POPULAR PASTIME

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Hiking
        The main road west of Koh Chang from Klong Son to Kai Bae is a popular route.  On the northern part of the island, you can walk from Ban Klong Son to Had Sai Khao (White Sand Beach). The best hiking routes are in the southern half of the island since there are fewer roads. For those seeking more adventurous hikes, go inland to the steep and forested hills. Shorter hikes to waterfalls from their main entrances are becoming popular. There is a footpath that connects Ban Klong Phrao on the west coast with Klong Mayom on the east. However, this difficult 6 to 8-hour hike should be done with a local guide. 

Bird Sanctuary
        Bird  watching  has  become  a  popular activity on Koh Chang. Favourite sites include Khao Laem and Khao Yai. In these areas, native species such as Koh Chang hornbills are commonly spotted.

Viewing Fireflies
        During the cooler months on Koh Chang you can rent a boat to slowly cruise along the waters at night to see fireflies in the mangroves. Thousands of fireflies send out mating signals as they settle into the mangrove forest, lighting up the whole tree  with  their simultaneous flashing in the dark making it look like rows of Christmas trees. Hotels like the Koh Chang Grand Orchid Resort & Spa and the Aana Resort & Spa provide information on where to go to spot the fireflies and boat service.

Visiting Cambodia
        Visiting  neighbouring  Cambodia  from Trat is gaining popularity. Everyday, mini-buses await passengers who leave in the early morning hours (6:00 a.m. or 8:00 a.m.).  There are two routes; you can go from Trat to Aranyaprathet which takes you to the border and onward to Siem Reap, or cross the border to Cambodia at Haad Lek (Thailand’s border town with Cambodia) into Koh Kong province.

        Air-conditioned mini buses run between Trat and Haad Lek from 5:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. It costs 100 Baht for the almost 1.5 hour trip. You can obtain visa at the border on arrival. From there, you can go to Sihanoukville by road or by boat.  By road, rent a van or motorcycle at the border. Depending on the road conditions (and weather), the trip can take from 4 to 7 hours. By boat, get a river-boat taxi to Koh Kong province for 20-40 Baht. In Koh  Kong, take a speedboat to Sihanoukville. It’s another 3 hours to Phnom Penh from Sihanoukville.

        To go to Siem Reap directly, take a tour bus (about 400 Baht) that leaves for Aranyaprathet, then cross into Poipet on the Cambodian side. It takes 3-6 hours by bus or taxi to Siem Reap.

Postal Service
        There is a government post office on White Sand Beach before Baan San Sabay Resort. However, if you stay at Klong Prao Beach, you can send your mail or postcard at K.P.D. Postal Service.  It is located at V.J. Plaza next to I-Voyager tour company.

Internet Cafes
        Internet  cafes  are everywhere  on  Koh Chang; so you can get in touch with your family and  friends almost round the clock. Almost all of them are equipped with hi-speed internet. Normal fee is 1 to 2 Baht per minute.

Shopping
        There are a number of shops scattered along the road that sells a wide assortment of just about everything. The roadside is like a bazaar of clothes, fashion accessories, souvenirs and household items. Aside from that, there are also shopping centers that houses small boutiques.

        Portobello is a family-run business of more than four years that offers a carefully selected range of craft items. Their core products are lamps (floor and table) which they manufacture on Koh Chang. These lamps are manufactured with a sturdy steel frame around which they mould some of the enormous range of hand made papers that Thailand produces (Saa, Banana, lgusa to name a few). These lamps are produced in a huge variety of shapes, colours and texture and are  sold for retail or wholesale (export) arrangement. Aside from that, the boutique also has a vast variety of unique costume jewelry made from semi-precious stones and silver for both men and women. Their second store, the Portobello Boutique, opened in May 2007  is next door to the Koh Chang Kacha Resort. This time, they have expanded their products to include silk accessories such as silk bags and silk jewelry boxes (bespoke silver jewelry). These products are exported to Europe and are available here on Koh Chang at a fraction of the prices overseas.

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