Koh Phangan

16 - 18 March

We'd been looking for a bit of 'beachy' relaxation after the breakneck tour of Cambodia, but Koh Tao left us feeling somewhat drained due to the unavoidable heat. So it was with trepidation that we took the ferry to our next island, Koh Phangan.

We'd literally just missed the infamous 'Full Moon'(rave) Party which takes place on the island each month, and to our surprise we found our resort virtually empty as the partygoers had moved on.

We thought Koh Tao was beautiful, but Koh Phangan is positively paradaisical. We instantly fell in love with this place; there is nothing to dislike.

Our villa - (we stayed at the lovely Rung Arun resort)

- had aircon, cable tv, a big bath (and how we'd missed a bath!) and a fridge for storing much needed water and drinks. After Koh Tao, absolute luxury. And as for the beach (as seen from our villa)...

This is the first place I've ever been where the water is literally blood-warm, and as calm as a mill-pond. A cooling breeze blew from the sea as we lazed in our deck-chairs... and merrily burnt ourselves. Youch!!! Red legs, shoulders and faces all round; the cooling breeze had been highly deceptive. But, even slightly charred limbs couldn't detract from our sense of joy at being in this beautiful and restful place - (cue gratuitous sunset picture):

Plus, we found an excellent beach bar called the Spunky Monkey, where we sat watching the aforementioned sunset with cool beers while the soothing guitar riffs of Pink Floyd oozed from the speakers behind us. It doesn't get much better than this.

All too soon our couple of days here was over, and it was time to move on again.