"Koh Sichang" and the Secret of the Pirates.

After a stressful year of writing scripts, I decided to take my son and his friend to Koh Sichang for a two-day break. Our destination was "Pari Hut Resort," which I had fallen in love with at first sight on the internet. I wanted to stay for a few nights to fully enjoy the experience, as I was drawn to the bamboo huts perched on the cliff overlooking the sea.

The most important thing is that it is a dream accommodation. Since I saw it in the drama "Game Raai Game Rak", which has a bamboo house as the accommodation of "Nadech Kugimiya", the protagonist of the story. But at that time, I didn't know where this house was. Until I traveled to Koh Sichang and met Khun Phatsaphon Hongladarom, the owner of Pari Hut Resort, I realized that this place was used to film the drama "Game Raai Game Rak" before.

And so, Khun Phatsaphon arranged for me to stay at the "Whale House," which was used as a filming location for that drama.

During my three-day stay on Koh Sichang, I explored every corner of the island, capturing its beauty and stories for my book. I also took the opportunity to learn about the island's history from a true descendant of its pioneers, Mr. Amphan Phongphaithun, a master architect who single-handedly built the Mali Blue Resort using only bricks and his own hands, without any machinery.

Grandfather Ampa, or as many people call him "Teacher Ampa", was the younger brother of Mrs. Phormphen Hongladarom, or as everyone calls her "Mother Hiang", the wife of Mr. "Makim" or "Mr. Thong Hongladarom", the founder of the "Hongladarom" family and the owner of more than half of the land on Koh Sichang.

The origin of the name "Ko Si Chang" is unclear. The earliest known reference to the island appears in the book "Khamsawan Sri Prachan," written around 1692, which refers to it as "Sa Chang." This suggests that the island was originally called "Sa Chang," which may have evolved into "Si Chang" over time.

The origin and meaning of the name "Ko Si Chang" remain elusive, even for language experts. Various hypotheses have been proposed, with some suggesting it derives from the language of the "Samre" people, a Khmer ethnic group. However, these theories are based on ethnological assumptions and lack definitive evidence regarding the true meaning of the name.

Some believe that "Si Chang" originates from the Chinese word "ซีซัน," meaning "four people farming." The story goes that four Chinese junk traders arrived on the island and, tired of their business, settled down and started farming. Over time, "ซีซัน" is said to have evolved into "Si Chang."

Some believe that "Si Chang" originates from the word "Sing Chang," which means "lion's leg," as the island resembles the shape of a lion's leg.

Furthermore, some cite legends claiming that a hermit, weary of worldly affairs, came to reside and practice asceticism on the island, gaining the respect and admiration of the locals. This led to the island being called "Koh Risi Chang" (Hermit Chang Island). Others attribute the name to a couple named "Si" and "Chang" who were the first inhabitants of the island.

Due to the aforementioned ambiguity, it is impossible to determine the precise origin of the term "Si Chang." No definitive evidence exists. The earliest reference found is in the book "Kamsorn Sri Prach," written around 2235 BE (Buddhist Era), in Chapter 78, where the island is referred to as "Sra Chang."

The author believes that the name "Sra Chang" originated from the term "sra," which in this context does not refer to "water" but rather to "washing," as in "washing hair." Therefore, "Sra Chang" likely signifies "washing away hatred," similar to "Sra Baap" in Chanthaburi, which means "washing away sin."

It is unclear when the term "Sra Chang" was changed to "Si Chang". However, the earliest known reference to "Si Chang" can be found in the "Nirat Thalang" by Nai Mi, a disciple of Sunthorn Phu, who wrote it during his journey to Thalang in 2370 BE.

"Gazing upon the emerald isle of Koh Sichang, my thoughts drift to my beloved, my heart filled with longing."

Fearing that the younger sister would be jealous if the island were named after her, and that this would bring misfortune.

This sentence suggests that by the year 1827, the island of Ko Sichang was already being referred to by its current name.

Official records indicate that King Rama IV of Siam visited Ko Sichang by steamship built in Thailand, named "Siam Arun Samut Phon." During the reign of King Rama VI, Ko Sichang was elevated to the status of a district under Samut Prakan province. Later, it was downgraded to a sub-district under Mueang Samut Prakan district. On January 1, 2003, the Ministry of Interior transferred Ko Sichang sub-district from Mueang Samut Prakan district to Sri Racha district, Chonburi province.

Ko Sichang is currently designated as a district under the jurisdiction of Chonburi province, making it the "smallest district" in Thailand.

Koh Sichang boasts an exceptionally favorable climate, making it an ideal destination for relaxation and recuperation. The island's inhabitants are renowned for their longevity, a testament to the island's salubrious environment. This is further corroborated by the presence of the Chudadhuj Rajathan Palace, commissioned by King Chulalongkorn on the southwestern promontory of the island. The palace complex comprises four royal residences, fourteen pavilions, and a pavilion, adorned with flower gardens, ponds, streams, and fountains fed by natural springs and waterfalls, as per the King's decree.

Between 1887 and 1892, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ordered members of the royal family to visit Koh Sichang for relaxation and recuperation. Among them were Queen Saovabha Phongsri, who later became Queen Sri Patcharindra; Prince Maha Vajiravudh; and Prince Asdang Dejavudh. Notably, Queen Saovabha Phongsri gave birth to a son on Koh Sichang. King Chulalongkorn named the newborn prince "Somdet Phra Chao Luk Ya Ther Chao Fa Chudhadhuj Dharadilok" and the newly built royal residence "Phra Chudadhuj Rajathan" after him.

In ancient times, Ko Sichang was strategically located along the maritime trade route that hugged the coastlines of Vietnam and Cambodia, leading to Chanthaburi, Sattahip, and Ko Sichang before reaching the mouth of the Chao Phraya River. The island's mountainous terrain provided excellent shelter from strong winds and waves, making it an ideal stopover for ships seeking refuge from monsoons or for exchanging goods.

Moreover, this island was once a haven for pirates due to its strategic location and numerous caves, providing ideal hiding places and escape routes.

In this regard, Professor Ampawan Pongpaiboon shared with the author that...

During the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V), when His Majesty ordered the construction of a royal residence on Si Chang Island, your ancestors traveled from China to sell marble in Bangkok. They stopped their junk ship at Si Chang Island, which at that time was sparsely populated.

Professor Amphan recounted that after anchoring their ship, they went ashore to explore the island. They discovered that people were already living there. Upon seeing the Chinese ship, the islanders emerged from their hiding place in a cave. The leader of the islanders inquired about the visitors' identities, origins, and destination. The visitors responded that they were merchants from China who had come to trade in Bangkok. The islanders' leader scrutinized them for a while before returning to the cave and retrieving an object that the visitors did not recognize. He offered it to them, saying, "Take it and use it to invest in your livelihood."

The professor recounted that these people were likely pirates or islanders who, upon seeing people from afar come to make a living, may have taken pity on them and given them the money they had hidden away. However, upon reaching the capital city of Bangkok, they realized that what the people of Si Chang Island had given them was in fact counterfeit money.

Later, when the officials who were building the "Phra Chulachomklao Royal Residence" on Koh Sichang learned that merchants and craftsmen had come from China to sell stones, they contacted them to deliver the stones and had the opportunity to pay their respects to King Chulalongkorn. His Majesty graciously allowed him to serve by arranging for stones to build this royal residence. This led to him being granted the royal favor to claim land on Koh Sichang. After that, he also bought land from the villagers, accumulating it until he had a lot of land on Koh Sichang, but it was left abandoned and unused.

Until recently, the Hongsadarom family has been actively pioneering businesses on Koh Sichang, particularly the Pari Hut Resort. This resort is considered a major attraction on the island, as it is a green resort that emphasizes nature and avoids artificiality. The accommodations are designed to be as close to nature as possible, and the food is prepared without MSG and focuses on chemical-free vegetables.

The inspiration for this resort came from the filming of the movie "Pirate's Cannon" by Nonzee Nimibutr. The film crew constructed an entire village on the site, complete with huts and other structures that captured the essence of island life. After filming concluded, the resort was built, drawing inspiration from the original set design. The goal was to create a natural environment that would immerse guests in the island experience.

"The name 'Parihut' comes from the name of the protagonist in the story 'The Pirate Cannon'. The protagonist's name is 'Pari'. All of our accommodations are named after aquatic animals, in accordance with the protagonist's 'Du Lam' knowledge, which allows him to summon fish and other aquatic creatures like a magic spell. As a result, we have Whale Cottage, Starfish Cottage, and Dolphin Cottage. All of the cottages are named after aquatic animals."

The Pari Hut Resort is located on the other side of the island, offering a high level of privacy and allowing guests to fully experience the atmosphere of the seafaring people. In particular, the huts are all-natural, with no amenities, including drinking water, which is provided in earthenware jars and bottles filled with pure rainwater.

In addition to the resort's emphasis on its natural beauty, Pari Hut also offers exciting water activities for guests, such as cliff jumping into the sea under the close supervision of instructors. For those seeking romance, a short walk up the cliff behind the resort leads to "Love Proclamation Cliff," the most stunning viewpoint.

In addition to operating a hotel business on Koh Sichang, the Hongladarom family has also extended its efforts to environmental conservation on the island. Beyond donating land to the municipality for a sports field and waste disposal site, they have initiated a "bottle-free, waste-free" project. Additionally, they have constructed a temple on Koh Sichang and are planning to build a meditation retreat on the island's highest peak, a location considered to have the best feng shui.

For readers interested in traveling to Koh Sichang, we recommend renting a motorbike upon arrival. Rentals cost 250 baht per day. You can drive around the island's roads, completing the circuit in a single day. The first stop is the scenic viewpoint at Khao Khad, followed by the even higher viewpoint at the Mongkol Buddha Footprint, offering panoramic views of the entire island. This viewpoint is located above the Chao Pho Khao Yai Shrine.

At the summit, there is a stone inscription carved by King Rama V. After admiring the view, visitors can walk or drive down to the Khao Yai Shrine, a sacred landmark on the island that should not be missed.

Travel

Take a bus from Bangkok at Mo Chit or Ekamai bus station to Sriracha.

To cross to Koh Sichang from Sriracha, you can take a ferry. Upon arrival at the pier, you can inquire about various accommodation options. However, if you plan to stay at Pari Hut, it is advisable to book in advance. The resort will arrange for a car to pick you up at the pier and transport you to your private accommodation on the other side of the island.

Thank you.

- Infinity Plus Trading Co., Ltd.

• FOTOPRO THAILAND provides photography equipment.

Thank you, Phatsaphon Hongsdalaromp.

Tel: 038-216-262

Parée Hut Resort, Tel: 038-100-700