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Published: March 4th 2011
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We arrived at Thongsala Pier on Koh Phangan (http://wikitravel.org/en/Ko_Pha_Ngan) about 5PM. According to Wiki Travel, Ko Pha Ngan is an island off the Central Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand, halfway between the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Tao. It is known as a land of coconut trees and, above all, the world famous full moon parties.
Since this is my second visit to Phangan, I knew what to expect and was anxious to see the reactions of the ladies when we arrived at our landing spot on the other side of the island in the village of Thong Nai Pan Noi. This sleepy little beach, which is just around the corner to Thong Nai Pan Yai, is tropical paradise found. (http://wikitravel.org/en/Thong_Nai_Pan)
The pickup truck ride from the pier was not as bad as I had remembered from 2008 since they have made some big improvements to the roads. We decided on modest bamboo hut accommodations at a very nice place called Baan Pan Buri. For 18USD per night with AC and hot water, it was perfect except for the rock hard bed we had to sleep on. Oh well, guess I should not be complaining right? For me,
this would have to be my top pick for the trip, with Chaing Mai a close second.
Our few days in Phangan we spent catching up with an old friend Jeff and I met in 2008, traveling by long tail boat to a couple of remote beaches and sipping coconut coolers and mojitos on the beach. We did manage to buy a few souvenirs that we managed to cram in out backs along with our belongings. Not sure where the time went, but sadly our adventures are coming to a close for this trip.
Recapping our Thailand adventure goes like this.
Thailand’s diversity of people differences in geography makes Thailand quite adventurous. Thailand smacks you in the face the second you step outside the airport terminal. The heavy humidity and putrid whiff of Asian city air at times is one that will grow on you as you travel the region, but upon emerging from the air-conditioned sanctuary of the airport for the first time, it's like stepping into sweltering humid oven (I know, and I am from Phoenix). Within 5 breaths you'll get used to it, and from that point on you'll be riding the rollercoaster that
is Thailand.
The land of smiles is a full-on Asian assault of cool, beauty, sleaze, and pure uninhibited fun. And despite its growing reputation for offering many of the trappings of the developed world at a fraction of the price, you can still find those rural remote areas with little to no electricity and maybe a mosquito net over a firm bed.
Rainforest, tropical islands, steamy cities, coconut trees, mountains, monsoons, coral reef - Thailand packs a lot into its 198,000 square miles (about the same size as Spain), which when coupled with it's much lower cost of living offers an explanation as to its popularity without having to dig too much deeper for answers.
Many of the backpacker crowds are drawn to the islands on either side of the country's southern-most stretch, although it's probably fair to say that most folks come and then go away again without perhaps knowing the sheer amount of islands in Thailand. There are 10 to 15 main islands dotted on the fringes of both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand but about 500-or-so for another visit, at least for us.
From what I have read, Ko Pha
Ngan's infamous Full Moon Party constitutes probably the single biggest draw of young people to Thailand, in a ruthlessly efficient cycle that ensures a steady stream business through neighboring islands in the build-up and the aftermath - clever these Thais - although credit for the Full Moon Party phenomenon really needs to go to the small bunch of European backpackers who threw the original tiny parties at Paradise Bungalows in the days when Ko Pha Ngan was still just 'that other island over there' to tourists on Samui (and there you were thinking it was some kind of Buddhist ritual, eh?).
We found the people of Thailand incredibly accommodating and friendly. Overall, we had an incredible vacation and will have memories that we will have for a lifetime. Hopefully you enjoyed my blog. Next stop in a few months, Saint Maarten.
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Todd Wilhelm
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Thanks for the updates Phil. It was fun following your trip. We hope to go there soon and check it out.