Koh Tao, little more than 21 km, is
located about 70 km east of the coastline between Suratthani
and Chumphon, in the Gulf of Thailand.
Koh Tao means Turtle Island, because in the past the
waters in the area had been rich with sea turtles, nowadays
they have mostly moved on to other breeding grounds.
Initially the island was not inhabited, there was only
the occasional fisherman from the neighboring islands,
looking for shelter in a storm or just taking a break
before continuing his tiresome journey.
On June 18, 1899, His Majesty the King Chulalongkorn
(Rama V 1868-1910) visited Koh Tao and left as evidence
his monogram on a huge boulder at Jor Por Ror Bay next
to Sairee Beach. This place is worshipped even today
and should be treated with respect.
From 1933 on the island was used as a political prison.
In 1947, Khun A-Paiwong, prime minister at the time,
pleaded and received a royal pardon for all prisoners
on the island. Everybody was taken to the Suratthani
shore and the "Turtle" was abandoned again.
But not for long. In the same year Khun Ueam and his
twin brother Khun Oh reached Koh Tao from the neighboring
Koh Phangan by trying out their traditional sail boat,
for that time a quite long and dangerous journey.
Even though the island was still under royal patronage,
it didn’t stop these pioneers claiming themselves
a good piece of land on today's Sairee Beach. Having
brought their families over, they began to cultivate
and harvest the excellent soil. The first generation
of today's community had settled!
 They
lived a very simple and tough life harvesting coconuts,
fishing and growing vegetables, which were also traded
with Koh Phangan. Despite the difficulties in reaching
the island, the population then grew steadily.
In the eighties the first travelers discovered the
island paradise and their special "backpacker-network"
quickly made it widely known and a popular destination.
As a consequence, bigger, faster and safer boats were
used to allow easier access to Koh Tao.
During the past ten years the reputation of Turtle
Island's natural beauty, especially its marine life
and coral reefs, spread the world over and the number
of paradise seekers increased rapidly.
It soon became one of the major dive sites in Thailand,
attracting beginners and professionals alike. The
local businesses expanded immediately to catch up
with the needs of the new clientele. The island today,
though still remaining an absolute paradise, caters
for all tastes and budgets. If you are interested
in more historical details and stories about the Turtle,
go to visit Khun Orawan at Seashell Resort, Sairee.
She is the great-grand daughter of Khun Ueam and will
be more than glad to give you further information.
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