Greetings from Koh Phangan! (Okay, technically I’m back in Koh Tao by now, but I so rarely get to say it from anywhere else these days…) My forty-eight hours over on Koh Phangan, Koh Tao’s split-personality island neighbor, were bliss. I was there to meet up with college BFF and Wanderland regular Zoe as well as two of her close childhood friends, and enjoy a little mini-getaway. In just a short time we experienced both sides of the Phangan coin — first, the hippie-dippie yogi scene, and next, the frenetic party one. Yes, we went to the Full Moon Party.
Frankly, I didn’t mind what we got up to, I was just so darn excited to be on vacation. I actually left my computer behind on Koh Tao and I think it’s the first time we’ve been physically separated in years. I hope this won’t hurt laptop’s feelings but I have to admit it felt great to not have work as a fallback option to fill any lulls in the action — instead, I read, I slept, I chatted. I fell even more in love with Koh Phangan — which I’ve been getting to know slowly over the years — and absolutely plan to return again and again in the future.
After a few brief days in Tao showing my crew around, I’ll be back on the road again! Can’t wait to check in again next week. Till then…
Photo A
Macrobiotic sushi at Karma Cafe
Photo B
Sunset at Charm Beach Resort — more on this gem of a place soon
Photo C
Poolside bliss
Photo D
My girl Zoe — I’ve missed her so much!
Which photo is your favorite?
Tough choice this week! I’d go for A. For the amazing colours.
I’m not much of a sushi eater typically but how could I say no to that rainbow of a dish!
The colours in Photo B are gorgeous!
Intense tropical, I like to call them 🙂
Never heard of Koh Phangan before, and it doesn’t look that small on the map at all. I think I will virtually explore all Thailand just by reading your blog. At least I would know where exactly to go next time.
I can’t describe how badly I wanna go there again.
I am enjoying slowly reaching every inch of this gorgeous country 🙂 A couple new destinations every year, and I’ll get there eventually! Ha.
I think Photo D… I love the way the sun is coming through the leaves.
It was just the perfect time of day for a little palm tree photo shoot!
Glad to hear you had a great trip – and an actual vacation! Can’t wait to read more, as usual. We’ve got tons of snow and lameness currently in DC so I’m hoarding posts about tropical locations as an attempt to mentally escape 🙂
Loving Photo A. Looks absolutely delicious!
Yeah, it’s pretty bizarre seeing all the snowstorm pictures from the white sand of a beach! I’ve been loving them though — reminds me of the excitement of a snow day!
You went to the Fullmoon party, how fun! Koh Phanang has always been my favorite place next to Koh Tao so your photos bring back so many happy memories.
I definitely am starting to appreciate Koh Phangan for all that it’s worth. I look forward to spending more time there in the future! Love how unique and different all these islands are.
I like D because the photo says fun to me.
We were indeed having a blast 🙂
Beautiful photos. A seems so tantalizing!
Almost too pretty to eat 😉
Hi Alex,
I’ve been thinking of making some sushi myself recently. So definitely number 1!
That sounds fun! I might be into a vegetarian sushi class…
Photo D is amazing! I have never seen a tree like that. The cocktail in Photo B also looks very tasty.
I was actually wondering recently how it happens that they grow like that, because I’ve seen them a few times around Thailand. Anyone who knows, please chime in!
I am going to follow and leave my laptop when we head to Little Corn in Nicaragua – four days of relaxing, diving, and not blogging – bliss! Hard choice this week but the sushi is so pretty so photo A for me.
That sounds amaaaaaazing Gemma. I’m absolutely dying to go there — can’t wait to see your photos.
All of your photography is so wonderful. Photo A would have to be my favorite… That is some colorful sushi! Hope it was as good as it looks. 🙂
Thanks Emily, that’s so sweet! It was indeed delicious (and healthy, too!)
Had a difficult time choosing between A and D – the colours in A are fantastic, but I like the sense of adventure and composition of D…okay, D it is!
Koh Phangan is on my list for ’16, so this was timely. Cheers!
Nice! Pop next door to Koh Tao while you’re at it, for a totally different experience 🙂
The macrobiotic sushi look aroi mak and the photo at charm beach look suay!
Kappun ka 🙂
Zoe, always Zoe!!
I’ll let her know she’s getting some comment love 🙂
The sushi picture looks delicious! 🙂
It was as good as it looked!
I think everything looks looks awesome! Though Photo A is calling out to me a lot because I miss Asia a LOT. (I’ll soon be back in Asia this March so…. woohoo, authentic Asian food here I come!)
Nice! What a lovely thing to look forward to 🙂
Photo D – Zoe seems to have amazing balance
I know! I tried climbing up after her and I was not quite so sure footed…
Haha we were at the same Full Moon Party and I have the burn marks on my arm and leg (from the fire rope) to prove it!
Photo D because I’m sure I took a picture on that same tree.
Ha, oh man! Hope your burns are better 🙂
Photo D is incredible! Just discovered your blog, and I must say, I’m loving it so far.
Thanks Heather! I appreciate that — hope you’ll stick around and hang with us 🙂
Photo A for the intense tropical colors!
I can’t get enough of them!