On the partition of a quiet seaside wood house is more than an old photo from circa 1881. It is hard evidence that King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) and his entourage, including his half-brother Prince Damrong Rajanuphap, visited the island in the easternmost province of Trat before it was subject to French rule. Despite the withdrawal of troops, colonial legacies remained for years.
Once a private retreat for the royal family, the 1,200-rai island is now home to hundreds of deer, coconut trees, and local inhabitants. "He came to Koh Kradat 10 times between 1873-1907. His last trip coincided with the transfer of the province's sovereignty [from France] and his return from a European trip," said Thanat Bhumarush, tourism division officer of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, who took us on a guided tour of the archipelago.
