Small Discoveries

I’ve been on Koh Phangan, the island of sunsets, for almost three weeks now; I’ve made some small discoveries…here are a few of them….

First, there is no end to the beautiful beaches to be found here. My favorite, so far, is Haad Chao Pao. This soft, white sanded beach is quiet with calm waters and is absolutely beautiful.

Yes, my favorite beach so far….and thought of by others as heaven.

Second, the main mode of transportation on the island is by motor bike.

These nimble machines move like giant bugs all over the island, transporting locals and most visitors (except for me) quickly and efficiently.

These two gents, total strangers to me, generously and joyfully offered themselves up to this blog. What fun!!!

Next, if you are fortunate enough to catch one, there are two or three ice cream vendors motoring about and selling tasty, homemade treats.

These frozen treats are nondairy and come with rice (YES, rice…you heard me!!!) and crunchy peanuts. As far as I can tell, there is always only one flavor, and for those who must have dairy, this entrepreneur cleverly offers a dash of evaporated milk. The entire operation is located on a cart that is attached to a motor bike…AMAZING!!!!

Dogs are a thing around here. Some of the dogs have specific owners, but many do not. These “unattached” dogs seem to become community responsibility. The pooches hang out on town streets, on the sides of roads and on beaches.

Community members care for them, and there is even an agency that provides some medical care when necessary. Dogs are welcome everywhere.

For their part, these dogs are quick witted enough to avoid the human bike traffic and wise enough to find a cool, soft siesta spot to avoid the heat of the day.

Even a small island like Phangan has the convenience of a low cost store. It is called 20Baht, which roughly translated means “dollar” store.

There are several of these stores, and they are fully stocked with every imaginable item….if, indeed, you desire to cook!!!

If being adventurous means sampling new or exotic fruits, 20Baht will have them. Both the pink and white pomelo are fabulous. The fruit is large and reminiscent of grapefruit, but considerably less acidic.

I was advised before I arrived about this curious installation that can be found in all the island restrooms and in many other restrooms elsewhere in this part of the world. It is basically a hose mounted to the wall that is used for personal cleansing after using the flush toilet.

Here, flushing toilet paper is a BIG NO NO! Personal cleansing takes place, and paper tissue is strictly used for drying, not cleansing. Attempting to flush paper, for any reason, can cause clogging, an undesirable situation. There are always disposable bins for used paper tissue. I must add, that this system is quite understandable, and when I leave here, I will miss the bum gun.

Washing machines and dryers are luxuries that few have on Koh Phangan. Most people do not do laundry at home. Some folks go to local washing machine stations, while others take laundry to a local launderer. These laundry businesses dot the island, and rows of freshly washed clothes can be seen blowing in the warm breeze.

Falling into the hugging culture is easy, especially if you’re on an extended stay which gives people a chance to know and recognize you. A real Koh Phangan hug is deep and even audible. The belief that hugging is therapeutic is put to good practice here, and, in addition, hugging is just plain fun.

There is no shortage of social gatherings on this island, especially where tourists are concerned. At night many beaches come alive with bright lights, music and people.

Saturday boasts a night market that is full of food, music and locals selling their wares.

There are many more colorful events that take place on this island. In fact, if you Google Koh Phangan, you will find it described as a party island, but I have discovered that life on Koh Phangan is really quiet and reflective. Those who come here and stay appreciate these qualities as well as respect the customs of the people.

Most evenings, you can find people harvesting clams near the shore or

casting off in a small boat to catch dinner.

Paying attention to literally hundreds of religious shrines on the island gives a sense of how important the protective spirit of a place is to the Thai people. These shrines are in the form of a roofed structure sitting on a platform. Some are large, and some are small.

The houses give shelter to to spirits that can bless or curse a home or a business. Often included in the structure are carvings of animals or people.

Those who wish for the blessings of the spirits, place offerings on or near the spirit house. These offerings could be flowers or food or an unexpected soft drink. The red variety of Fanta soda seems to be a favorite. Neglecting a spirit house is unadvisable as neglect might lead to a series of unfortunate events.

A correctly cared for spirit house is unmistakable, even after dark.

In addition to spirit houses, a number of amazing Buddhist temples will open their doors and allow visitors to experience the beauty of Buddhism.

There are many tourists on this island, but I have done my best to ignore the hustle and bustle that the high season here brings and focus on things as small and miraculous as this piece of living coral I found close to shore. Beautiful!!!

Next time…..The Unseasoned Traveler