Flop, Flip, Flip Flop Culture

Welcome to Koh Phangan! Paradise Island in the Gulf of Thailand, where the sky is blue (when it’s not rainy season), the sea is clear, the sand is golden and the people happy!

Time to kick off your, shoes, boots and trainers and adapt to flip flop culture, the affordable, easy to get on and off, slappy footwear.

The funny thing on Koh Phangan about flip flops is the amount that get lost. Being a party island many people will frequent these parties wearing flip flops but then getting immersed in the hedonistic beats will remove these flip flops to ground themselves onto the dancefloor.

Or, as it is customary to remove your flip flops in many places you will enter somewhere and have to stride across an already formed flip flop lake by the entrance.

This is where many of the ‘lost’ flip flops will find their fate.

It’s not surprising that people take others by mistake especially if they are just plain, there’s probably a few innocent individuals that are too drunk to find their own so end up taking other peoples just so that they have something to walk home in, but what if those particular flip flops were sentimental, precious or even expensive?!

Luckily we have the internet, you can post about your lost or found flip flops and hopefully they will be returned (if you want them back after someone else has had their ‘unknown state’ feet in them ha-ha).

I personally don’t like flip flops, I find it an annoyance to keep the little plastic bit between my toes and I don’t like the noise they make, for me they are also impractical.

I prefer sandals with proper fastenings or trainers, something that is strapped and gives support or otherwise just bare feet for a quick walk to the shop (yes, walk!), going to the beach or to take the rubbish out etc…

I just don’t think they kinda suit me either...

But others LOVE flip flops, maybe it’s the freedom compared with shoes and boots from in the west, the air on your toes yet still something underneath to protect you from dirt and stones.

Let’s find out from some flip flop lovers and haters...

Sharon - Here on the island it’s a functional way because we don’t go into houses with shoes on so we need something easy to put on and off so why not?! Also your feet are not tight in some sweaty shoe.

Russell - I have size twelve feet so flip flops always snap or one goes missing so I now wear trainers all the time.

I liked them but it was every two weeks that I had to buy a pair and size twelve are not easy to find, sometimes they would try to charge me more.

Christopher Thomas - Coming from a country that's yearly sunshine and temperature is around as high as a short dwarf holding a toy thermometer. Trainers have always been my preferred method of walking transportation.

Climbing trees, exploring derelict buildings, painting where we shouldn't, and bmx'ing all require a good sturdy and reliable yet cool ass looking pair of trainers.

Moving to a country that will indeed make your Nike Airs attract a certain odour similar to that of cabbage and sea water, it is a small price to pay to keep those little twinkys safe from the all the elements that are hellbound to destroy them.

Listen people, flips flops will NOT keep you safe from the fangs of a python nor a bite from a tarantula, nor the broken shards of buckets and  Leo beer bottles littering the streets where rabid dogs lie and wait to attack.

Perhaps flip flops are safe to wear in certain places, I'm not convinced, but anyway remember, Jesus the inventor of the great flip flop lived in a place which never required much attention to dancing to deep house, driving to 7/11 or doing the funky chicken.

Rasmus - I love flip flops, they are simple, cheap and easy to wear. They are the fastfood of footwear. They were even around before that dude jesus.

Lotus Beer Orapin - I love Flip flops!!! You know why! They make me feel naked wearing nothing! Specialy in Koh phangan. I call them Hot shoes and they make me feel Sexy. All my toes feel fresh. I can do wear them all day long, they're easy.

Apparently flip flops have been around for centuries with evidence from cave paintings and the ancient egyptians so it’s no wonder that flip flops are still popular.

After all they are a simple type of footwear, maybe not the best for support or whatever but as long as you’re careful then we celebrate you and your flip flops!

If you do lose your flip flops don’t worry, you can buy them in nearly every shop on the island from the 20 Baht shop to some higher quality places depending on your budget.

We're not sure if puppy Alien likes flip flops or not.....?