If you’re a fan of the Thai islands you will love these amazing sunsets!
What do you think? Which is your favourite? Leave your comments below!
It’s usually the hedonistic parties of Haad Rin that get the tongues wagging when it comes to Koh Phangan but those looking for health and vitality will find there is also much to talk about here. Here are some ideas for spending your time healthily on the island.
If waking up on this beautiful beach wasn’t enough to get you going you can get your daily vitamin fix at the café, which serves a variety of healthy superfoods and whole foods as well as offering you the chance to take part in raw food workshops to brush up your dietary knowledge and open up a new world of possibilities in nutrition.
Staying on Sri Thanu (why not, it’s a lovely calm beach!) you could then indulge yourself in some pilates as you seek to energise the body and build tone, stength and flexibility.
Also on Sri Thanu beach is Agama Yoga who are dedicated to promoting a pure and genuine yoga discipline among participants.
Clients here can take part in daily drop-in Hatha yoga classes as well as more intensive courses, detox’s and meditation retreats.
Feeling less energetic now? Not a problem.. why not visit one of the island’s many stunning bays for a swim or a snorkel. There are so many gorgeous beaches on Koh Phangan that you’ll probably struggle to choose one straight away. If so, use our handy beach guide or top 10 to help you decide.
Alternatively, you could hire a bicycle from Funbike Shop in the main town of Thong Sala and explore the island’s hidden areas by yourself or alternatively by way of joining a tour organised by the shop.
If you’re feeling a little tired by this point and need to soothe your aches and pains then you could get your body pampered by way of a massage. The Thai islands are known for their many beachside massage huts where lucky recipients have their muscles and joints rejuvenated by this ancient and invigorating practice. A variety of massage treatments are available around Koh Phangan with particular specialism available in Thong Sala at practices such as the Kamala and Siam healing centres.
[by daverugby83]
How does this kind of itinerary grab you for a healthy day in paradise?
Something for the sunset lovers out there. Here are a few belting Koh Phangan sunsets to salivate over.
So there you have it.. just 3 of an endless supply of killer light-shows from Koh Phangan, where sunsets are like the icing on the cake.. day after day. The beaches are a perfect place to witness the sunsets and luckily there are a plentiful supply to choose from.
To this day I look back on learning to dive in 2001 as one of the best and most enjoyable experiences of my life. What made it really special was that I was lucky enough to do it with Koh Phangan as my base. I knew I would be on the island for a couple of months and had planned to make learning to dive one of the first things I did when I got there.
I’d done a bit of research on diving schools beforehand by zipping round the island on a motorbike and checking out the different places I could learn at. I remember stopping at loads of great beaches and speaking to lots of helpful instructors who filled me in on the details of what the course would entail. In the end I opted to learn with Chanchot and his team at ‘Lotus Diving‘ in Chaloklam. I really liked the set up there and it also gave me an excuse to ride my favourite roads on the island twice a day from my base at the time, Moonlight Bungalows which was located just outside Thong Sala on the road to Ban Tai.
It was brilliant to wake up early on each morning of the course and head out on the motorbike for the ride up the western side of the island towards Chaloklam.
I particularly loved the part of the journey that took me past the beautiful west coast beaches and then over the top of the north-west hills before the steep drop down into Chaloklam.. the views of the sea were cracking at certain stages and the feeling of freedom I had has not been matched to this day! Once I arrived it was down to business with learning all about the technical aspects of diving in the classroom sessions.
After the swotting it was time to head to Mae Haad for the daily lesson in the waters just off the shore of the beach and around Koh Ma.. what an amazing location to be learning to dive!
My instructor Dave taught me the basics at first and then we moved on to fin pivots which I struggled with from memory! When we needed a rest we joined the other member of the Lotus team who had been keeping a watchful eye on us and making sure we were safe. Lunch was had whilst gently swinging in a hammock on the beach before resuming for some more lessons in early afternoon.
I got my PADI open water certification at the end of the week and was thrilled to then go on more dives and be lucky enough to see the following creatures in the waters and dive sites around Koh Phangan over the next few weeks –
At the end of each day I would ride my bike back to Moonlight Bungalows and hang out in the restaurant there to catch up with friends over delicious green curries and a few Changs. A few of my friends were also learning to dive so we caught up on what we’d seen and learnt that day. This was the icing on the cake of wonderful days and unforgettable experiences.
Thank you Lotus Diving and thank you Koh Phangan!
Here are some links to other popular diving schools on Koh Phangan to choose from..
One of the first things I mention when talking to people about Koh Phangan is that I think the lack of an airport there is a massive plus point for the island because I feel it has helped it keep it’s natural charm intact over the years.
But that’s a pretty selfish point of view as I’m not a local and I don’t live there or run a business there. With the airport currently due to be opened in late 2014 I thought I’d have a think about it in a bit more depth, starting with the negative points as I see them.
Noise. The whole point of a paradise island (in my opinion) is that it’s quiet. Adding an airport on Koh Phangan will mean that there is a lot more noise pollution in the area, especially around the serene beaches on the north and eastern coast. It will most likely be heard all around the island though, as it’s not particularly large.
Overcrowding. One of my favourite times to visit Koh Phangan is when the Full Moon Party is not happening. This is because I find it too busy and crowded at that time. Will the addition of an airport and the ease of access this will bring mean that it starts to pack out much more during these ‘down times’? That would be a shame although the counter argument to this would be more revenue for local businesses (see below).
The Samui effect. Koh Samui was probably a very different place back in the days before it had an airport. I’d hate to think of Koh Phangan turning into a mini Benidorm with lots of high-rise hotels and shopping centres being built there in future.. that’s a horrible thought!
Increased income for local people & businesses. This is the biggest plus point for me. An airport will bring more people to the island which means greater opportunities for those who inhabit the island to earn more income. As a result the economy of the island would likely be improved and more businesses could both survive and thrive.
Ease of access for emergencies. What if you lived on the island (or were visiting) and needed emergency treatment after an accident? What if you needed to drop everything and be with a loved one elsewhere in Thailand or the world? The presence of an airport would save you a few precious hours in times of need as you wouldn’t have to catch a boat to Samui and a taxi to the airport there before catching your flight.
Pollution. Would an aeroplane really pollute the environment of Surat Thani any more than the boats which pump out tons of black fumes on each journey to and from the island? I’m no expert on pollution but I think this is a bit of a weak argument for this reason (either for or against). Sure, if you could get to the island by electric powered train then this would be a factor as adding aeroplanes into the mix would definitely increase pollution levels.
I’m glad I thought about this a bit more as it’s made me see things from a few different viewpoints. There’s a website devoted to the airport here which you can get lots more information from.
Do you have an opinion on the matter?
post image by flickr