I’m certain that swaying in a hammock feels so comforting because it reminds us of being rocked like a baby. I also believe that being submerged in warm water triggers a very early memory of what it felt like to be in the womb. These are feelings that I have felt a lot during my extended stay on Koh Phayam.
The island is small, so I was determined to see it all! I rode as far north as the roads would let me and happened upon the Hippy Bar. It seems like they are still constructing a ship at the beach entrance, but the rest of it seems amazingly unstable but super cool! I took a short video clip of the Hippy Bar – posted on the Instagrams.
Forever on a quest to find snorkeling spots, I always pack my diving mask and snorkel. I was thrilled to find a few corals at the Hippy Bar beach, including a pair of Clown Fish viciously protecting their little breeding spot. The fearless male goes straight at you while making warning clicks. I also glided past a Stone Fish. There are always creatures to see if you look hard enough.
Dry Season had begun and the weather was superb. A lot more families had arrived with their broods and prices were on the up. What a perfect time to have your debit card swallowed by a dysfunctional ATM! There are only two ATMs on Koh Phayam and I happened to pick the evil one.
I was thinking how to make a sign to warn others, when someone said that the evil ATM wouldn’t accept his card. Thankfully my one was preventing others from being devoured. It would take three working days before the ATM service crew would arrive. I’d be gone by then, but the islanders tell me not to worry – they will find a way to get it back to me. I have temporarily blocked it and have my credit card as a backup, so all is not lost.
The Koh Phayam islanders are awesome. “Arm” who part-manages the bungalows where I stayed, is the one who phoned the bank to report my debit card swallowed. He has let me use his surfboard for free. He also said that if I can’t pay my bill by the time I leave, “don’t worry, just relax. We will find a way”.
Travelers on this island have also been super nice and I was making friends. There was German Justin the Crypto Bro who has been paying for drinks due to his investment gains, a hometown friend who I was getting to know better, Arm, Form and Ing (locals), and a happy mix of foreigners.
Koh Phayam is not a party island, but there was some DJ’ing action the one night. One new experience was trying a small dose of Kratom – a bitter drink made from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves contain a chemical called mitragynine, which works like opioids such as morphine. I believe if you ingest lots of it, you become quite sedated. A small amount just made us experience a gentle buzz.
Many people at the party might have been on it (or perhaps not) because everyone was super sociable. I was very chatty and got asked if I was a stand-up comedian. Such a lovely compliment! I had a gay Irish lass and her Aussie partner in stiches, who said that it confirmed their belief that South Africans are (Irish accent follows): “The funniest people on the planet”.
I feel reluctant to leave Koh Phayam, but I would be heading to Koh Phangan next for another week of new people and experiences. (“Koh” means “island” in Thai, so it has been Koh Koh Kabana).
Next: An Evening Naked on Zen Beach
Previously: Koh Koh Kabana: Koh Phayam
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