Days 220-222 -- Koh Phangan

Wow! Where to begin...so I took off from quiet Koh Tao and headed over to Koh Phangan. I think I mentioned last time I was here that I heard about an secluded beach accessible only by water that I never quite had a chance to make it to. Well it had bothered me and part of the reason I changed my flight was because I really had to see what this place was all about....So after a two hour ferry in seas that made the boat move like a roller coaster, I arrived into Koh Phangan and took a bus to Haad Rin, home of the infamous Full Moon Party. Spent no more than 5 minutes there...just booking my return ticket back to Bangkok since I didn't know if I'd be back in civilization anytime soon and jumped in the boat taxi to Haad Yuan. I arrived at Big Blue Guest House and got a bungalow near the beach for 350 baht, 10USD. What an amazing place....Its the nearest beach (by boat) to Haad Rin, about 10 minutes, but whats so crazy is that its relatively unheard of...very few tourists, and VERY laid back! The beach is clean, clear water, you can swim, not too crowded....I can go on forever, but really guys, this place has to be the highlight of my entire SE Asia trip. Parts of me are glad I came at the end since soo many people I met got there and have been stuck for two weeks plus.

Haad Yuan, is a really small beach on the southern side of Koh Phangan. Can't find much about it on the internet and its guests primarily all come only by word of mouth from other travelers (thanks Jason in Langkawi!). Very laid back, very chill, very beautiful and an amnesty agreements with the locals for parties 2 nights a week (Friday/Sunday). Only one internet cafe (extremely expensive), no cell phone service, no scooters, no taxis...literally the only way to get out of here is take a boat taxi at 150 baht to Haad Rin or another part of the island. Everyone I met here was more interesting than most of the people I met in most of SE Asia (referring to the typical meathead travelers here)....I learned my Mayan Galactic sign (Yellow Spectral Seed) but missed out on the chance for meditation, yoga and a spiritual massage. All of this is available, along with anythign else you can dream of, making it very similar to the Gili islands. From what I heard from the locals the beach has not been overdeveloped and infiltrated by the tourists since there is no mention in any Lonely Planet making it such a relaxing place..hopefully that doesnt change before I get back here...Unfortunately I had to take off after 3 nights there, one night before the famous jungle Half-Moon Party. Oh well, at least I made it here and I know that on my next trip to Thailand I won't waste any time at any other beach....