The origins of 'Aana Villa Koh Chang ' and  'Ban Ta Kluay Restaurant' on Koh Chang, Trat Province, today trace back to Mrs. Srirat’s legacy. Her daughter, Rose Unni, now manages the resort and the restaurant, continuing the family tradition of success and exquisite taste within the community.

"From Mangroves to the Capital City" – the opportunity to present Trat’s true essence through the legendary Sritrad restaurant and "Trat Cuisine I Love on the World Map."

At just 19, a beautiful girl from Trat introduced Trat’s unique identity to the city dwellers, showcasing the province’s charm. This led to the slogan, "From Mangroves to the Capital City."

"Mother wanted people in the capital to taste Trat’s flavors in the true Trat style. She chose to source ingredients directly from Trat and Koh Chang to ensure that people in the city could experience the authentic Trat flavors she knew and remembered – with no MSG, no oyster sauce, just real fish sauce, aromatic shrimp paste, fresh seafood, and herbs from Trat," Rose Unni explains about her mother and the legendary taste.

Authentic Fisherman’s Recipes from Grandpa Tia

Observing Tia (the local term for grandfather in Trat) as he took the wooden boats out to sea daily, bringing back fresh seafood, Tia prepared meals in the traditional fisherman style for the family.

Tia’s fisherman-style dishes used fresh seafood, salt, palm sugar, fresh chilies, herbs, and local vegetables. There were no oyster sauces or MSG, and fish sauce was a rare, expensive ingredient at the time. Meals often included dishes like rice mixed with sea salt and chili, young mangrove shoots with shrimp paste chili dip, spicy curry with cardamom, and tamarind fish stew.

As the eldest sister, she had to take care of her siblings and cook when Tia was absent, honing her own culinary skills from a young age. Combining creativity and new ideas, she always had new recipes to share with her siblings.

"Ban Poo Resort" – The Beginning on Koh Chang

After marrying Pol Lt. Col. Somchai Siripeenyo, Mrs. Srirat moved to every province where her husband was posted. Despite the hardships, starting with a first salary of 900 baht, she persevered in her business ventures, from a tailor shop to a bakery and jewelry business. 

"I realized our family needed more to get by, so I worked diligently in various businesses. I saved enough to purchase beachfront property on Koh Chang when it was available."

Koh Chang nearly 30 years ago was still a rough, undeveloped island with only small bungalows and no electricity, relying on oil lamps at night. Despite these conditions, Mrs. Srirat decided to build a resort with her life savings. Thus, "Ban Poo Resort" became the first resort on Koh Chang with an international standard swimming pool.

From Mother to Daughter: The Birth of "Aana Villa Koh Chang"

When the hotel construction was completed, Rose Unni, who had been working in advertising after finishing her studies abroad, left her job to help her mother.

"One day, my mother told me she had completed the hotel and asked me to help her. I left my job immediately because it was my long-standing intention to help my mother. I had always seen her work hard for us."

Rose’s first role was in marketing for Ban Poo Resort. With only herself as staff, she began reaching out to international agents. At that time, Koh Chang was still relatively unknown, but Scandinavian and German agents quickly responded to the resort’s images.

Our wooden-style accommodations were what foreign visitors were yearning for. They weren’t looking for buildings but for an authentic local experience. They appreciated the natural beauty and our local design.

Later, they acquired another piece of land with a central mountain that offered a panoramic 360-degree view of Koh Chang, including the picturesque landscape of Klong Prao waterfall and the Gulf of Thailand.

Standing on that mountain with my mother, we understood that Koh Chang’s appeal was the view before us – the lush green mountain, waterfall, emerald river, and the sea with a cool breeze. That day, we decided to buy the land and create 'Aana Villa Koh Chang,'  Rose recalls the unforgettable moment and the ongoing fulfillment of their vision.

Respecting the Community and Nature

The vision for Aana was to become a village – a small community within Koh Chang featuring a coffee shop and a local eatery. This setup allows Thai and international visitors to experience the local lifestyle and culture.

We want to conduct business with respect for the community, nature, and local culture. We just want Aana Village to be a part of the Koh Chang community.

Preserving as many trees as possible and integrating them into the property, they built the Hill Bar and natural stone swimming pool on the mountain peak, offering visitors a 360-degree view of Koh Chang.

Starting with the traditional recipes remembered and cherished since childhood, the food at Ban Ta Kluay features simple, delicious dishes fresh from local fishermen. Dishes include rice mixed with sea salt and chili, shrimp paste chili dip with young mangrove shoots, spicy cardamom seafood curry, and tamarind fish stew.

The Trat-style cuisine of the mother, reflecting experiences from her childhood to the present, is straightforward and uses seasonal local ingredients, like fried mangrove leaves, spicy cardamom with stinky beans, and more.

Ban Ta Kluay also features traditional wooden fishing boats, inviting visitors to experience sunset cruises, enjoy meals and wine on the boat, and explore the mangroves and fireflies, reminiscent of her childhood experiences with Tia.

Fishing boats, a traditional means of transport in Trat, were once used by King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) during his visit to the Salak Kok village to admire the beautiful scenery.

Today, Mrs. Srirat hopes to preserve Trat’s food, lifestyle, and culture, sharing them with the world through her dishes and the preserved fishing boats.

She aspires for Trat cuisine to someday be recognized globally, just as she enjoys croissants in Vienna, pizza in Naples, and dosa in Kerala.

And when it comes to eating rice mixed with sea salt and chili, Trat is the place to be.

*Exclusive offer for KTC credit card members at AANA Villas Koh Chang: Get a 20% discount on all types of Villas with Plunge Pool from the special Green Season Rate when booking directly with the hotel from August 1, 2024, to October 31, 2024.

For more details, visit [KTC Promotion](https://www.ktc.co.th/promotion/hotel-resort/domestic-hotel/aana-resort-and-spa-koh-chang).

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