My Local magazine - Koh Phangan

MY LOCALKOH PHANGANLifestyle Magazine

LET’S CELEBRATE ISLAND CULTURE

HIKING TRAIL TO

Simply follow the bottles

VISIT THE OLDEST TEMPLE

Khao Noy Temple

PICTURE GALLERY

local photographers

Find us on www.issuu.com/my local magazine - koh phangan

Through the lens of

BOTTLE BEACH

ON THE ISLAND

The Southern dialect sounds harsher and shorter than central Thai, which reflects the Southerners spontaneous attitude to life. Whilst it may appear that Thai’s from the South are talking in code or shouting at each other, they are in fact just dropping words to speed up the conversation.

Here are some useful phrases and words to help you converse with the locals:

Learn the local dialect

Koh Phangan is located in the Gulf of Thailand approximately 100 kilometers from the main-land’s Surat Thani province. Koh Phangan is the fifth largest island in Thailand with an area of 122 sq kilometers and is famous for its unspoiled beaches and the world-renowned full moon party. Koh Phangan sits between two other famous islands, Koh Samui to the south and Koh Tao to the north.

The name Phangan comes from the word “Lang Ngan” meaning “Sand Bar” in the southern dialect. Koh Phangan was a longtime favorite of the early kings of Thailand, especially Rama V who visited Than Sadet waterfall on Koh Phangan 14 times during his reign. Some believe the first group of people to reach Koh Phangan were the Muslim sea gypsies who travelled from the Malay Peninsula. Today there is still a small Muslim community living around the Baan Tai and Baan Kai areas.

Koh Phangan has two main seasons; summer is between February and May when it gets very dry and very hot, followed by the monsoon rains which last until October.The rest of the year is a hot with rain showers from time to time.

Koh Phangan has many charming sandy beaches such as Thong Nai Pan Noi and Yai beaches, Bottle beach, Chaloklum beach (fisherman village), Salad beach, Long beach, Chaophao beach, Baan Tai beach and Baan Kai beach.

About Koh Phangan

Location

Weather

Beaches

EnglishHelloHow are you?Where are you going?Have you eaten? Where are you from?

Thai - CentralSawaddeeSabai dee mai?Khun ja pai nai?Khun tarn kaow rue young ? Khun ma jark nai?

Thai - SouthernWaddeeBai dee?Pai nai?Gin kaow young?Ma tae nai?

remains relatively unchanged despite the influx of tourists over the past twenty years. Unlike other better-known islands, Koh Phangan’s community has managed to retain the unique “Thainess” way of life and many still live a simple, self-reliant existence. The traditional lifestyle is evident as one travels around the island, with small-scale fisheries in villages like Chaloklam and Ban Tai and sustainable farming in the centre of the island around Sri Thanu and Madua Wan.

This simple way of life has led many people to fall in love with the island, and in recent years it’s become famous not just for its beautiful white beaches but also for its calming and relaxing energy. Spas, massage shops and alternative health retreats are dotted throughout the island.

The evenings in Koh Phangan are a special time when the stunning sunset views can be enjoyed along the entire west coast. This is many people’s favourite time of the day as the cooler temperature is perfect for relaxing with friends or partaking in exercise, which is becoming increasingly popular. Large groups of cyclists, runners and walkers can be seen during the sunset hours and on the pier there’s a daily aerobics class, which is always well attended.

When you look at Koh Phangan from a different perspective, you will see a charming and unique island that has to be explored to be appreciated. It’s a place where the traditional way of life is still practiced and local wisdom is kept alive from one generation to the next.

Koh Phangan - Thailand

Life on this tranquil island

Chantaramas Resort & Spa

Apichadaview point bar

Tommy Resort

Beck’s Resort

Hi and firstly let me say a big thank you for supporting us by picking up our very first issue! I am very pleased to see our hard work finally published into this magazine.

When we first started collecting our ideas, we didn’t know where it would take us. The one constant in our journey has been our passion for Koh Phangan and our aspiration to reveal its true beauty. We are very excited to see this dream become a reality and we look forward to many more issues to come.

As a child, growing up on this island was truely wonder-ful. Playing on the beach and watching the sunset was just a way of life we took for granted.

When we started traveling to other places, we realised how lucky we were to have spent our childhood in such a magical place. We cherish those experiences more than ever and this is our way of giving back to a place that’s given us so many wonderful memories.

So here it is, the very first lifestyle magazine on Koh Phangan – My Local.

I hope you enjoy the magazine and come to love the island as much as we do.

Apple Walton Editor

Apple [email protected]

Paveena [email protected]

My Local Magazine1/7 moo 2 Baan Nai SaunKoh Phangan Suratthani 84280Tel: +66 (0)95 085 [email protected]

สนใจลงโฆษณา ติดต่อ 089 728 0584

Editor

Sales and Marketing

MY LOCAL MAGAZINEKOH PHANGAN

Special Thanks:Khun Nhing Brande - Nira’s Home Bakery

Khun Aey Suramas - Machill StudioKhun Khane Chompreeda

CONTENTS

10 - HIKING TRAIL TO BOTTLE BEACH

14 - TRADITIONAL ISLAND HOME

18 - CPR

24 - HEALTHY & DELICIOUS

27 - DELICIOUS HOMEMADE

REVIEW

YOGURT & BROWNIES AT THE YOGURT HOME

32 - PHAENG WATERFALLLOCAL ATTRACTION

28 - MOST BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING BEACHESLOCAL BEACHES

ON KOH PHANGAN

36 - A STATUE OF HIS MAJESTYLOCAL HISTORY

42 - CELEBRATES ISLAND CULTURE

LOCAL GALLERY

54 - SONGKRAN FESTIVALLOCAL EVENTS

LOCAL FOOD

HEALTH

THROUGH THE LENS OF LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHERS

KING RAMA V IN THAN SADET

LOCAL ADVENTURE

HOME & LIVING

08 - THONGSALALOCAL TOWN

THE PRINCIPLE TOWN

STINKY BEAN

48 - VISIT THE OLDEST TEMPLE

LOCAL HERITAGE

ON THE ISLAND

MY LOCAL MAGAZINE | KOH PHANGAN

MY LOCAL TOWN

THONGSALATHE PRINCIPLE TOWN

OF KOH PHANGAN

The island is developing at a sustainable pace that allows it to retain its charm and character. This is evident in its main town, Thongsala, which is more than just an administrative centre and is becoming an interesting place in its own right.

The town has restaurants to suit every taste serving a good selection of western and asian food. Soi Krung Thai is a popular lane in the centre of town with a concentration of western restaurants. Bakeries can be found on the pier road facing out to sea, and around the corner in the old town, one can try excellent chicken rice dishes served from old fashioned Chinese shop houses.

Naturally Thai food is available everywhere and it’s hard to go wrong with an array of choices from street stalls to restaurants.

Between the hours of 1600 and 2200 the Pantip night market serves up a delicious bounty of street hawker classics from pad thai noodles, oyster omelettes and the ubiquitous Thai curries.

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Thongsala or “Tong Laah” in southern dialect is the principal town and administrative centre of Koh Phangan. The main ferry terminal for the island is located in Thong Sala, so it acts as a gateway for the rest of the island. The port area has three main piers, one of which handles the car ferry that travels to and from the Donsak port on the mainland. The other piers cater for the smaller passenger and dive boats that service the routes between Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Koh Tao and the mainland ports at Donsak and Chumphorn.

All the usual services are available like travel agents, banks, hospitals, post office and convenience stores. Food shopping has improved with the opening of major supermarket brands and the daily fresh market sells an abun-dance of fresh produce including locally caught seafood. Unique boutique shops are springing up to cater for the

more discerning shopper and there are plenty of handicraft shops to keep the tourists happy.


MY LOCAL ADVENTURE

FOLLOW THE BOTTLESTO BOTTLE BEACH

I believe many people who have visited Koh Phan-gan would have heard about or even visited one of its most beautiful beaches called Bottle Beach.

Bottle Beach is a stunning beach situated on the northen coast of Koh Phangan, known for its charm and exquisiteness. This idyllic white sandy beach

has been on “to do” lists ever since tourists first started visiting the island.The easiest and most popular way to reach the beach is by boat, but it’s also accessible by road for the more adventurous traveler. The road is still a dirt track and very challenging, so off road driving ex-perience is advisable. Taxi boats are available from

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Chaloklum fishing village pier and from the Thong Nai Pan beaches. For the active types who want to experience the island’s natural beauty on foot, there are also hiking trails that can be walked from both of these locations.We had the pleasure of visiting Bottle Beach by boat and it was a wonderful experience. We could see the cliff top rainforest that hugs the coastline resting between the sky and the sea. When we approached

the beach, the sea was so clear we were able to see the sand underneath. It was a very special journey that made us want to go back for more.

So, the next time we decided to experience the jour-ney on foot by hiking through the rainforest along the trails that are considerately marked with empty water bottles. Using bottles as trail markers was a smart idea considering the name of the beach.


We arrived early in the morning at Haad Khom, just outside Chaloklum fishing village, to start our journey and decided to take the mountain trail (blue route). This trail takes approximately one hour to reach Bottle Beach but being the most direct route we only caught glimpses of the sea. The hike cuts a path through the trees and astounding rocks, which could only have been created by powerful natural events. Half way through the journey we reached a cliff with panoramic views of the mountain ranges, which made us feel totally energised and alive.

We had assumed the hiking option was not well known, so we were quite surprised to meet two separate couples heading in the same direction. We started to feel a little competitive and jokingly pretended to race them to the beach, but we quickly stuck to our plan and instead explored what nature had to offer on this journey.

When we arrived at the beach, we stopped at one of the beach-side restaurants for lunch and to rest before heading back on the other trail, known as

MY LOCAL ADVENTURE

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“The long way round” (red route), which follows the cliff top parallel to the sea. This hike provides almost uninterrupted scenic sea views throughout the journey but it’s approximately double the walking time. However, it was well worth the effort, as we were rewarded with a stunning hike where we could marvel at the beau-tiful rainforest with the deep blue sea to guide us. With each long-tail boat that passed below, we yelled with excitement imagining we were in a lost world waiting to be rescued.

We finished the hike in high spirits with renewed optimism for our island. We hope visitors appreciate Koh Phangan and come back to discover more.


MY LOCAL HOME & LIVING

TRADITIONAL HOME AND LIVINGON KOH PHANGAN

Styles of homes differ throughout the regions of the world depending on the geography and climate of a particular area. Architecture has adapted to these influences in the same way that people’s lifestyles have adapted and this is evident in the styles we see today in Thailand. The functional home is both a place to live our lives and an extension of our personalities.

Early settlers in Koh Phangan were no different and they had to adapt to a tropical climate where heavy rain is frequent and the temperature never drops below 30 degrees. To cope with this hot and humid environment they built their houses on stilts; the height and open plan living created air flows to keep them cool and it also protected them from the monsoon rains. Being off the ground also afforded them safety from the poisonous animals that were swept out of the jungle by the rains.

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Formerly rural houses on the island were all made from wood, which is not easy to

maintain in a tropical climate but it was the only available building material at the time. Nowadays wood is used decoratively and the house structure tends to be built with brick or concrete, so the more traditional

houses are becoming rarer.


MY LOCAL HOME & LIVING

During the tour of the house Mr. Nab passionately explained how he upholds the traditional way of life. He grows all the essential fruit and vegetables around the house and raises his own chickens and pigs. Elevating the house on stilts meant livestock could be kept underneath the house and this was another reason why the style was so popular with rural people. Being on an island Mr Nab has plenty of coconut trees and we spotted a pile of fresh coconuts in the backyard waiting to be turned into fresh coconut milk for his evening curry.

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Instead of embedding the stilts directly into the ground, they used foot poles made from hardwood or stone, which meant they could easily lift the entire house and move it to a new location without the need to demolish. In the past, land was abundant and thus people often moved, especially when couples married or when the political cir-cumstances necessitated it.

We were fortunate to be given the opportunity to visit a beautifully preserved tradition-al island home belonging to Mr. Nab Bhunya, situated in the Maduawan area of Koh Phangan. The house was built in B.E 2475 (A.D.1932) making it 82 years old. It was built in the typical southern style of that era with one storey and one large front terrace. There are wooden stairs leading from the terrace to the ground and at the bottom of the stairs is a feature that can be found throughout Thailand; a foot well filled with water for washing the feet before entering the house.

The house has been renovated several times over the years and in doing so modern materials have been blended in with traditional materials. Original parts have also been recycled during the renovation process, like the the large wooden floor which was constructed using planks from one of the original walls. The wall was replaced with smaller wooden planks stacked from bottom to top and in keeping with tradition no nails were used. Traditional wood homes were constructed using wooden pegs or dowels in a dowel joint system. This modular approach to construction was a necessi-ty when people needed to move their houses.

Traditional roofing materials from that period were natural materials like thatch, sago or rattan leaves, which were cheap and they also helped to keep the house cool.


When someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped, as in cases of electric shock, drowning, or heart attack CPR could save a life

CPRCardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if some-one is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped. Chest compressions and rescue breaths keep blood and oxygen circulating in the body.

If someone is not breathing normally and is not moving or responding to you after an ac-cident, call emergency helpline immediately. Then, if you can, start CPR straight away.

Hands-only CPRIf you have not been trained in CPR or are worried about giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a stranger, you can do chest compression-only (or hands-only) CPR.To carry out a chest compression: - Place the heel of your hand on the breast-bone at the centre of the person’s chest. - Place your other hand on top of your first hand and interlock your fingers.

- Position yourself with your shoulders above your hands. Using your body weight (not just your arms), press straight down by 5–6 cm on their chest. - Repeat this until emergency help arrives.Try to perform chest compressions at 100-120 chest compressions a minute.

CPR with rescue breathsIf you’ve been trained in CPR, including rescue breaths, and feel confident using your skills, you should give chest compressions with rescue breaths. If you are not completely confident, attempt hands-only CPR instead.

Adults - Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose before placing the heel of your hand on the centre of the person’s chest, then place the other hand on top and press down by 5–6cm at a steady rate, at approxi-mately 100 compressions per minute.After every 30 chest compressions, give two breaths. - Tilt the casualty’s head gently and lift the chin up with two fingers. Pinch the person’s nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth. Check that their chest rises.

It’s impossible to predict when we might need to help someone in a life-threatening situation but we can be prepared. This is especially important when travelling in remote locations like Koh Phangan where medical treatment might not arrive in time.

Car

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(CP

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HEALTH

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Jacky - 1 Pharmacy

• Qualified pharmacists• Health and wellness• Souvenir• Bike rental

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Ban Tai - Haad Rin Road (next to 7-11)

Ban Tai - Haad Rin Road

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Give two rescue breaths. - Continue with cycles of 30 chest compres-sions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Children over one year old - Open the child’s airway by placing one hand on the child’s forehead and gently tilting their head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose. - Pinch their nose. Seal your mouth over their mouth and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths. - Place the heel of your hand on the centre of their chest and press down by at least one third of the depth of the chest. Use two hands if you can’t press down hard enough with one. - After every 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, give two breaths. - Continue with cycles of 30 chest compres-sions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Babies under one year old- Open the baby’s airway by placing one hand on their forehead and gently tilting the head back and lifting the chin. Remove any visible obstructions from the mouth and nose. - Place your mouth over the mouth and nose of the infant and blow steadily and firmly into their mouth, checking that their chest rises. Give five initial rescue breaths. - Place two fingers in the middle of the chest and press down by one-third of the depth of the chest. Use the heel of one hand if you cannot press deep enough with two fingers.After 30 chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, give two breaths.

- Continue with cycles of 30 chest compres-sions and two rescue breaths until they begin to recover or emergency help arrives.

Recovery PositionIf a person is unconscious but is breathing and has no other life-threatening conditions, they should be placed in the recovery position. Placing someone in the recovery position will ensure their airway remains clear and open. It also ensures that any vomit or fluid will not cause them to choke.

Place someone in the recovery position: - kneel on the floor on one side of the personplace the arm nearest you at a right angle to their body with their hand upwards towards the head. - Tuck their other hand under the side of their head, so that the back of their hand is touching their cheek. - Bend the knee farthest from you to a right angle. - Roll the person onto their side carefully by pulling on the bent knee. - The top arm should be supporting the head and the bottom arm will stop you rolling them too far. - Open their airway by gently tilting their head back and lifting their chin, and check that nothing is blocking their airway. - Stay with the person and monitor their breathing and pulse continuously until help arrives.

Emergency

Phangan rescue team 1669, 077 377 500 or 081 698 9493

Koh Phangan Hospital077 377 034

Bangkok Hospital Samui Clinic (Koh Phangan)077 239 599 and086 949 6653

Thai International Hospital077 239 508-9

For more info visit www.nhs.uk


MY LOCAL MARKET

WALKING STREETOLD MARKET STREETTHONGSALA KOH PHANGAN

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FRESH LOCAL PRODUCEDELICIOUS LOCAL DELICACIES

SNACKS, SWEETS AND DESSERTSFRESH SEAFOOD

UNIQUE LOCAL HANDICRAFTSCLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES

EVERY SATURDAY 16:00 - 21:00


Sator (Thai:สะตอ) which goes by the name of bitter bean, twisted cluster bean or stinky bean is a plant of the species Parkia in the family Fabaceae.Sator has a very distinctive bitter smell and taste.

Sator is popular as a culinary ingredient in southern Thailand and also in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Burma.

It has earned its nickname ‘stinky bean’ because its distinctive smell is very persistent. It contains certain amino acids that give a strong smell to the urinary system; it can be noticed a couple of days after consumption.

SATOR

Sator is not only delicious, but is packed with healthy nutrients which have been proven to aid in everything from lowering blood pressure to relieving stress and warding off heartburn.

As mentioned, Sator is very popular in South East Asian kitchens especially here in southern Thailand and Koh Phangan is no exception. We love our Sator! It’s great in a dry red curry or in a stir-fry, and it also makes a good accompani-ment to chilli shrimp dipping sauce either raw or quickly blanched.

MY LOCAL FOOD

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MY LOCAL REVIEW

DELICIOUS HOMEMADE

AT THE YOGURT HOME - BAAN TAI

YOGURT AND BROWNIES

Today we met up with Mew, the third generation owner of The Yogurt Home in Baan Tai, who produces homemade yogurts and brownies. The Yogurt Home was established in 1986 by his grandfather, when he opened a small market stall in Thongsala. With just a few bamboo tables and chairs to serve his freshly made yogurts and brownies; he soon became well known by locals and travellers alike.

When Mew graduated from a Bangkok university 10 years ago, he decided to come back to Koh Phangan and continue the family business. His grandfather’s original recipes were written on bits of old paper with measurements still in pots and pans. It took him a while to replicate the taste using standard measure-ments that his grandfather approved of, and fortunately for us he was successful.

During our visit, we had the pleasure of trying an old time classic, homemade yogurt with honey; it was simple but truly delicious.

We took a few jars home to enjoy in a healthy breakfast mixed with fruit and muesli, but it would be equally delicious in a fresh fruit lassi.

We also tried a traditional homemade brownie topped with crunchy, roasted cashew nuts. It gave us a self-indulgent feeling, nothing fancy, just simple, fresh and tasty.

Mew has recently created some new brownie recipes with flavours like white chocolate and almond, which will no doubt be equally yummy.

The Yogurt Home is serving up their au-thentic homemade yogurts and brownies on a daily basis.

Thong Nai Pan

Thongsala - Baan Tai Haad Rin

The Yogurt Home

For more information:+66(0) 77 238 038 or+66(0) 81 535 9443


MY LOCAL BEACHES

SWIMMING BEACHESON KOH PHANGAN

Bottle beach, or Haad Kuad in Thai, is on the northern coast and is best reached by boat, or foot for the really adventurous. The longtail boats leave from Chaloklum beach and the journey takes about 30 minutes. Taxi boats are also available from Thong Nai Pan which lies just to the south. Arriving at one of the most isolated bays on the island, travellers are rewarded with an idyllic tropical hideway with white powdery sand that’s

perfect for lazing around, playing some afternoon beach sports or taking a dip in the crystal clear waters.

BOTTLE BEACH

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THONG NAI PAN BEACHESThong Nai Pan Yai (big) and Thong Nai Pan Noi (small) are situated on the North-East coast of Koh Phangan and are two equally beautiful bays that are great for swimming with pristine white powdery beaches; Yai tends to have calmer seas when the wind picks up.

The area has retained its laid back Phangan village vibe but now offers a range of accommodation to suit every budget. Getting there takes about 40 minutes from Thong Sala along a paved road

that winds through mountainous virgin rainforest.


MY LOCAL BEACHES

Haad Rin beach is on the southeastern tip of the island and is known as the home of the fullmoon party. The beach is the most developed and busiest on the island with a good range of resorts and many bars

and restaurants.

HAAD RIN BEACH

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HAAD YAO OR LONG BEACH

Haad Yao or Long Beach is a long white sandy beach that lives up to its name and is located on the North West of the island. It’s probably the best beach on the sunset side and can be reached by following a stunning coast road from Thongsala which takes about 30 minutes. The beach is the most developed on this coastline with good amenities, a range of decent resorts and a few bars and restaurants. The sea is calm and clean with good swimming and snorkelling further away from the beach.


MY LOCAL ATTRACTION

PHAENG WATERFALL


Phaeng Waterfall is situated 5 kilometres north of Thong Sala on the main road to Chaloklum and is easily accessible by all vehicles. A well-respected local abbot called Prakru Supatthummapirom, whose main objective was to preserve the waterfall and wildlife, first established the area in 1967.

The National Park bureau officially proclaimed Phaeng waterfall a national park in 1977 and it became part of the main national park operation on Koh Phangan, “The Than-sadej – Koh Phangan National Park”. Today, local villagers are still using the water from the waterfall for both agriculture and other utilities. This pleasant and beautiful waterfall attracts many locals and tourists especially during the rainy season.

MY LOCAL ATTRACTION

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Photos were taken between September - November 2014


HISTORICAL LANDMARK

The turning to Than Sadet is about 3 km before Thong Nai Pan at the roundabout with the futuristic sculpture. When you almost reach Than Sadet, 2 km from the turnning, you will find the remembrance statue of his majesty King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) on your right hand side. The statue was erected to commemorate his visit to the island and its famous Than Sadet waterfall.

A statue of his majesty King Chulalongkorn

MY LOCAL HISTORY

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The royal cypher stone engravings, King Rama V The royal cypher stone engravings, King Rama VII

About 100 meters behind the statue there is a small buddhist practice ground that leads to the top of the waterfall, and it’s here that the royal cypher stone engravings from King Chulalongkorn and King Rama VII can be found.


COCONUT OIL

Coconuts are an essential ingredient in Thai cuisine and the white fleshy part of a mature seed, the coconut meat, is used to make milk for curries, baked desserts and drinks. The seed itself produces oil for frying, cooking and making margarine. It can also be extracted for use in soaps and cosmetics.

Even though coconut oil has been consumed for thousands of years, the food industry abandoned it until recently, due to a negative campaign claiming saturat-ed fats posed health risks.

These days coconut oil is back in fashion after research has proven that naturally occurring saturated fats are in fact extremely beneficial for health. It’s the unsatu-rated fats, artificially manipulated into saturated fats known as trans fats which are the real danger to human health.

Coconut oil is a refined product that’s either mass produced from “Copra”, which is the dried coconut removed from its shell or extracted from fresh coconut requiring less refining. The term “virgin” coconut oil is used for oils that start with fresh coco-nut and it’s this oil that’s the healthiest.

“Coconut milk” is expressed first by pressing it out of the grated coconut meat. The oil is then further separated from the water. Methods which can be used to separate the oil from the water include boiling, fermentation, refrigeration, enzymes, and mechanical centrifuge.

WELLNESS

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Angthong National Marine Park Islands is an archipelago of 42 islands and is a protect-ed area, famous for its natural beauty. Angthong National Marine Park is situated in the Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand abundant with coral and marine life. These islands hold some wondrous hidden treasures and what better way to enjoy these sights than with Orion!

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Hair care:Reduces the protein loss for both un-damaged and damaged hair. It helps the hair retain its natural moisture content and reinforces the hair fibre, making it stronger.

Good fatty acids:Contains medium-chain fatty acids, which go straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick energy source or turned into so-called ketone bodies, they can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer’s.

Cholesterol and Heart Disease:Saturated fats raise HDL (the good) cholesterol and change the LDL cholesterol to a benign subtype. This improvement in cardiovascular risk factors should the-oretically lead to a reduced risk of heart disease over the long term.

Skin care:Effective moisturizer for all skin types and also helps with various skin problems including dryness, rashes and wrinkles. It can be used as part of a tanning routine due to its effectiveness at blocking harmful UV rays.

Weight loss:The fatty acids in coconut oil can significantly reduce appetite, which may positively affect body weight over the long term. Coconut oil also appears to be especially effective in reducing abdominal fat, which lodges in the abdominal cavity and around organs. The medi-um-chain fatty acids in coconut oil have been shown to increase energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.

Infections:Almost 50% of the fatty acids in coconut oil is Lauric acid, which can kill harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses and fungi.

ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants are often discussed in health and beauty topics. These powerful substances known as molecules, which mostly come from fresh fruits and vegetables prevent the oxidation of other molecules in our body.

What is Oxidation?Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers elec-trons or hydrogen from a substance to an oxidising agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which can start a chain reaction and when that occurs in a cell it can cause damage or death to the cell.

Our body naturally produces free radicals and the antioxidants to neutralise their negative effects. However, in most cases, free radicals far outnumber the naturally occurring antioxidants. So in order to

maintain the balance, a constant supply from external sources of antioxidants is necessary. Top 5 Antioxidant foods:

• Grape seed extract• Green tea• Pine bark extract• Coenzyme Q10 from egg, meat, liver, fish oil,

seafood and milk products• Natural beta-carotene from all fruits and

vegetables with orange pigment such as sweet potato and carrot

Health Benefits of Virgin Coconut Oil


MY LOCAL GALLERY

MY LOCALGALLERYCELEBRATES TRADITIONAL WAY OF LIVING


MY LOCAL GALLERY

And excitement in their eyes, it’s more than just survival, it’s about reliving those incredible childhood memories. Living a traditional island life and challenging their survival skills.

F R O M S M I L E SON THEIR FACES


A small family run coconut wholesaler in Baan Nur

Nowadays coconut farming and the production of coconut products is a small scale family affair. This is because the whole process from growing coconut trees (which takes up to 5-7 years), harvesting, peeling, drying and transportation to the mainland has become more expensive. Also, the new generation is not interested in continuing this traditional way of life.

MY LOCAL TRADITION

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Coconut farming and processing facilities are still dotted around the island, although the industry has declined considerably with the influx of tourists over the past 20 years. Coconut groves make for a pleasant and tranquil environment for holiday resorts and so farming is no longer the mainstay it once was.

Coconut will always be a part of the island’s scenery and is still central to daily life on the island, but it’s becoming harder to discover the once vibrant industry of farming these amazing fruits. It’s the versatility of coconut, from its root to its young shoot that makes it so special.

• Coconut root is traditionally used in local medicine• Coconut timber is used for construction work• Young coconut provides a refreshing drink • Mature coconut is processed for coconut milk and coconut oil• Coconut seed and its shell is used for coal• Young seed and the shoot is used in curries and soups


MY LOCAL HERITAGE

KHAO NOY TEMPLEKhao Noy Temple is situated 2 kilometres north of Thongsala just before Koh Phangan’s general hospital. The temple is on the top of a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside. It can be reached by its main entrance gate which is accessible from the middle road that runs between the coast road and the Chaloklum road.


In 1890 (B.E. 2432) a well-respected local abbot called Prakru Viboon Thummasarn, known as Hloungpu Peth, set out to build a Buddhist practice chapel and meditation retreat. However, with the help of locals he was able to build the pagoda, chapel and hermitage which is known locally as Wat Khao Noy.

After 24 years, the temple status was declared in 1914 (B.E. 2456) when it was given its official name ‘Pukhao Noy’ Temple.

On 12th September 1997 (B.E. 2540) Pukhao Noy temple was appointed as an archaeology site, with renovations subsequently taking place. Unfortunately many original features were lost in the process.

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This stupa with fleche roof covers Hloungpu Peth’s ashes and his footprints in the stone.


Khao Noy pagoda has a square base with a 4 layer design. The main pagoda con-tains the Buddhha’s relics, surrounded by 6 medium and 4 small pagodas. The base of the pagoda is decorated with old china to commemorate the villagers support.

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The statue of Hloungpu Peth’s situated east of the pagoda. Every year, on the full moon of the ninth Thai calendar month is his passing memorial day. Local villagers will gather to pray and give alms in his honor.

The chapel is situated west of the pagoda; inside contains the statue of Pra Kwan Meung (Spirit of a city Buddha). This chapel only has one door to enter and exit, a distinctive archi-tectural design which only a few chapels still have in Thailand.


WHAT’S ONUPCOMING EVENT ON KOH PHANGAN

SONGKRAN FESTIVAL

MY LOCAL EVENT

Songkran festival is celebrated as the traditional New Year Year’s day in Thailand. In the past, the date depended on astrology calculations but it’s now fixed from 13 to 15 April.

As part of the celebration, families reunite to visit their local temple and make offerings to the monks for good luck and blessing. The traditional use of fresh water and flowers symbolises cleansing and rejuvenation for new beginnings. During the celebrations, Thai’s will pour water filled with flowers onto statues of respected local abbots or the Buddha. Youngsters pour water onto palms of elders to pay their respect.

Songkran is celebrated nationwide although the date can still vary from region to region. On Koh Phangan, we will be celebrating this significant event from 13 to 15 April 2015,So please come and join us.

Mac’s Bay Resort• Accommodation & swimming pool • Beachfront restaurant

• Sunset view • Relaxing atmosphere • Family friendly• Reservations +66(0) 77 238 443, +66(0) 89 904 8959

• [email protected]

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Koh PhanganDeparture

Samui (Nathon)

Samui(Pralarn)

Suratthani SuratthaniAirport

Koh Tao Bangkok

Arrival

07:20 07:50 10:00 10:45

12:00 12:30 15:00 15:45

14:30 15:00 17:30 18:00

11:00 11:20

16:20 16:40

08:3009:30 20:30

13:0014:15 24:30

17:4518:45

BOAT TIMETABLES


Samui (Bangrak)

SuratthaniAirport

Koh Tao Krabi Phi Phi Phuket

Arrival

08:00 08:30 12:00 13:00 16:30 17:30

11:00 11:30 15:00 17:00

16:30 17:00

08:30 10:00

13:00 14:30

16:00 17:30

Seatran DiscoveryKoh Phangan office +66(0) 77 238 679

Haad Rin Departure

SamuiBo Phut

09:30 10:2011:40 12:3014:30 15:2017:30 18:20

Haad Rin QueenKoh Phangan office +66(0) 77 375 113


Suratthani

05:00 8:3007:00 10:3010:00 13:3013:00 16;3017:00 20:30

Raja FerryHeadquarters +66(0) 77 372 800 - 2

Lomprayah CatamaranKoh Phangan office +66(0) 77238 411 -2


Samui (Nathon)

Suratthani SuratthaniAirport

Koh Tao Krabi Bangkok

Arrival

07:00 07:45 11:00 11:30 12:30

12:30 13:15 17:00 17:30 14:00 18:30 05:00

Songserm ExpressKoh Phangan office +66(0) 77 377 704, +66(0) 77 377 096

*Departure/Arrival times stated here are subject to change. Please check with your travel agentcy before traveling.

Benjamin’s Hut

Winner 2014

Simple place for simple life

• Friendly family run resort• Tropical setting with newly built cosy villas• Beachfront restaurant with delicious Thai and Western food• Stunning sunset view and relaxing atmosphere• Free WiFi (Beachfront restaurant)Tel: 077 349 286, 089 529 3828, 083 640 9720 | Email: [email protected]

Chao Phao BeachBenjamin’s Hut

The Reggae Bar

• Live music every Monday night• Bar & Restaurant• Must try Reggae pizza

The Reggae Village, Haad Salad, Koh Phangan, ThailandReservations +66(0) 77 349 083

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