KOH CHANG
&
TRAT Province |
A province of 52 islands, beautiful red
gemstones, delicious fruits, ridgeback dogs and Battle of Chang Island,
at the top of the Eastern Border.
Trat is the Kingdom's eastern most province.
It is famous for the source of the world's finest rubies and sapphires
and is emerging as one of the newest international beach resorts with
many unspoiled and fascinating islands. Located some 315 kilometres
from Bangkok, the province is renowned for its abundance of tropical
fruits and plenty of interesting places to visit, including many
historical attractions.
Historical
records showed that Trat was ruled for a brief period by the French
during the French Colonization of Indochina in the reign of King
Chulalongkorn (King Rama V). On March 23rd, 1906, the far sighted Kong
negotiated for returning of those provinces that is Pratabong, Siemrat
and Srisophon, now being the land of Cambodia, to
French.
The
exchanging of diploma ceremony, held at the provincial hall, was
presided over by representatives of the two countries. The Thai
representatives were led by Phraya Srithep, who was later known as
Phraya Maha Amatayathibodi, in his capacity as "Palad Toon Chalong", a
high ranking position at the Interior Ministry. The French Delegates
were headed by Monsieur Rousseau Residant. March 23rd, therefore, had
been designated by the residents of the province as Trat's independence
day, officially known as "Wan Trat Ramruek" or Trat's day of
Remembrance. To show their gratitude for the King's effort to grain the
province's independence, They had a statue of King Chulalongkorn
erected at the provincial hall.
In
1942, a French ship invaded the Thai waters in Trat province, and was
done by the Thai Navy. The fighting that ensued, known as "The Battle
of Chang Island", brought fame to the Royal Thai Navy, whose men fought
bravely against the invaders. Despite the lost of three Thai
Warships--- The Ratchburi, The Songkhla, The Thonburi: their heroic
deeds remained in the memory of the Thai people in general an the
residents of Trat in particular.
Trat's
main attractions are the 52 islands off its coast, the most famous of
which is Koh Chang, preserving the National Marine Park, and its chain
of islands and islets that dot the Gulf of Thailand from Laem Ngob to
Muang and Khlong Yai districts. Other important islands include Koh
Laoya, Koh Wai, Koh Ngam, Koh Prao, Koh Kradat, Koh Mak and Koh Kood,
which are very short distances from one another and each of them has
its own unique natural beauty. At Laem Ngob, 17 kilometres from Trat,
is the pier where regular ferries are available for visitors to travel
around the beautiful islands of the group of Chang Island National
Marine Park. A stretching of long white sandy beach dotted with coconut
tree, and
fruit orchards are an ordinary sight on Koh Chang, the largest and
busiest island in Trat and Thailand's second largest Island after
Phuket. Covering an area of 429 square kilometres, Koh Chang, boasts
several amazing natural wonders that blend magnificently with the
traditional way of life such as 70 % virgin islands rainforest, steep
hills, many cliffs, glassy waterfalls ,notable wildlife, white soft
sandy beaches and underwater world plenty of coral reefs, stony sea
floors and colourful marine life. Moreover, the numerous of fruit
orchards draw greenery the islands.
Most
of scenic beaches and bays are on the west side spreading from the
north to the south that include Khlong Son Bay, White Sand Beach,
Khlong Prao Beach and Kai Bae Beach. A road cut through the western
shore almost reaching Kai Bae Beach where there is a natural trail
passing through Bai Lan Bay and Kruat Bay meandering through west
forest land to Bang Bao Fishing Village on the foot of the hill in the
south.
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