Ko Phangan

How's it hanging guys? I've departed from the beautiful island of Ko Phangan, just arriving at Khao Sok National Park. I'll be taking a short break from the beach so I can trek one of the oldest rainforests on the globe.

During my first night at Ko Phangan, I made an appearance at the wild Half Moon party. Everyone begins their night at a local bar, sipping on drinks and covering their skin with glow in the dark paint. Once people are satisfied with their body art, they get scooped up by one of the many taxis heading inland towards the jungle. After paying an entry fee, we entered into a wonderland filled with bright glowing art pieces. A DJ plays under a neon flowering canopy while enthusiastic guests drink (literal) buckets of vodka red bull and dance until the sun comes up. Definitely a unique experience.

View from my resort on Ko Phangan

The following day I rented a motorbike with two friends I made in Ko Tao and drove all over the island. This was easily the best (and most fun) way to experience Ko Phangan. The landscape was gorgeous, similar to Hawaii except for the occasional sighting of a temple or elephant (eeeeee so cute!!). We visited 5 different beaches that day, each of them having their own personality. 

Serene Hat Salad

A sandbar connected Hat Thong Lang and the small island Ko Ma. 

Watching the sunset on Hat Rin Nai (cleverly named Sunset Beach)

The night ended with a delicious dinner along the water. I got to try my first authentic Thai curry- ammmazing. I'm delighted by how cheap everything is here. A similar meal in the states would have costed 4 times as much.

On Thursday I signed up for an excursion to Ang Thong National Park. This spot consists of over 40 jungle islands with sheer limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, and dreamy beaches. We stopped at several different islands for activities including snorkeling, kayaking, and trekking. 

Many of the islands had gaps between the the ocean and the rock where you could kayak into small caves

Monkey Island

One of the parks popular viewpoints 

A large lake in the middle of Ko Mae Ko called Emerald Sea. This lagoon is off limits to the unclean human body.

Than Bua Bok, a cavern reachable after a strenuous hike on the largest island of Ko Wua Talap.