Being home to several large dance parties every month, Koh Phangan can be whether a hedonist’s heaven or a holiday hell, outlined below is some sensible advice for population visiting the island.
[b]Everything You Need To Know About Koh Samet[/b]
When attending any of the parties on the island you should all the time keep a few things in mind. Remember that this is not your home country, the law here protects the Thai people, as a ‘farang’ (westerner) you have significantly reduced rights. Take for example an auto accident, let’s say you are driving your rented jeep up a steep hill, advent towards you is a sand truck, and it fails to brake and collides with your jeep. Clearly the fault of the truck driver yes? He was going far too fast down a steep hill, not your fault at all right? Wrong, in Thailand the law is simple, if a farang is complex in an auto emergency with a Thai someone then regardless of who did what to cause the emergency it is your fault. Why is that? uncomplicated logic applies, you are a farang, you should not be here, and if you were not here the emergency would never have happened thus it is your fault. I joke not.
Always remember that the island of Koh Phangan relies upon the traveler trade as its main source of income. Not a problem in itself, where the problem starts is with the less than honest population who are just waiting to take benefit of you should you give them the opportunity. Each month there are dozens of new stories spellbinding some brainless farang who got far too drunk on Haad Rin beach, fell asleep and lost everything they had in their pockets to one of the expert pick pockets who cruise the parties looking for likely prey. You would be amazed at how many party goers decree it is safer to carry their passport, reputation cards and plane tickets in their pockets than leave them in a security box. That pretty Thai girl (who probably wasn’t indeed a girl) that just came up and gave you a kiss at a party, did her hand go everywhere near your pockets? It happens; in fact it happens every month to many people, keep your wits about you.
Drinking and driving, just don’t do it. So you think you can drive when you have had a skin full? Ok fine, off you go on your scooter with no crash helmet or protective clothing. Even a low speed crash whilst wearing a pair of shorts and sandals is terribly painful. Take it from me, somebody who knows, only a few short weeks ago I launched my Honda Cbr onto the beach at 2am after drinking far more than was safe. I didn’t walk for two weeks and I think myself lucky, population die here every year due to drink driving, many are injured each month and have to cut their holiday short.
Don’t upset the locals. I don’t mean the lady who is cooking your food or the guy who is pumping you gasoline. I mean the kind of locals who think themselves ‘mafia’ and make a hugely thriving living ripping off tourists. These are not nice population and this is not a movie, there are many suspicious deaths on the island every year. Although these population are wise sufficient to realise they cannot go too far as they depend on the tourists as much as whatever else, if you give them a surmise then they will give you trouble. On the covering Koh Phangan appears to be a tranquil paradise island, in reality it is a small piece of indispensable land that has more in coarse with the Wild West than a civilised city. Practically everything here is controlled by unavoidable key families, together with the police, tread carefully; the illusion of security is just that, an illusion.
If you speak your self control, don’t take foolish risks and remember that you are not in your native country then you will have no problems upon Koh Phangan. If you push the envelope a miniature too much a world of hurt could be waiting for you. I don’t want to make Koh Phangan appear to be unsafe, Practically all of the stories I hear involve somebody doing something stupid, the problem is they are doing something brainless in a place that has no security net. Remember that and take care when you are visiting the island.
Koh Phangan – guidance For Travellers
Tags : Koh Yao
Kohchangtoday's Blog 
Posted on December 30, 2010
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