is online now at their site and in print in the magazine. Read it on www.thailand-property-guide.com.

Down in Bangbao it appears a new housing project is underway, a couple of signs for 'Aana Resident Project' have appeared. Call me cautious but it's always a worrying sign when a developer doesn't make any effort to check the three words of English on the sign.

A new coffee booth opened a week ago in Kai Bae, Sawasdee Coffee. The good news is that it's cheap - 35 baht for iced coffee. The bad news is that it's undrinkable.