Ko Pha Ngan never has a shortage of parties, and New Year’s Eve is certainly no exception. Indeed, in true Ko Pha Ngan style, not only do parties lead up to the special day, but parties are held afterwards as well for those who want to keep the celebratory spirit alive. Here’s a wrap up … read the full post

As far as New Year’s Eve goes, you won’t have to look far for a party on Thailand’s Ko Samui. As with Christmas, be warned if you’re booking a hotel that many of the resorts have compulsory gala dinners. If you’re footloose and fancy free, anywhere along the beach is a good bet, as resorts … read the full post

It’s quite difficult to advise anyone on how long to spend here on Ko Tao. I would say, “Never leave!” but that’s probably not the most helpful answer. It does depend on why you are coming and then the overall length of your trip away and what you like too. Discounting your arrival and departure … read the full post

New restaurant Nirvana in popular Fisherman’s Village offers a selection of Thai, Asian-fusion and Western food. The decor is warm and inviting, with a lounge-type feel created by wooden and rattan furniture, burgundy cushions and drapes and candles on the table. Choose from several seating areas: stools around the bar, inside dining tables, streetfront bar tables … read the full post

Spark! (that’s with the !) is a group of volunteer circus performers who try to add a little sparkle to the lives of disadvantaged children in refugee camps, migrant schools, hospitals and orphanages along the Thai-Burmese border. More than 200, 000 refugees are based in camps along the border, with a large proportion of them … read the full post

The only difficult thing about getting to Ko Tao from Bangkok is choosing from the myriad options available. What you choose will ultimately depend on your budget and how much time you have. When heading down to Ko Tao from Bangkok, your ferry jump off point on the mainland is Chumphon. To get there, you … read the full post

If it’s tradition you’re after for Christmas and you’ll be on Thailand’s Ko Samui, the island won’t let you down in the roast-with-gravy-and-all-the-trimmings department. Many of the resorts –and not only the high-end ones — include a compulsory gala dinner for Christmas Eve. If you’re paying for it, you may as well make the most … read the full post

If I had 100 baht for each time someone asked me which is the best beach on Ko Tao then I wouldn’t need to work again. The answer isn’t that simple and like anything in life it depends on your definition of best. The simplest thing to do then would be to work our way … read the full post

UPDATE: Power has now been restored to Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan. We we woke up to the good news this morning, sleeping on the balcony for a breeze, surrounded by mosquitos. There was that tell-tale sound of the fridge buzzing, meaning that the power was on. Supply was restored on the mainland at … read the full post

Many feel that Ko Samui has become too developed, and in part, that may be true. Luckily it’s possible to escape the crowds and discover the Samui of yesterday only a 45-minute drive from popular Chaweng beach. The unspoilt southwest is known as the Virgin Coast; from the ring road, turn off at Route 4170 … read the full post