| Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, is not a big island; | | | | Dirty Nellys, the Irish Pub in Mae Haad, offer a |
| indeed it only covers 21 square kilometers. It is | | | | western menu and a tasty pint of Guinness with |
| situated in the Gulf of Thailand off the western | | | | live music some evenings. Choppers, in Sairee |
| seaboard coastline, and it only takes about one | | | | Village, also have live music some evenings, have |
| and half hours to get there by high speed | | | | large screen TV’s and show most sports |
| catamaran from Chumpon. | | | | events. Opposite Choppers is ‘Morava’, |
| The majority of turtles that the island was | | | | an up-market restaurant offering their speciality |
| famous for have moved away, and now it is | | | | of fondue. Just down the road is Papas Tapas, |
| known as one of the major dive sites in Thailand. | | | | offering an extensive menu of very tasty tapas |
| There is only one major road on the island, | | | | dishes. Portabello offers a range of main courses |
| straddling the eastern side of the island, | | | | including pizza and pasta, and there is also Brother |
| connecting the northern communities with those in | | | | Restaurant which has fantastic steaks. |
| the south. Other than that, you will need to take | | | | There are so many places on Koh Tao to eat |
| care when traveling around as most of the other | | | | drink and be merry, it is probably easiest just to |
| roads are dirt tracks. | | | | list a few places to try. |
| I find that the best way to get there from | | | | Chopsticks, in Mae Haad, has authentic Chinese |
| Bangkok is by train to Chumpon and then the | | | | food and is also a nice change from Thai food. |
| catamaran. All in, the one way cost is only about | | | | The house speciality is dim sum. |
| 1,200bt and you can buy both tickets at Hua | | | | The Golden, which is between Mae Haad and |
| Lampong railway station in Bangkok. Depending on | | | | Chalok Ban Khao, has an all you can eat Korean |
| the connections, it takes about twelve hours to | | | | Barbeque for 139bt. |
| get to the island from Bangkok | | | | Safari - Mae Haad - Great Steaks and pizza and |
| Recently I went there to meet up with my mate | | | | pasta also available. |
| Shane and Sao, his lovely wife. Sao runs a | | | | La Matta - Mae Haad. Pizza & pasta, |
| business supporting the dive industry on the island, | | | | takeaway and delivery available |
| and concentrates on renting out DPVs. For the | | | | Café Del So l-Mae Haad - great breakfast. |
| uninitiated, DPVs (Diver Propulsion Vehicles) are | | | | Zest - Mae Haad - for a great sandwich/baguette |
| normally used for diving and snorkeling and can go | | | | and delicious coffee; a perfect start to the day!! |
| to a depth of 30 meters | | | | Farangos - Mae Haad and Sairee Village – pizza |
| Shane has had a number of business ventures in | | | | and pasta. |
| the U.K. and Portugal. I wanted to find out from | | | | Blue Wind Bakery - situated on the beach in |
| Sao what she had learnt from him, and also, what | | | | Sairee - homemade bread and a very varied |
| her experience was of running a business in | | | | menu. It also has accommodation available at a |
| Thailand mainly catering to foreigners. | | | | very reasonable price just meters from the |
| Allan - Ok, Sao, just how much have your learnt | | | | beach. |
| from Shane in running a small business? | | | | Shalimar Indian Restaurant - Sairee Village - |
| Sao - Well, it was quite a novelty moving to | | | | authentic Indian cuisine in a walled garden surround. |
| such a small island, learning to dive and then | | | | Reasonable prices with curries to die for. |
| starting the underwater scooter business. It has | | | | Noori Indian Restaurant - Sairee Beach. Situated |
| been an interesting learning curve, and I am lucky | | | | right on the beach next to the Lotus Bar, Indian |
| that generally all the people I have to deal with | | | | food incorporating some of the best naan breads |
| are all in all a friendly bunch. | | | | I have ever tasted. |
| Allan – What is the market like for DPVs on | | | | Lotus Bar - Sairee Beach - if you are under 50, |
| the island at the moment? | | | | this is a ‘Must Go Place’ and a starting |
| Sao - We are lucky that most of the dive schools | | | | point for the night life; meters from the sea, and |
| on the island are happy to use our services, and | | | | a place to warm up before going on to the late |
| frankly, diving with a DPV is great fun!! | | | | night dancing a little bit further down the beach. |
| Allan – What has been your most frustrating | | | | Sun & Moon bar is a 1st floor bar in Mae |
| business moments on the island? | | | | Haad at the dockside, and a great evening place. |
| Sao - Getting parts for the Seadoo DPVs. Despite | | | | It has a playstation 3 and free Wi-Fi is available |
| the fact that Seadoo is a household name in the | | | | for their customers, plus a balcony to relax on as |
| water sports industry, we normally have more | | | | you watch the sunset. A cocktail as you 'watch |
| broken machines than working, and getting spare | | | | the sun go down'. is what makes the holiday. A |
| parts is a nightmare. At the moment 70% of our | | | | perfect place to just do it! Loads of information |
| DPVs have broken down and we have waited | | | | and advice on Koh Tao is also available. Just ask |
| nearly a year for spare parts. We are hoping that | | | | at the bar staff, and, if they cannot help, then |
| Seadoo can get their house in order and we can | | | | 'They Know Someone Who Can!' - Simon on |
| get back to offering the best service available. | | | | 0810789963 |
| Allan – And what is your favorite part of the | | | | Allan – And how about where to go to party |
| job? | | | | after dark? |
| Sao - Getting out there and talking to people | | | | Shane - After Dark Parties!!! There is always the |
| every day, and best of all hearing that our clients | | | | beach, and most of the late night places are on |
| have had a great time with the DPVs | | | | the beach; sit on the sand enjoying a drink, or get |
| Allan – What advice would you give to | | | | up on that dance floor and show everyone what |
| someone starting a small business in Thailand? | | | | John Travolta didn’t do!!! The late night |
| Sao – If you plan to start a business offering | | | | places are all in the same area, and some are |
| goods or a service, make sure you can rely on | | | | open whilst the others shut. There is Maya, In |
| your suppliers. The buck stops with you. ! | | | | Touch, Moov, one of which is open every night. |
| As I have only been to Koh Tao a couple of | | | | Then there is the Castle on the way to Chalok |
| times, I also thought that it would be good to | | | | Ban Khao that has a party every couple of |
| get Shane’s ideas on what to see and do on | | | | weeks; well worth the wait!!! But don’t expect |
| the island. | | | | to get much sleep. The party at the Castle is an |
| Allan – I know that Koh Tao is famous as a | | | | event!!!! |
| dive site, so what else would you recommend to | | | | Allan – Finally, what should you not do on the |
| do and see during the day? | | | | island? |
| Shane—There is not a great deal to do on the | | | | Shane—Simply, Two Things. |
| island except water sports and chilling out, but we | | | | 1. Avoid drugs. The penalties are harsh. Whilst in |
| do have a mini golf and a bowling alley, | | | | Europe a marijuana joint is a minimal legal |
| paintball, rock climbing and of course water skiing, | | | | infraction, in Thailand, generally, the penalties are |
| wakeboarding, and snorkeling. | | | | over the top, and a joint can cost you a couple |
| A round the Island snorkeling trip makes a great | | | | of thousand US dollars. |
| day out, available with various companies for | | | | Class ‘A’ drugs will definitely put you in |
| around 650bt, stopping in five different bays | | | | prison for many years to come. |
| around the island, but do remember the sun | | | | 2. Do Not Use the front brake on your |
| block!!! | | | | motorcycle . There is so much sand on the road |
| (MELT offers a round the Island trip for 650bt, | | | | that if you use the front brake, you will most |
| including fins, mask, refreshments/soft drinks, tire | | | | likely lock the wheel and fall off. |
| riding and a boom net. | | | | Any damages to the rental bike and you have to |
| Allan – Anything interesting to buy on the | | | | pay over the odds for repairs, so be careful |
| island, e.g. to take home as presents? | | | | when renting a bike, and always check for |
| Shane – Nothing much is produced in Koh Tao | | | | previous damage! |
| and most things come from the mainland, | | | | Johnny from Chopsticks offers the 'Rent A |
| However, Avalon offer large range of aromatic | | | | Wreck' Rental service - |
| and massage oils, toners and various natural | | | | ,john_stafford75@yahoo.co.uk – has older |
| beauty products not readily available everywhere. | | | | bikes which work well but may not look |
| Free advice is available from Andrea ().There is | | | | pretty. Cosmetic bike injury he tends not to |
| also an up and coming U. K. clothes designer | | | | charge for! |
| recently arrived on the island - Nikki Noodles can | | | | To the uninitiated Koh Tao is a wonderful Island |
| design and personally tailor clothes for ladies at a | | | | to visit; relaxed, friendly and somewhere you |
| fraction of European prices. | | | | have to visit before you die. !!!!! |
| Allan – Where would you recommend eating? | | | | With the question and answer session over we |
| 1. Tasty and not expensive. 2. Excellent and not | | | | retired to Sairee Beach for a few well deserved |
| too expansive? | | | | beers. A big thanks you to Shane and Sao for a |
| Shane – There are lots of places on Koh Tao | | | | wonderful insight to life on Koh Tao! |
| to eat and drink. Eating and drinking | | | | Shane and Sao can be contacted on 085 791 |
| establishments on Koh Tao have been opening at | | | | 4610 or 084 840 5997 if you are interested in |
| an alarming rate in the last couple of years | | | | hiring a DPV, or indeed want to know more about |
| For myself, I enjoy a relaxing drink after diving at | | | | Koh Tao. |
| the Safety Stop in Mae Haad, where Western | | | | Need to book some dives, find |
| and Thai food is available on the menu. Brian, the | | | | accommodation? Give us a call and we can point |
| owner from South Africa, also makes a mean | | | | you in the right direction. |
| Biltong (dried beef.). South African style!! | | | | |