Why do we fall in love with Koh Phangan?

Koh Phangan is basically the incarnation of true love, this island can melt the hearts of even the iciest cold warrior.

Everyone, well a lot of people, dream of living or visiting that perfect paradise island with its golden velvet beaches and turquoise calming waters, laid back lifestyle and blue skies which are a far cry from the grey concrete jungles that people come from nowadays, this is the REAL jungle.

Now one of the most common things we hear when meeting or interviewing people is that ‘I fell in love with Koh Phangan’, ‘from the first moment I knew I was in love with this place’ and that ‘I was meant to be here’ but what is it exactly that people fall in love with?

Phangan is a seductress, it will seduce you from the first steps on the shore, is it the taxi man's first grin or the warm air blowing from the pier or that first sip of crisp cold Leo beer or your first view over the jungle to your resort that captures your heart first?

Is it the same thing that all people fall in love with?

The one thing that most people agree on is that Koh Phangan has a certain ‘special energy’ and we have discussed before the rumours of it being a crystal island and emanating certain frequencies that we cannot help but be attracted to and calmed by whether conscious of this theory or not.

But maybe this energy also comes from the ‘freedom’ found here, being surrounded by nature and the laid back vibe which is a far cry from the nine to five rat race of the western world, you can escape your old life and embrace a new one, one which only you can create.

The locals of Koh Phangan definitely play a huge part in our new romance, their friendly ways and hard working yet at the same time slow paced life will attract all of us.

Phanganist’s Russell says;

‘The thing I fell in love with was mainly the people, the vibe and the smiles, it is true when they say that Thailand is the land of smiles, for me it’s true even after sixteen years’.

The people of Koh Phangan have not been conditioned to the rush and bustle and stress of many of our own native countries, they smile just for the sake of it and their laughter is infectious, this can make you feel in love.

We asked one of our most regular sources of contribution, Christopher Thomas, what he fell in love with.

What we received in return was more like a love poem than a quote of thought...

‘The laughter, the colours, the energy, the sights, the sounds, the smells.

The romance, the anger, the stress, the struggle, the fight, the light

The smiles, the family, the loneliness, the isolation, the celebration.

The truth, the connection, the test, the worst and the best

Reality deeply rooted in the nest of an opened bird cage.

I feel you Koh Phangan, I feel you’.

Deep like the ocean.

He has many points though does our Chris. Let’s start with the softer subjects, ‘The laughter, the colours, the energy, the sights, the sounds, the smells’.

Koh Phangan is like it’s from your dreams, the colours yes are gloriously bright and natural, the nature is like no other you have ever seen and you can have it all, beach, sea, jungle and terrain.

Food is cooked everywhere, and we mean EVERYWHERE! Herbs, flowers and fruits grow on every corner giving us a natural perfumed atmosphere, not traffic congestion and sewer stinks (although at busy times we have come to call Thong Sala ‘Pong Sala’).

What we particularly like about Chris’s poem is this;

‘The romance, the anger, the stress, the struggle, the fight, the light

The truth, the connection, the test, the worst and the best’.

Any true love, falling in love with a human even, will test you. This is the same for Koh Phangan.

Life is perfect here, why wouldn’t it be? You’re free, it’s warm and sunny or even when it’s raining it’s beautiful and refreshing, people are gorgeous, you feel amazing, how could life get any better than to be on this tropical paradise?

But no love can flourish and grow without it being requited, unrequited love can do a lot of damage so you need to give something back to the island, not just a lustful one night stand if you want to reap all of its benefits.

So you will be tested, laid bare to yourself to objectify, what is your purpose here? You may question your very existence (ok a bit over the top but we’re getting into this subject!) and you may get stressed and have to fight for your right to party but if you really really REALLY are in love with Koh Phangan then the light will shine on you and you will be the best that you can and shall find your special purpose here on the rock.

Phew! That was intense!

Maybe it’s magic? But you have to believe in magic first for it to work.

Florian and Alice from the aptly name ‘Magic Wave’ told us that -

‘As soon as we arrived in Phangan Pier with the boat, we directly fell in love, we both had a thunderbolt for this amazing island.

In one second, we knew that we were going to live and work here one day!’.

A thunderbolt you say… Hopefully not a literal one?!

Jokes aside, maybe the island chooses you automatically, you may be ready for such adventures and already proved yourself worthy.
 

We have never met anyone who doesn't like Koh Phangan, hand on heart, everyone has the same story.

You come for full moon but stay for a week, you come for a week and stay for three months then everyone always come back again, this love affair with Koh Phangan never dies.

She will hold on to your heart forever, even if you come just once, there’s always a small part of you that stays here in the mystical air and a part of the magic here that sits warmly in a yogic position in the bosom of your chest.

No matter if it is a lifelong loyal marriage or a freaky quick affair with Koh Phangan, that special thing we all fall in love with shall probably remain a secret until the end of life. We think that that is possibly for the best...