Koh Phayam

It seems funny to need a holiday when you live in Phuket, by the beach in a beautiful area. However getting away is more than the location. I need to be away from commitments, chores and anything else that I should do and could do as I'm at home. Songkran follows the Secondary Production and I really do need a holiday when it hits this time. 

We book 6 nights on Koh Phayam, also spelt Ko Payam or Ko Phayam or Koh Payam. A friend of ours recommended the island and they visit every year. Must accommodation doesn't have electricity until the evening and it is often supplied by a generator. If you can't live without AC you will struggle as places either don't have it or charge 600 - 1500baht per night for use of AC. The roads are small concrete slab covered tracks if you are lucky and are generally in major need of repair. If you haven't ridden a motorbike before you will have to start if you want to go anywhere and you need to love reggae to survive.

Driving from Phuket to Ranong should have taken under 4 hours. It didn't as there were multiple police checks along the route and we did stop for coffee. The speedboat ferry cost 350baht and takes about 40 minutes. Despite what you read online there are multiple operators that run at all times and you can just turn up. There are slow ferries twice a day that take 2 hours and cost about 200baht. We got the speedboat out and on arrival panic set in for most of us as the boat pulled up next to the pier and we were required to step onto the edge of the boat, stretch a foot up onto a tyre hanging from the pier and then to a metal ladder that it turns out was not actually attached the pier properly at all. Climbing up these 3 or 4 metres was actually rather worrying and most the passengers were experiencing the same feelings of fear, terror and panic at the prospect. We did all survive and no bags were dropped into the ocean. Hurray!

Getting to our hotel we had to take motorbike taxis. Not my favourite experience ever and I was definitely thrilled when we arrived at the resort. 

Whilst staying on Koh Phayam we relaxed, went to the beach, relaxed, went to another beach, ate, went to another beach, drank cocktails, relaxed etc. The beaches are beautiful and it was close to surf season. Sadly the waves weren't quite tall enough or breaking far enough away from shore to ride. We saw a flock of Hornbills amongst the trees, multiple eagles, climbing perch and monitor lizards. It was amazing. I was creative and calm, but I was ready to go home after my 4th night and it was the right decision.

The vegetarian food on the island was amazing. Cha Chai is incredible and I only wished that I would had been able to eat my way through more of the menu. Homemade bread was everywhere on the island and fresh healthy food was a staple requirement of all menus. Baan Nam Chaa is another great vegetarian restaurant. The only problem is that you can wait anywhere from 30mins - 2hrs for your food and even your drink.

You can't miss Hippy Bar with its odd driftwood structure that is reminiscent of a ship. Its presence completely transforms Buffalo Bay and it is ridiculously cool, quirky and the place to be. The recycled decorations and structure really make the place what it is.

Koh Phayam is ideal for a break from the world to recharge your batteries, be creative, eat and drink.