When I wanted to go to Ko Tao for the first time , everybody asked me: "Why do you want to go there?
There's nothing to do."
They were, however, yet to realise my idea of a holliday. I replied quite simply - "Perfect, that's what I'm looking for"
It was in 2530 (1985), and at those times
Tao just had a few huts and one simple
restaurant and a population of 750 people, one policeman, one road and one car.
It didn't have telephones or TV, and a short wave radio was the medical conection to the rest of the world. It was the perfect
hideout for pot heads, who wanted to find their magic mushroom omlet for breakfast. Nowadays you canfind countless
diving schools, gift shops, resorts and even car rentals on this three mile island.
Most of the "farang" come for diving, but not me. I like to eat fish, not look at it. I want my food dead.  I always come to visit my
friend "Dam", who is a Burmese refugee. We went fishing together in the old times, (real video file
coming up soon) but now with the island booming, he found a job in a "supermarket" to make some money.
The days of "One man - one boat - no problem" are over.
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Many so-called "travellers" declare the island to be "over", but it certanly is not. A couple of years ago Tao had a severe
environmetal problem, but now they take care of their garbage and junk, especially of the waterbottles which are widely used.
Resorts are booming, and while I am writing this more huts are being erected. But it's true, there is not alot to do. They try to replicate the full moon parties that are celebrated on Had Rin on Ko Pha Ngan, the next
island 4 hours south with the slow boat.
Divers don't care much about food. They mostly eat burgers and fries. But at
least they are thirsty.
Boozing is always a big issue on the island, and among the natives also. I will never forget the day in 1985 when a fresh shipment of Kao Lao arrived, a cheap brandy, which the
locals mix with Lipovitan, a kind of legal liquid speed, which you can buy everywhere throughout Thailand.
The next day Ko Tao was drunk, and sleeping fishermen lined up the jungle road.
It's here where I
found a real Thai bar: TEE's Yadong Whiskey Bar. A highlight during my Thailand travel in 1999.
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