Oh Dear Agama

Posted on by Srithanu Blog

Well the big news was in September 2018 when the Guardian Newspaper exposed the guru of Agama Yoga to be a sexual predator and to be overseeing a toxic culture. The headline read, ”Under Swami’s spell’: 14 tourists claim sexual assault by guru at Thai yoga retreat”. The swami in question is known as Swami Vivekandanda Saraswati is really the alias for a Romanian national, Narcis Tarcau.

People should have done their homework about first what tantric yoga is and the background of Mr. Tarcau. He was kicked out of India. His guru was another Romanian and another tantric practitioner who claimed he was on a spiritual journey to sleep with 1,000 virgins. This sexual predator went on the run and was briefly arrested in Paris in 2016. His bogus acolyte Narcis Tarcau also went on the run when the Koh Phangan police could no longer ignore the scandal. However, not for long. Coconuts.co reported he is back on the island looking to re-establish his profits and his position to abuse young women by rape and sodomy.

The roots of tantric philosophy stretch back hundreds of years in Hinduism and Buddhism. Agama claimed they were following a Shiva sect from Kashmir. Tantra is the left hand root, the sinister path. William Blake wrote ‘the road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom’. That is at the heart of tantra. Rather than turning away from the pleasures of the senses, the idea is to embrace sensuality and even sin. Naked sadhus in India haunt graveyards, eat meat, sleep with sex workers and drink alcohol. The notion is that they can understand the senses by sating them. You can overcome the sexual desire by learning to ejaculate inwardly.

This type of spiritualism is not for the masses. The West might have tried to de-mystify Hinduism by calling it yoga, but to dabble in Tantric practices is still dangerous.

It is noted that the Agama website is up and running again. They are trying to re-brand and hope enough news cycles will bury the scandal of their sexual predator guru. The money is too good, to let the whole thing drop.

They would be wise to stay clear of cultish trappings like uniforms, spiritual leaders and secret teachings. And instead get back to brightly coloured yoga pants, organic food, and most importantly doing something for the local community. Stop fucking students and start showing love to poor people.

Resources

Guardian article

Tainted by ‘rape cult’ allegations, rebranded Agama back in business on Thai island
Eat.Co Restaurant

Eat.Co Restaurant Review

Posted on by Srithanu Blog

Eat.Co Restaurant

Eat.Co attempts to be the most ‘Srithanu’ of all restaurants in the area. It is a vegan restaurant and store set up by a group of yoga teachers who take a holistic approach to dining. They are currently riding high in the Tripadvisor ratings, and the restaurant is a favoured hang-out for the spiritual set.

Reading the Eat.Co website you might be forgiven for not immediately realising it is a site promoting a restaurant. On the ‘about us’ page you are bombarded with life stories of aspiring yogis fleeing Western lives to embrace the calm and serenity of Koh Phangan. There is a liberal use of such words as ‘love’, ‘community’ and ‘mindfulness’. What it says about the food is a bit vague:

“There are a few dedicated “cooks” working together in the Eat.co “kitchen” to joyfully create and serve all the goodness this site has to offer.”

Are we to worry that the restaurants doesn’t have real chefs but rather cooks with inverted commas? And that food is prepared not in a kitchen but something different signified by “kitchen”. And that it is not what nature has to offer in terms of calories but their website that offers nourishment. Sometimes clichés lead you into absurdity.

However, once you look beyond the stuff about sharing love and life stories you are left with a small and friendly restaurant and store that serves tasty vegan food. You can see from the images below that the restaurant has an eclectic menu drawing on a variety of cooking traditions and the most in vogue vegan ingredients. There is meatless ‘teriyaki chicken’ using tempeh strips; there is a beetroot burger and a veggie kebab. If you prefer they can do vegan thali, scrambled tofu, vegan pho (Vietnamese soup) and black bean couscous and mango salad. This can be washed down by a number of spiritually edifying juices and smoothies called without any sense of irony such appellations as ‘guru juice’, ‘plant Shanka’ and ‘thirsty monk’.

You can’t get an alcoholic drink. The only sins to be found are sugar free cakes and coffee with actual caffeine. I suspect most people either love or hate Eat.co. Below are a few snippets from Tripadvisor.

Eat.co reinforces the stereotype of Srithanu and reminds me of the Srithanu song in a funny way. But putting aside any prejudice, restaurants offering lovingly made food in a convivial atmosphere with good service are always to be welcomed. Up to you to decide if Eat.co gives value for money as well as karma.

Eat.Co is on the main Srithanu road, between Crave and Green Gallery. It is open every day except Thursday. Breakfast is from 8am to 11am, lunch from 12pm to 4pm, and dinner from 6pm to 10pm.

See the World – it’s Good for Mental and Spiritual Health

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Americans work harder and longer hours than just about anyone else in the world. That may be great for our gross domestic product, but it doesn’t help our minds and bodies. Americans are taking fewer vacation days than they used to, which means they are more stressed out and overworked than ever before. When we don’t take vacations, we’re setting ourselves up for burnout, which doesn’t do you or your employer any good.

A report by Project: Time Off, showed employees in the United States took about 16 vacation days in 2013, which is a significant drop from the 20 they took in 2000. That spells trouble for your mind and spirit.

Vacations are your time to get away from work, get away from home and recharge your biological batteries. Studies have also shown that some types of travel can even change the way you think. One study published in the Academy of Management Journal found that international travel can boost creativity. Just immersing yourself into a foreign culture can force your mind to think differently, seeing different solutions to common problems. Scientists call it cognitive flexibility, which is a fancy way of saying creativity.

Another study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that in addition to making you more creative, it can make you a better problem solver, more trusting and more open to trying new things.

If you’re in addiction recovery, travel gets you out of your daily surroundings and allows you to focus on self-care, particularly if you travel solo. You can take all the time you need to explore a museum, relax on the beach or chill at the spa. No one there to insist you indulge in bottomless margaritas, and no one there to inadvertently create stress triggers that could lead you down old paths. While self-care may seem a bit indulgent, it’s the foundation upon which you build your recovery.

Navigating a new world, different from your own, can also give you a great sense of accomplishment, which is essential to those suffering from depression, anxiety and many other behavioral health issues. It can also give you a sense of how large the world is — that there are many other cultures that are similar and completely different at the same time. It’s very humbling.

Active vacations, such as camping or hiking can be a great way to spend your vacation with your dog, who would love to go anywhere you go. Your pup loves to explore as much as you do, and having your canine companion with you can be a great way to ease anxiety in challenging situations.

While you’re away, take the time to recharge. Some trips have very packed itineraries, which can add to stress. Try not to schedule every moment of the day, so that you can take some time to relax and smell the flowers, so to speak. Make it a point to enjoy the moment, as well as appreciate that you’re in a new place and living in a life-changing experience. You’re making memories, either alone or with a friend or family.

While you don’t want every moment to be scheduled, you still want to plan ahead. If you’re spending an hour each morning negotiating with a travel partner about where to go, you’re wasting precious vacation time. If you don’t at least plan some things in advance, you may miss some of the best parts of your location. Knowing how to get a particular tour in English or getting advance tickets can save you a lot of heartache. You don’t want to wait until the last day of your trip to see the most important attraction then find out it’s closed.

Whatever your reasons to get away or your destination, travel is good for you. Take those vacation days: You’ve earned them!

Written by Henry Moore

Henry is the co-creator of FitWellTraveler. The site blends two of his favorite subjects (travel and health) to provide readers with information about how to get the most out of both. He believes travel can change you, and good health preserves you. He combines both in his work on FitWellTraveler.

Koh Raham

Koh Raham Restaurant in Haad Son

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One of the hidden gems on the dining scene of the west coast of Koh Phangan is Koh Raham. It is a restaurant perched on a small rocky outcrop to the right hand side of Haad Son Beach. It claims to be the true taste of beach dining. Rather, this restaurant explores the possibilities of how a restaurant can interact with the ocean in new and dynamic ways.

The name is a little confusing. Anyone who has spent some time in Thailand will know that ‘koh’ means island. ‘Raham’ in Thai means frenzied, frenetic, foolhardy, dare devilish. It would be overstating to say this restaurant is frenetic or foolhardy. It is in fact a very chilled spot. It is next to a beach called ‘secret beach’ that has only one resort – Haad Son Resort – so it is never bustling with folk. However, there is the slightly daredevil option of climbing down some steps from the restaurant to the sea. The water is full of fish. They aren’t exactly in a frenzy although when people throw food in the water they swim with more vigour.

There is a sense of romance and adventure to this restaurant. To get to Koh Raham you drive to the parking area near the reception of Haad Son Resort. Then you walk down stairs to the restaurant. You walk through the shady entrance to the restaurant, past the bar to a wide concrete patio perched on a rocky outcrop. Suddenly you experience great views of the ocean and the beach. Explore further and you find steps leading down to the water. As you can see from the video above, plenty of people come for a swim. It is a chance to snorkel and see some fish in the water rather than on your plate!

Compared to the views and the location the food and drink is a bit disappointing at Koh Raham. The menu is usual mix of strandard Thai dishes, seafood and Western favourites such as burger and fries. Some of the seafood is caught locally but some items such as the prawns are not.

They serve the usual range of cold drinks – juice, beer, cocktails etc. The prices are a bit higher since there is no competition on Secret Beach. Take it or leave it.

There are the usual breakfast items on offer – bacon, eggs, muesli. Again nothing special. The service is quite good. As you can see from the Trip Advisor snippet below the restaurant is generally rated as good. Nobody is going nuts about the food. It is the location that gives you a taste of what beach dining could be about; not the cuisine.

Trip Advisor

Location

The Port

Soi Krung Thai in Thongsala

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Soi Krung in Thongsala has emerged over the last few years as the principal hub for shops, restaurants and bars in the main town of Thongsala in Koh Phangan. For years Thongsala did very little to embrace tourism. It was a place to catch a ferry and do some souvenir shopping. Over the last decade more foreigners have set up businesses in Thongsala and more tourists make the town the starting point for their holidays.

The street didn’t seem to even have a name for ages. It was always the side street with the post office on. Now the street not only has a name it always has street markets, pedestrian only times and a thriving scene. Soi Krung Thai is off the main road in Thongsala and it heads down to the port. See the map below for the location of Soi Krung Thai.

Location of Soi Krung Thai

About Soi Krung Thai

During the day the street is a popular place for shopping and eating. By night the street has become the focal point for the nightlife in Thongsala. Lots of people come to the town for the cheap eats and then head over to a bar where they can enjoy a range of beers and cocktails. The prices for drinks in Thongsala are often cheaper than on other beaches on the island, where they often take advantage of ‘captive audiences’ to inflate drink prices.

Here are some of the outlets on Soi Krung Thai.

A’s Famous Cafe

A’s Cafe has been around for so long it has decided that it is not unwarranted to change its name to A’s Famous Cafe. It is an American style dinner that does breakfasts, burgers, subs, cold cut plates, fresh coffee, shakes, 100% juices, beers and sweet treats.

The cafe has recently been refurbished. It is a pleasant spot to sit and soak up the atmosphere. The American owner runs a tight ship and standards are always high. Not really a late night drinking spot but sometimes they host live music.

Beaton Macramé and Stone

The shop has a selection of hand crafted jewellery with gem stones. They also do macramé with gem stones. If you are into local artisan products for souvenirs this is a good place to check out.

Beauty Bar Seafood

Bit of a silly name really. Is it a spa or a seafood restaurant? It’s a seafood restaurant. Sample locally caught fish cooked to traditional Thai recipes. It is a small restaurant with a couple of tables and chairs outside.

For You French Bistro

French style restaurant taking local and fresh ingredients to make delicious French style cuisine. Naturally, wine is available but the prices might make you think about ordering a beer instead.

John’s Bar and Bistro

This is a bigger restaurant with open plan seating inside and out. The yellow decor makes this place stand out on the street. They serve English breakfasts, pies, Thai curries, coffees, juices and Sunday roasts. This is a bistro English style. John’s is a good spot to pass the time while waiting for a ferry.

They also have a selection of beers on offer.

Khunpen Restaurant

A small restaurant that serves a wide range of Thai dishes. They also do vegetarian dishes. So far this place has mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. Don’t have high expectations if you choose this spot for lunch or dinner.

Lilawadee

Lilawadee calls itself a ‘concept store’. It sells a range of handmade jewellery, clothes, fashion accessories, home ware and customised motorbike helmets. It is open 10am to 2pm and 6pm to 10pm. If you are struggling to find a present to take home this shop might have just the thing.

Mona Lisa

No tourist street in Thailand is complete without a pizza place. Mona Lisa does pizza and pasta. They have wine and beers. There is seating inside and out. So far this place has got mainly good reviews.

Phangan Ink

Likewise, no tourist destination in Thailand would be complete without a tattoo parlour. Phangan Ink does machine tats and traditional bamboo tatts. Starting rate is 2,500 Thai Baht.

The Port

Stylish new cafe near the port. They have indoor and outdoor seating. They offer coffees, soft drinks and snacks.

Whiski Bar

Small bar on Soi Krung Thai. They serve not just Thai whisky but also imported beers and cocktails. This is a place for those who like a tipple or two.

Read more about Hotels is Thongsala

Hammock Home

More Shops in Thongsala

Posted on by Srithanu Blog

Thongsala is the principal town in Koh Phangan, although at times it can feel like it is Haad Rin when there is a massive influx of people for the Full Moon Party. That aside, most of the commercial space on the island is in Thongsala. It is here that many people choose to set up a shop or business. Some succeed and some fail. As a result, the shop scene in Thongsala is very fluid. Here are a collection of businesses in Thongsala you might not be familiar with.

Karnibar Burger

Karnibar Burger

Karnibar Burger

Karnibar Burger

Karnibar Burger is located in the centre of town. It sells gourmet burgers with fries. They also have a variety of shakes and juices as well as bottled beers. This is a fairly new start up. They have a few glowing reviews of their burgers on their Facebook page. Run by an Italian.

Location

Hammock Home

Hammock Home

Just around the corner from Karnibar Burger is Hammock Home. This is a shop dedicated to hammocks. They have a variety of colours and styles to choose from. They also have some hand crafted hammocks. So if you just can’t find the hammock your resting body deserves look no further. Hammocks also make great gifts and souvenirs.

Location

20 Thai Baht Shop

20 THB Shop

The name says it all. This is a very handy shop when you just need a little of something. You might be leaving in a couple of days and not want to buy a big box of washing detergent. Never fear the 20 Baht shop is here.

The 20 THB Shop also has an assortment of useful tools, storage boxes, general household and hardware equipment, barbecues, clothes drying racks and pretty much everything else at very cheap prices, although not 20 THB.

Location

Passara Spa and Herb

Passara Spa and Herb

Passara Spa and Herb is on the main road, just as it bends south heading to Baan Tai. This new spa offers a range of massages and spa treatments that include herb saunas. If you are looking for a place to relax and rejuvenate in Thongsala then Passara might be what you are looking for. As yet they don’t have a website or Facebook page.

Location

Pizza Chiara Italian Restaurant

Pizza Chiara Italian Restaurant

Two Italian men have set up a pizza restaurant on the main road in Thongsala, near Pantip Market. As you would expect they serve a range of handmade pizzas made from fresh and local ingredients where possible. They also offer pasta dishes. They have been getting mixed reviews on Trip Advisor. It seems Koh Phangan is becoming the home of burgers and pizzas!

Pizza Chiara is open from 11.30am to 11.30pm

Location

Siam Souvenir

Siam Souvenir

Siam Souvenir sells Thai artwork such as statues, carvings, embroidered pillow cases, candles etc. at moderate prices. They have the best range of such products on Koh Phangan. If you are hunting for a gift for a friend back home this is a good place to start. Moreover, the range of items here means you can save yourself plenty of leg work and make time for a drink and snack.

Location

Soho Bar in Thongsala

Posted on by Srithanu Blog

Soho Bar in Thongsala has become one of the leading spots on Koh Phangan to enjoy draught beer, home cooked food and perhaps a bit of sports action on TV. It is a medium sized bar that seats just over 60 people.

Soho Bar has been running for a couple of years now. It’s decor and presentation place it above the traditional hole-in-the-wall or bamboo bar that used to be spotted all over the island. Although they have rented a space in Thongsala which is a traditional hole-in-the-wall commercial space, they have attempted to bring a bit of modernist style to the decor to provide a more stylish ambience.

At the outside of the bar are high stools for those looking for a quick drink or for those who like to watch the passing flow of people as they sip their cold drink. Inside there is a long bar, a high stool area for solo drinkers and then against the opposite wall are a series of open booths for those who want a bit more intimacy and more table space. Above the bar is a large flat screen TV. It feels very much like a modern bar.

There is also more seating upstairs.

The menu at Soho Bar features English breakfast, BBQ chicken wings, baguettes, a large selection of burgers, Mexican food, and grill items. This is bar fare with a heavy emphasis on quality meat. The burgers are home made from the freshest ingredients. Those who are familiar with bars in the States will be at home at the Soho Bar.

There is a wide range of drinks on offer from branded spirits to draught beers and ciders. The bar keep is more than capable of rustling up a cocktail to suit your taste.

Although I am disappointed that the leading picture on their website for their sports offering is of Chelsea, this is no reason to discount the Soho as a spot to catch the latest Premier League action. They also screen boxing, rugby and Formula One. Indeed if it is on, they will endeavour to show it.

Regarding the name, the branding is meant to suggest a cool London bar rather than a reference to the salacious past of the notorious area in London. So you are safe in the Soho Bar from the attention of ‘working girls’ more commonly known in Koh Phangan as ‘beer bar girls’.

The bar is located on the main road going through Thongsala, near the Pantip Market. If you stroll down the main drag you can’t miss it.

The bar also caters for groups and birthday parties. They claim to do business conferences although the need for this in Koh Phangan seems small.

So if you fancy a draught beer, a decent burger and a bit of footie in a pleasant atmosphere then check out Soho Bar.

Location

Contact

Message form: http://sohophangan.com/contact/

New Lomprayah Office in Thongsala

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New Lomprayah Office

Those looking for the Lomprayah Office in Thongsala at the pier will be scratching their heads. It has moved, and is no longer at the pier near where the boats arrive and depart. But don’t panic – it is nearby.

For many experienced Koh Phangan hands the Lomprayah Catamaran service is by far the best ferry option for getting to and leaving Koh Phangan. The catamaran’s are well maintained and comfortable inside. Moreover, they are the fastest boats plying the Gulf of Thailand. You can knock an hour off travelling time by using Lomprayah. For the few extra Baht the Lomprayah costs compared to other ferry companies, this is money well spent.

The new Lomprayah office is near the Post Office in Thongsala. For the exact location see the map below. The office is well laid out. There is a counter to purchase tickets as well as plenty of seating for those having to kill some time before getting on a ferry. And, as you can see from the picture above, they have spent a bit of money on new signage!

Where Can You Go with Lomprayah?

Lomprayah has a range of destinations on offer. They team up with bus and plane companies to offer a wide range of travel options for those leaving Koh Phangan. Below are a list of destinations along with price and times. You can book online here and you can compare prices and travel times with other ferry companies. These are not the only routes that Lomprayah cover from Koh Phangan. You can find out more on their website or by visiting the Lomprayah Office.

It is worth noting that while it is possible to get same day tickets sometimes demand outstrips supply during peak times such as the Full Moon Party and New Year’s Eve. The traditional summer holiday months also get very busy.

Bangkok

Phangan Bangkok Journey Cost
08.30 20.30 12 hrs 00 m 1,250 THB
13.00 00.30 11 hrs 30 m 1,250 THB

Use the Search Box below to buy your tickets from Koh Phangan to Bangkok. Secure online booking and instant ticket confirmation. After booking you will be sent an E-Voucher which you then exchange at Koh Phangan Ferry Port  for your tickets when you check in.

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The 08.30 departure from Koh Phangan with the Lomprayah Company is the best one to book if seats are available. The 08.30 departure arrives at the mainland ferry pier near Chumphon at 12 noon. You get an hour to relax at the ferry port, which is on a pleasant beach, and have lunch before boarding the bus to Bangkok.

Koh Samui

There are a number of services plying the short route between Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.

Company Ferry Times Arrival Pier
Seatran Discovery 08.00, 10.30, 16.30 Bangrak Pier
Lomprayah 11.00, 16.20 Mae Nam Pier
Lomprayah 07.20, 09.00, 12.00, 14.30 Na Thon Pier

Tickets for all of the ferry services listed above can be purchased online using the search box below.

  • Tickets for most services cost the same amount as they would be if purchased at the ferry pier on the day of travel.
  • Instant ticket confirmation.
  • E-Ticket sent by e-mail.

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Koh Tao

Travel Times to Koh Tao (Lomprayah)
Phangan Koh Tao Journey Cost
08.30 10.15 1 hr 45 m ฿ 550
13.00 14.00 1 hr 00 m ฿ 550
17.30 18.30 1 hr 30 m ฿ 600

The Lomprayah ferry is slightly more expensive but the service is also slightly better than the Seatran. Large items of luggage are taken on and off the boat by the staff and the seating on the Lomprayah ferries is better and there is more of it.

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Hat Yai

Phangan Hat Yai Journey Ticket Company
07.20 15.00 7 hr 40 m 800 THB Lomprayah Ferry
08:00 16:00 8 hr 00 m 830 THB Seatran Discovery
09:00 16:40 7 hr 40 m 800 THB Lomprayah Ferry
12:00 19:40 7 hr 40 m 800 THB Lomprayah Ferry

Use the Search Box below to find your tickets from Koh Phangan to Hat Yai. Booking in advance makes sense because of the early departure times for many of the services.

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Phuket

Travel Times from Koh Phangan to Phuket

Company Phangan Phuket Journey Cost
Lomprayah 07.20 15.00 7 hr 40 m 1,000 THB
Lomprayah 12.00 19.40 7 hr 40 m 1,000 THB


This services goes direct to the centre of Phuket Town. Book early if you want to take the 07.20 departure as these tickets often sell out. The 12.00 departure, which arrives at 19.40, is the less popular option.

The service we recommend is provided by the Lomprayah High Speed Ferry Company. The journey with the Lomprayah High Speed Ferry Company has two stages:

  • Ferry to Donsak Ferry Port on the mainland.
  • Luxury bus direct from Donsak Ferry Port to Phuket Town.

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Krabi

There are three travel companies who operate a daily direct ferry and bus service from Koh Phangan to Krabi:

  • Seatran Discovery
  • Lomprayah High Speed Ferry
  • Phantip Travel

Tickets on all the three services from Koh Phangan to Krabi listed below can be purchased online using the Search Box below.

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This service  starts with a ferry service from Koh Phangan to Donsak, however, the ferries Lomprayah use are high-speed catamarans and they travel much faster than the Seatran boats. The ferry journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes and the overall journey is about 1 hour faster with the Lomprayah service, although the ticket price is 100 THB per person more expensive than the tickets sold by the Seatran Discovery Company.

Travel Times to Krabi (Lomprayah Ferry)
Phangan Krabi Journey Cost
07.20 12.20 5 hr 00 m ฿ 850
09.00 15.00 5 hr 00 m ฿ 850
12.00 17.00 5 hr 00 m ฿ 850
14.30 19.30 5 hr 00 m ฿ 850

Location of New Lomprayah Office

Use the map below to find the Lomprayah Office. It is just a few minutes walk from the ferry pier.

Solo Travel for Women in Srithanu and West Coast

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The above Youtube video is a good representation of life for solo female travellers to the West coast of Koh Phangan. The video typifies the type of places you can visit on the West coast of Koh Phangan and what you can expect in terms of restaurants, facilities, infra structure and activities.

The first thing to mention is that beaches like Srithanu, Plaay Laem, Nai Wok, Hin Kong and Haad Chao Phao have an excellent record for safety for those women who choose to travel alone on the island. These are safe beaches. The trouble, if there is any, is usually focused around Haad Rin whose brand is one of excess and illegality. Those Westerners and Thais looking to steal, exploit, abuse etc. are drawn to the crowds of the Full Moon Party. The West coast with its emphasis on yoga, wellness and moderation provides much slimmer pickings for the inevitable sharks looking for prey.

In short you don’t have to be particularly brave or street savvy to have a great holiday in the West of Koh Phangan.

So what to expect? The video shows the young woman exploring a number of beaches on the West coast using a bicycle. Such is her hippy nature and carefree attitude she rides her bike barefoot. Not recommended. However, you can see the roads are concreted, in fairly good condition and flat.

The woman is clearly a vegetarian / vegan. She manages to find plenty of restaurants with suitable food. She enjoys the local fruit. The restaurants display a lot of drift wood, dream catchers and beach flotsam that captures that shabby beach chic that is the look for the West of Koh Phangan.

The woman seems happy to spend her days on her bike, eating healthily and standing on her head doing yoga.

If all of this appeals but you worry about going to Srithanu or the other beaches on the West coast of Koh Phangan as a solo female traveller then be careful (wear sandals at least) but don’t get paranoid. It’s a beautiful idyllic spot for beaches, yoga and healthy living.

Shanti Boutique Hotel

Srithanu Acommodation Review 2017

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Shanti Boutique Hotel
Shanti Boutique Hotel

Srithanu is the centre of the New Age movement currently blossoming in Koh Phangan. There are several yoga, detox and life transformation centres and practitioners in the wider area of West Koh Phangan that look very much to Srithanu as its focal point. Here is a list of Srithanu accommodation options with notes on how they have fared in ratings over 2016 and 2017.

Winners

Laemson 1 Bungalow has improved its Agoda rating going from 5.3 to 5.9. It has also improved its Trip Advisor rating going from 99th to 95th in the B&Bs section. Laemson Bungalow still has the cheapest bungalows for rent in Srithanu.

Congratulations to Seaview Rainbow Bungalow. The resort went from 6.8 to .9 on Agoda and climbed from 44th to 39th best inn in Koh Phangan.

Loyfa Natural Resort also had a good year. They maintained their Agoda score of 8 and jumped from 50th to 18th in the speciality lodging category on Trip Advisor.

2016 was a good year for Shanti Boutique Hotel. They went from 2 star to 3 star rating. The Agoda score went up from 9.3 to 9.5 and the Tripadvisor rank went from 33 to 26 in the B&B section.

Although the Agoda score went down 0.1 for Phangan Akuna (from 9.0 to 8.9) the resort did brilliantly in the B&B category of Tripadvisor going from 70th to 23rd. As a side note, prices for the cheapest accommodation at Phangan Akuna went down, for the other accommodation options the price went up.

Non-Movers

Nice Sea Resort stayed at 8.3 according to Agoda (out of 10) and retained its position as the 3rd best B&B in Koh Phangan.

Losers

The main disappointment has been for Phangan Cove Resort – while they finally get an Agoda score (5.9) they drop from 29 to 54 in the speciality lodging category.

Prices for 2017

There has been no huge price hikes in Srithanu accommodation. The competition in the area for tourist money is great. It is noted that a couple of organic / New Age restaurants have shut recently.

Some resorts have responded to the falling value of the Baht against the Dollar by putting up prices to cover the difference; others have kept the same prices. Those spending Euros will also benefit; sadly, Brexit has made Pound Sterling a weaker currency.