They were all released and transported to Suratthani on the mainland and KoTao was a desert islandyet again. And yes, you can still snorkel with sharks, and perhaps the odd turtle too, just check out our web site for all the local diveshops available. Departures and arrivals were on the local coconut boats, and even then delays of several days were common practice, so back to the hammock and a world of dreams, the boat will come another day. In 1947, Khun A-Paiwong, Thailands Prime Minister at the time, asked for and received a royal pardon for the islands political prisoners and thanks to a affable act by His Majesty the King. They were released and transported to Suratthani on the mainland and the islandwas discarded once again. This was in the same year that the initial people laid claim to a big part of terrain on what is now identified as Sai Ree Beach. These were the twin brothers Khun Ueam and Khun Oh who reached KoTao by a small boat from the next island of Koh Phangan.
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