Bookings for Christmas 2013

I am not going to bore you with a graph showing visitor numbers to Thailand. Since 1998 the Kingdom claims it has seen year on year increases in visitor numbers. Starting in 1998 with 7.76 million foreign arrivals to 2012 when 22.3 million came to the Land of Smiles.

Many involved in tourism in Thailand feel that the good times will never end. Despite blips caused by the SARS epidemic and the Bird Flu epidemic, the flooding in 2011, the tsunami in 2004 and the coup in 2006 Thailand is more popular than ever. The massive downswing in the world economy in 2008 might have seen a drop in visitors from Europe and the US but it looks like the shortfall was made up for by large numbers of Russian and Chinese tourists. It is thus curious that authorities have been clamping down on Russians and Koreans working as translators and tour guides illegally. The assumption that they are taking jobs away from Thai people is spurious.

This year (2013) has seen the government propose another airport tax to cover unpaid medical expenses. It turns out that most of these expenses are from illegal immigrants. The policy is unclear as if the payment would provide any health cover and how the money would be distributed.

More seriously the Shinawatra government has been trying to push through an amnesty bill that would allow Thaksin Shinawatra to return to the Kingdom. Nothing is more guaranteed to stir up the feelings of the divided political activists in Bangkok and the country as large.

To a casual observer, it seems like the powers that be are testing whether they can do anything to stop the escalating tourist numbers. It also seems that inflation can’t curb the influx of visitors.

However, I’ve been checking the Christmas and New Year bookings in Koh Phangan this year and it is clear that Christmas bookings are down, but New Year is sold out as usual.

Although there is a Haad Rin ‘Moon’ party at Christmas, it is clear that Christmas is more of a family time for hotel bookings. These people are staying way from Koh Phangan this year. Maybe the problems in Bangkok are causing this, or perhaps the continued squeeze caused by the rocky economic recovery in Europe.

In contrast the young people, the backpackers, the gap –year people and the ravers are undeterred by the politics in the capital and the rising prices.

The trouble for Koh Phangan is that it is becoming too dependent on the Full Moon Party for its revenue. If something were to happen to the party then the visitor numbers could half within a month. Last New Year a young Brit was shot. More such tragedies could conceivably close the party down. After all, this is Thailand – not the most predictable place in the world.

And by the way the fish and chips in the place in the photo is not bad at all.

Buri Rasa in Thong Nai Pan Noi: 12th Best Hotel?

Buri Rasa is the latest luxury offering on Thong Nai Pan Noi beach. It is built at the end of the public road that leads to the beach where the Star Huts used to be. For those who remember Star Huts, it will come as no surprise that Buri Rasa is completely dissimilar.

Building on Koh Phangan’s most exclusive beach has been going on frenetically since 2011. The same company has been busy putting up another 20 odd Rasananda units while having to build a whole new resort next door. They have been focusing on the Rasananda villas and this means they are really sweating on the deadlines for Buri Rasa.

It is very much a sign of the times that as far as the internet goes Buri Rasa is ready and open for business. They are already selling rooms. The truth is that only a fraction of the 63 promised rooms are actually up and running. All this is excusable. What is bizarre is that the hotel is already regarded on Trip Advisor as the 12th best hotel on the island. This just shows how flawed Trip Advisor really is. If only idiotic Google would stop displaying 20 pages of their misleading reviews on their searches people might be able to find more information about where they are planning to visit. The internet is the home for a polyphony of voices, not one voice pretending to speak for everyone.

Buri Rasa has gone for contemporary style hotel style rooms with all the mod-cons and private balcony. The resort starts at the edge of the village and leads down to the beach. They have gone for a European style parade of shops and coffee shops complete with covered areas and wall paintings. It promises to be very chic and expensive when finished.

At present the pricing seems to be a bit wrong for Buri Rasa. It has a swimming pool but lacks spa, fitness room, wine cellar and the other amenities that give a place 5 stars, and yet the room rates are comparable with Panviman and Santhiya.

No doubt lots of rooms will be discounted through travel agents and for special promotions. You have to inflate your prices to seen to be giving a bargain when you discount.

In comparison Star Huts were always slow to put up their prices. They had an archaic system for booking in advance and displayed a healthy contempt for interior design, swimming pools and for fusion cooking.

Oh well the times are changing. Virtual hotels championed by corporate internet sites are now the thing.

Muay Thai in Koh Phangan

Muay Thai is the national sport of Thailand. Every boy at school learns the basics. Millions stop what they are doing every Sunday afternoon to watch the televised Muay Thai bouts. Muay Thai champions are famous in Thailand.

And of all the places in Thailand to study Thai boxing, Koh Phangan is one of the best. The reason for this is that the great weather and laid back atmosphere of the small island near Koh Samui seems to suit former champions. There are several 'big names' working for the Muay Thai gyms in Koh Phangan. Thus, if you are looking for a place to learn Muay Thai or improve on your Muay Thai technique then Koh Phangan could be the place for you.

The oldest and best established gym in Koh Phangan is the Jungle Gym in Haad Rin. It has been running for more than 13 years. They have a full range of equipment for working out and also offer yoga classes.

The beautiful and remote beach of Haad Thien (or Haad Tien) in the south east of Koh Phangan is the location for the Horizon Thai Boxing Camp. They have a former champion in residence and offer training sessions every day - one in the morning and one in the evening. Horizon Thai Boxing Camp has a fight now that is staged at Bantai. It is 500 bahts to get in.

The Chorenrit Boxing Stadium in Thongsala offers expert tuition on a one to one basis and has a fight night where they have fights at all weight divisions and include women Muay Thai boxers.

There is a small Thai boxing stadium in Thong Nai Pan. It is called Muay Thai Stadium Pechrunruang. They offer personalized Muay Thai training sessions at competitive prices and have a fight night the Monday before the Full Moon Party during high seasons.

There are a few more stadiums and Muay Thai schools dotted around the island. All of them offer training programs for beginners and advanced students. They also organise for non-Thais to participate in fight nights. If you want to learn Muay Thai, just get a work out, lose some weight or get an insight into Thai culture attending a Muay Thai gym in Koh Phangan may be for you.

Koh Phangan Review - the First Post

For those who have visited the place it needs no description, for those yet to visit it is difficult to describe in a sentence. Koh Phangan is different to Koh Samui, Koh Tao and other even less visited islands but it has its own unique charm.

The abundance of great beaches, the chilled out atmosphere, the easy island life style of service is seriously addictive. After just a few days on the beach you will start wonder why you don't spend every day on the beach. That is the dream and the beauty of Thailand and Koh Phangan in particular.

This blog is about independently describing what Koh Phangan has to offer. It is hoped that the information herein is found useful and amusing. And that readers will chip in with good comments and suggestions.