It's a fairly blue sky with a few white patches in it. Yesterday was also a good day, with a shade of rain and a bit of sunshine here and there. Read more of this blog entry!
Today is again Half Moon Party here on Koh Phangan. A little bit too late if you are not on your way... but to not forget the dates of the next Half Moon Parties, have a look at this Party Schedule flyer.  Links of Interest: Labels: ban tai beach, full moon party Read more of this blog entry!
Koh Phangan is just north of Koh Samui - 20 minutes by Catamaran boat. The media portrays Koh Phangan as purely a Full Moon party island but in actual fact there are numerous resorts and fantastic beaches away from Haad Rin on the South. For example moving North from the port of Thongsala along the West Coast are beaches such as Haad Yao and Haad Son that offer excellent entertainment and views. Mae Haad beach is simply stunning. Moving south from Thongsala are beaches such as Baan Kai and Baan Tai with amazing views of Koh Samui in the near distance. When the lightening storms highlight the bigger island it is amazing. The Eastern side of the island is more remote and the roads to reach it are hard but upon reaching your final destination there are beauties to behold. For example Thong Nai Pan Noi has been listed as one the most beautiful beaches in Asia. Than Sadet has an amazing waterfall that was visited by a past King of Thailand and has his initials burned into the rocks.  Koh Phangan as a whole is being developed now with higher class hotels appearing every year, but it is still more relaxed than Koh Samui or Phuket. Best things to do include a diving or a snorkeling trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park, visit to Bottle Beach, a trip to one of the temple (early in the morning to witness the ceremonies), lay on the beach or hike to one of the waterfalls.  So whether you are partying hard or just chilling out Koh Phangan has much to offer all. Links of Interest:
We arrived on the island on a extremely wet day and spent two nights in Haad Rin on the south of the island which were also V-wet but it was nice to get cosy in our big luxury bungalow... More from Emma: We originally wanted to stay in the north of the island on Thong Nai Pan Noi beach, so when the weather cleared up we headed up there away from Haad Rin (which was a bit more Magaluf than Thailand to be honest), and we found a really good cheap bungalow right on the beach which was much more picturesque! Links of Interest: Labels: thong nai pan beach Read more of this blog entry!
Koh Phangan is home to the world’s largest beach party. Ritualistically every full moon, the town of Haad Rin throws an all-night extravaganza to celebrate the majestic height of the lunar cycle. At its biggest, upwards of 10,000 people show up to pay homage to the beauty of the moon and the magic of the human spirit. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to take part in this wild endeavor. From Brad: Since it is on the other side of the island, I took a hi-speed longboat packed with ambitious partyers over to Haad Rin. The moonlit cruise across the ocean totally sets the mood for the late-night event. The sky echoes feelings of Halloween mischief. Anxiously, the boat hums through the salt water; casually sprayed, but never frightened.
Approaching a beach of thousands of people dancing and screaming is quite a thrilling experience. It is a scene of total mystery. What happens at such an eruption of human enthusiasm?
All night long, people drench themselves with their appetites. Whether they are dancing or watching the performers (see photo of man dancing with fire!), everyone seems to be having a fantastic night. Personally, I spent most of the evening lying at small tables on bamboo mats lit by candle-light talking with whomever sat next to me. You chat about whatever comes up, then moments later it happens all over again with a new group of people. Conversations just arise out of the moment, turn their course, and then seem to disappear as quickly as they came. It’s impossible to exhaust the possibilities of dialogue in a situation like that.
Maybe the most amazing point of the night happened on the sunrise boat-ride home. As you watch the sun pour itself out over the ocean, you become reminded of the grand cycle of the stars. As you were once consumed by the mayhem of the Full Moon, you now find yourself staring at the clearest image you could ever know: the sun.
And at that moment, you remember what it feels like to be alive... Labels: full moon party, haad rin Read more of this blog entry!
 With around 10,000 to 20,000 thousand visitors descending on Koh Phangan each month all year round, many resorts have special conditions regarding minimum nights stay. Especially those on Haad Rin beach. You can get to and from the FMP easily from any resort on the island. This is often the choice of returning visitors as it means the choice to party or to relax is up to you. With the pre Full Moon Party warm up starting a few days before the big night we often recommend Haad Rin to those not planning to sleep for a few days! Links of Interest: Labels: full moon party, haad rin Read more of this blog entry!
Even though the Koh Phangan weather forecast insists on rainy days for tomorrow and the next day, Phangan Island' east coast will offer generally great opportunities to watch the sun rise from the Gulf of Thailand. A beach especially well suited for this eraly morning undertaking would be Thong Nai Pan, located in the center of the east coast. Thong Nai Pan can be easily accessed from Chaloklum to the north or Haad Rin to the south. The great towering cloud formations of on-rolling monsoon fronts offer a great panorama on which the sunlight is reflected in the most amazing red and yellow color tones. Waking up at this hour will be well worth it! Probably the most recommended hotel on Thong Nai Pan Beach for a medium-sized budget would be the Havana Beach Resort. This is a 3-star resort offers a spa, air-conditioned rooms and several restaurants. The entire resort has Wi Fi internet connectivity, so you can confidently bring your laptop. Currently, room rates are around THb 2,800 per night in the Standard Room. Links of Interest: Labels: galleries, thong nai pan beach Read more of this blog entry!
The following is a warning from the Thai Meteorological Department: The low pressure cell over the tip of Indochina will cover Cambodia and the upper Gulf of Thailand by today. More rain is likely with isolated rainfall over the coast of the East and the South.
People in Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun should beware of heavy rain conditions.
Widespread rain is expected in the Gulf with strong wind-wave about 2 meters and greater than 2 meters in thundershower areas. All ships should proceed with caution in the areas. Links of Interest: Read more of this blog entry!
A quick reminder, the next Half Moon Party is on June 11, 2008. The Half moon party happens twice a month, one week before and one week after the full moon party. It tends to become the most enjoyed of all the parties on Koh Phangan and it unanimously "satisfies the soul" (their credo) of the people taking part.
We have to say that, even if it's not a beach party, the site, in the jungle near Ban Tai Village, is absolutely fabulous! For a map of the Half Moon location, click here.  DJ Tripikal at the Half Moon Party on Koh PhanganLinks of Interest: Labels: ban tai beach, full moon party Read more of this blog entry!
The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is one of the busiest, loudest and most exciting parties in the entire world. The enormous beach rave party, most often called the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is known to be attended by over 10,000 people per month (the party is held each month), which is astounding considering the entire island has only 8,000 residents. The all night Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan occurs in Haad Rin and is on the night of every full moon (as the calendar shows). Phangan Full Moon Party Beginnings The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan started with a rather small amount of backpackers and adventurers. The beautiful moon shining down on Koh Phangan and its waters and beaches, captured their interest, and they just danced throughout the night in celebration. Music played at the Full Moon Party The music they danced to at the first Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan was from Goat' Party and while some things have changed throughout the years the fun has not. The Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan has grown through word of mouth and with its fame continually growing; the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan has become a major itinerary event for tourists and adventurers. The music they play now at the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan is mostly drum and bass and reggae, although the bands are generally open to playing anything. And play it they do, as the party lasts through sun up. Drinking and Dancing at the Full Moon Party Drinking and dancing are the staples of the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. Thai alcohol is the most popular on the beach, and the signature drink of the party has traditionally is a collection of a variety of drinks that comes in a big, sealed bucket. It is wise to check the seal on the bucket at the Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan before purchasing it as well, since drink tampering has become a big problem at the Koh Phangan Full Moon Party in recent years. If you are visiting the island and are looking for a good time, check out the monthly Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. If you cannot make it to Phangan Island on the dates of the Full Moon, check out the Half Moon Party and the Black Moon Parties. Read more of this blog entry!
The Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, as the name implies, is organized to coincide with every full moon. The following is the Full Moon Party schedule for the years 2008 and 2009.
- Saturday 19 June, 2008
- Saturday 19 July, 2008
- Saturday 16 August, 2008
- Sunday 14 September, 2008
- Tuesday 14 October, 2008
- Wednesday 12 November, 2008
- Friday 12 December, 2008
- Saturday 10 January, 2009
- Tuesday 10 February, 2009
- Tuesday 10 March, 2009
- Thursday 9 April, 2009
- Saturday 9 May, 2009
- Sunday 7 June, 2009
- Thursday 9 July, 2009
- Thursday 6 August, 2009
- Friday 4 September, 2009
- Sunday 4 October, 2009
- Monday 2 November, 2009
- Wednesday 2 December, 2009
- Thursday 31 December, 2009
Read more of this blog entry!
Phangan Island has a tropical climate and therefore warm weather all year round. Even in the rainy season, there will be days with a lot of sunshine, but swimming can be hazardous if there are strong waves and currents. The temperature generally stays between 24 and 31 Celsius no matter what time of the year. The drier, sunnier, somewhat cooler months are from January through April. This is the best time to enjoy the beaches and the surrounding islands. The winds average 5 knots and the seas are calm. Laze away an afternoon on the white sand, or trek through the lush interior and look for hidden lakes and mysterious ruins. This is when the southwest monsoon visits the island. Though it is the dry season, downpours can still occur. They don't last long. May through December offers a wetter, hotter Koh Phangan. The less friendly northeast monsoon brings rain, strong winds (an average of 10-15 knots that can sometimes gust to 30). The water visibility tends to be less clear, but even during the northeast monsoon season you can find beautiful, safe places to swim year round. This may be the season with the 'worst' weather, but really, Koh Phangan's version of bad weather tends to be a cut above the "good" weather anywhere else on earth! The average amount of sunshine you can expect to get every day, even during the wet season, is 5 to 7 hours.  Sunset from Haad Rin BeachLinks of Interest: Read more of this blog entry!
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Sunset from Haad Rin Beach
