Suddenly the island ferries were disgorging people with suitcases, not backpacks, laptops not guitars, and what is this; trainers not flip-flops?!, and some had children as well.
In the beginning of 1980's brought to Koh Toa some of the first visitors from Koh Phangan who were looking for something new away from the masses and crowds who were going barmy for the Full Moon parties on Koh Phangan. Here they found something more than just a new island to discover and soon the back packer groups were vivacious about the amazing newly found island paradise. Mesmerised by the stunning pure white beaches, the back of beyond aura, and of course the cheap living, back packers soon came in droves. Departure and arrivals were on the local coconut boats, and even then delays of several days were regular. Back to the hammocks and a world of dreams; The boat comes another day . Consequently, as its standing for stunning nature, excellent marine life and astonishing landscapes grew, simple access was made available when improved and safer boats were brought in to deal with the number of back-packers, being engrossed to the island.
Around 1947, then Khun A-Paiwong, Thailand’s then Prime Minister, requested and got a royal pardon for Koh Tao's prisoners and with thanks to a gracious act by The King of Thailand.
From the original bamboo A-Frame huts on the beach for 20 Baht a night, to simple thatched bungalows, the local Thai families reacted quickly to this influx of strangers other wise known as Ferangs.
The settlers lives mainly consisted of cultivating coconuts, developing vegetables and fruit and of course sustaining themselves with fishing. In those early days reaching KoToa was a treacherous boat trip from the nearby islands or the main land, if and when the seas & weather permitted, but the inhabitants continued to increase little by little all the same, even when the easy life was hard and without a great deal of return.
Here they found some thing more then just a new island to explore and soon the backpacker network was buzzing about the wonderful newly found tropical island paradise of Koh Tao.
Mesmerised by the beautiful beaches, the back of beyond aura, and of course the cheap living, back packers soon arrived in droves.
It seems strange that such a tourist tropical paradise should have been originally earmarked as a prison.
Local farmers and fishermen realised that major business people from other places were creating their island to accommodate to the needs of all these new customers and they also, immediately began to open their own businesses to fulfill all the customers demands. |
Private Beach 
