Trang is an outstanding province in the southern part of Thailand. It is a coastal city for tourism along the Andaman Sea. In those days, Trang used to be a port for trade with other countries. It also used to a center of transportation to Nakorn Si Thammarat. Trang is the first province where para rubber trees were planted. Praya Rasadanupradit (Kor Simby Na Ranong) too the rubber seeds from Malaysia. An American woman named Edna Bruner Bulkley reached Trang and wrote that “the middle of both seas was the place I could call it My Home. I had already explored through various areas for the distance of 40 miles within almost twenty years. In my opinion, Trang is the most beautiful in Siam. Its nature consists of mountains, streams, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and red soil. Later, the officials carried out intelligent development by building roads throughout this area and it can be accessible to every place.(Siam Was Our Home: A Narrative Memoir of Edna Bruner Bulkley’s years in Thailand in the early 1900’s)
The emblem of Trang is a picture of a lighthouse and waves. The lighthouse represents the port for trade with other countries while waves symbolize small and hilly characteristics of the landscape in Trang. The flower which is considered to be a symbol of Trang is called Sritrang(Jacaranda filicifolia). The city slogan is “Trang people are broad-minded , doing only good deeds.” The slogan for tourism is
A City of Praya Rasada
Broad-minded people
Delicious roast pork
Origin of para rubber
Splendid Sritrang flower
Beautiful coral reefs
Charming and sandy beautiful beaches
Spectacular waterfalls.
Trang is located on the western coast of the south at the latitude 7 4- 8 North and Longtitude 99 15 -100 East. 2 east minute It consists of 4941.519 squaremeters or about 3088,399.30 rais of land. Trang includes 10 districts : Muang, Kantang, Palien, Yatakao, Sikao, Huayod, Wangwisate, Nayong, Rasada and Had Samran. There are 3 sections divided geographically: northern part connecting Bantat Mountain Range with plains among hilly areas and big forestry area near rivers which are full of gold, tin and other minerals, the middle part is a slope connecting the north and it is suitable for growing , and the southern part consisting of coastal low plains and plants can be grown. The weather is cool and pleasant all year round.
The majority of Trang population are half-Chinese Thais, Thais, Muslims and sea gypsy. Eighty percent of them are Buddhists, 15 % are Muslims while 15 % are Christians. There are 120 monasteries, 65 monks forest shelters, 87 mosques, 10 churches and 19 Chinese shrines.
Trang is regarded as a beautiful place with nature and tourists can visit all year round. The weather is so pure that ones can breathe deeply. In January the weather is quite cold with the northeast Moonsoon which is dry and cold from China blowing throughout Thailand. This cools down the temperature and the weather becomes cold. However, as Trang is a coastal area on the west of the south, the temperature slightly goes down occasionally. This causes the weather not to be too cold. There is some rain along the coast but the sky is clear with less strong waves running to the shores. As a result Trang is pleasant to live in as well as to travel. It is rich in nature both on land and in the sea.
Trang covers the beaches of 119 kilometers in length stretching
and challenging for tourists to come. For example Pak Meng Beach, Had Changlang, Yongling Beach, Had San, Had Yao, Chaomai Beach (in the National Sanctuary), and Modtanoi or Rajamangala Beach. (famous for the Underwater Wedding Celebrated for lovers who participate annually)
Trang includes 40 islands as well. The underwater resources are magnificent with colourful coral reefs waiting for divers and snorkelers.
The well-known islands are Koh Chueg , Koh Kradan, and Koh Mook(hidden in the Emerald Cave) These places are challenging tourists to prove their beauty. Trang is a peaceful city and it is worth visiting.
Apart from having delicate and fine sandy beaches, Trang has its own unique about local fishery communities. People live together peaceful and they take very good care of mangroves which are nursery
places for marine life. This is valuable ecological aspect. The picture of various sizes of islands, coral reefs in both shallow and deep water together with emerald seawater are real paradise for tourists who love to touch the underwater world.
In Tran waters, there is a beautiful island called Koh Mook. It is regarded as an Andaman Pearl because the Emerald Cave is hidden there. Visitors can go to Koh Mook by boat at either Kantang port or Kuantungku pier and this takes only 45 minutes. People in Koh Mook built their houses connecting to one another. Most of them are Muslims. The landscape are mountainous full of furit gardens and para rubber plantation. The main occuapation is fishery. Fishermen take their boats out in the sea to look for squids and fish. Some fish are fermented with salt and prepare them for sale. If someone is lucky, real pearls may be found from the shellfish called Hoi Mook. Koh Mook is surrounded by fertile sea grass and coral reefs. The Emerald Cave lies on the western cliff of the island. In the past , this cave used to be a place for boatmen and pirates to avoid storms. Sometimes they hid illegal things but nowadays it is very famous for tourists with its small entrance(4 meters high and 6-8 meters wide) and this is wide enough for boats to go through during the low tide. Anyway, visitors prefer to be dragged along by the guides or to swim through. When we pass the darkness inside the cave, we can see the emerald clear water with small sandy beaches embracing the steep cliff decorated by green leaves and ferns of various kinds with the sky above like a roof.
The Ratanakosin poet, Mr. Naowarat Pongpaiboon, has written in his poem that” who lost the paradise here? The beauty of the Emerald Cave is considered one of the tops of the world.”
Legends of Trang seas are interesting and in the book of Culture and historial Development, a Unique and Local Wisdom and Libong legend written by Mr. Suwat Tonghom. There is a spirit house called Pramuang located at the mouth of Trang River in Tambon Nakluua, southern Kantang District. It has been told that there was a couple who had an only son. They brought him up very well until he grew up and then he married a Millionaire’s daughter from elsewhere.
They owned a number of ships for trade . Once they stopped their ship in front of the man’s parents. The old couple were very glad to see their son again when they heard about this. Thus, they rush to see him and his wife taking mangoes for them. When the son saw his parents in shabby old and torn clothes, he felt ashamed so he did not tell his wife. He drove his parents away and did not allow them to board on his ship. Moreover, he scolded them with rude words and this made the old man his father ashamed and very upset. He then threw the mango onto the shore and became fainted fall on his back into the sea and died suddenly. The old woman, his wife, felt the same and she held her breathe until she died in the water as well. Later the two mangoes grew up to be trees and the old man’s one stretched its branches to the land showing his ignorance to his child while the old woman’s mango turned to the sea showing her constant love for her son. After the son expelled his parents , he continued his journey. Unfortunately, with his bad deed, the ship was wrecked in the storm. All of the items in the ship were scattered and they became islands of Trang. Their names were called after the names of the items. They are Petra(ship), Mu(pig), Nok(birds), Mook(pearl) and Libong. It is still believed that the mango trees are sacred so villagers visit to ask for their wish. Later, when the mangoes tree died, villagers built a spirit house to replace them. This place is called “San PraMuang.”It is located near the pier and the village is called ban pra Muang. This story teaches us a lesson of how important to be grateful. Moreover, this helps to remember the names of the islands as well.
Another legend is about Pak Meng . There is a story telling that once there was an old man named Por Tao Meng. He had a beautiful daughter named Mook. Her beauty had spreaded to Praya Lanta. He sent “Kan Mak” to ask for marriage. Then the prosession of “Kan Mak” went to the bride’s place and performed the wedding ceremony. After they finished, the bridegroom took his bride to Koh Lanta. During their trip back home they were robbed by the pirates. The fight began and the pirates won so they were all killed. Both of Por Tao and Mook lay down in the sea and became islands. All of the items in the ship were scattered away and became various island in Trang such as Kradan(plank of wood), Wan(ring), Ma(horse) , Hai(jar), Chueg(rope) etc. Some of the islands are in Krabi like Hai which is called Ng-ai .