Emily’s Take

Koh Phangan is best known for its legendary Full Moon Parties. These massive beach raves draw travelers from all over the world for 24 hours of constant music, dancing, and general madness.

But, as anyone who knows us could probably guess, wild drinking marathons aren’t really our thing. So instead of following the crowds, we chose to discover a different, quieter side of the island.

We stayed in a beautiful tiny house in the jungle, which quickly began to feel like home. Our balcony became our favorite hangout spot where we observed all kinds of jungle creatures go (bryson has been bragging about the monkey he saw all week). Many happy hours were spent out there reading, drawing, doing puzzles, and just soaking in the atmosphere.

I bought a Rubik’s Cube and taught myself how to solve it from memory! I also started learning to draw beach scenes, though my artistic skills still leave a lot to be desired. Bryson got into whittling and made a fun little wooden spork!

During the day, we rented a scooter from the lovely Bie Bie (from Bie Bie Motorbike and Car for Rent(sponsor us lol)) and explored the island’s roads, riding through the jungle and discovering hidden beaches. Some of our favourites were Thong Nai Pan Beach and Chaloklum Beach, where we enjoyed an amazing meal followed by a refreshing (jellyfish-free!) swim with beautiful views all around.

Hat stores and bandana shops aside, having a tiny head usually isn’t a problem, however,  it was almost impossible to find a scooter helmet that actually fit. They even gave me a helmet meant for 8 year olds that was way too big for me. In the end we found a helmet, advertised as ‘a first helmet’ for five years olds. It says in big letters on the back b-baby. 

For those two weeks, the small town of Ban Tai became our home base. We found a little lunch spot called the harbour house  and ended up eating there almost every day. They served delicious meals for under 100 baht (about $3 USD) and the staff was always warm and welcoming. We also did many trips to 7-Eleven and Big C. We still can’t get the never ending “Big C, Big C, Big Big C” song that played on loop inside the store, out of our heads. I felt really sorry for the people working in the store who had to hear it all day!

Our house was located near Wat Pho, so many mornings we woke up to the peaceful sounds of chanting and temple songs. One day we happened to be there for a festival and the atmosphere was just incredible, but honestly our whole time on the island was magical. 

We also had some fun with the GoPro. Check out our videos below.

Bryson’s Take

Koh Phangan turned out to be wonderfully peaceful, which is ironic considering it’s famous for parties that can probably be seen from space. Nearly every shopkeeper asked if we were going to the Full Moon Party. I said yes each time, mostly to avoid explaining that my idea of excitement involves cooking dinner and reading a book.

We stayed beside a 400-year-old tree that was so enormous it made everything else look temporary. The monks at the nearby temple chanted each morning, and I’d listen from my hammock, feeling pleasantly unproductive.

Days were spent exploring the island by scooter, which is both thrilling and mildly terrifying when you remember how traffic works here. We saw beautiful beaches, mountain views, and one monkey sprinting across the trail like it was late for an appointment.

In the evenings, I took on the role of mosquito hunter before bed. It became something of a sport. I also whittled a spork from a piece of wood, which I’m still unreasonably proud of.

We cooked simple meals, read on the porch, and watched the forest turn from birds to frogs each night. It was calm, comfortable, and exactly the kind of adventure that sneaks up on you — the sort that makes you feel quietly lucky to be there at all.