Thailand
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Scooter rental on Koh Phangan with Phangan Wheels
Disclaimer : While renting a scooter in Thailand is very easy, it remains illegal if you don’t have a motorcycle license. You’re not only risking potential fines but also the non-coverage of your insurance in case of an accident. I talk about it in this article. There are plenty of scooter rental shops on Koh Phangan. We didn’t do a very thorough market study and picked one of the best-rated on Google Maps: Phangan Wheels. Phangan Wheels is run by a Russian guy you can contact in English on WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc., and he’s very responsive to messages. This scooter rental agency isn’t suited for very short stays as…
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Test & Review: Bangkok Hospital on Koh Phangan (Thailand)
A few days ago, I wasn’t feeling well and the pain kept me from sleeping. I watched a series almost all night to forget the discomfort. JB and I decided to get up as early as possible and head to Bangkok Hospital, a private hospital with branches all over Thailand. We were recommended this hospital because they have another one on Koh Samui. In case of emergency, Bangkok Hospital even has a speedboat to transfer patients to the larger Bangkok Hospital Koh Samui. This is the second time I’ve “tested” the Thai healthcare system. The first time was during a food poisoning in Krabi 5-6 years ago. We’re the only…
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How to enter Thailand with the Samui Plus Sandbox, no quarantine needed?
Starting October 1, 2021, visitors who are fully vaccinated under the “Sandbox” program in Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao are invited to stay in the destination for seven days, then can continue their journey to other parts of Thailand. *** If tourists stay less than 7 nights in the Samui+ program, they must leave Thailand via Samui airport only. If they depart via Phuket airport, they can only do so after staying in Samui+ for at least 7 nights. Conditions DAY 0-1 DAY 1-7 Which visa(s) to choose CoE: Certificate of Entry However, even with a visa exemption, you need to apply for what is called a “Certificate…
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Vietnamese spring rolls at Koh Phangan – at Beach Garden restaurant
A few months ago, I told you about the Beach Garden restaurant which I really love. We go there once or twice a week because not only is the food good, but the ingredients are top-notch and simply the best in the world. The big boss, Jérémie, always picks the best possible ingredients: pepper from Cambodia, olive oil from Greece… nothing is left to chance. Over time, we became friends, and when I started complaining about the lack of Vietnamese restaurants on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, I had an idea: what if I gave him the recipe for Vietnamese spring rolls? It came from a very selfish desire: that…
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How to get to Thailand with the Phuket Sandbox? No Quarantine & 30-Day Visa Exemption
Right now, there are 2 ways to get to Thailand: We’re going to explain how to get to Thailand via the Phuket Sandbox, without going through an agency. It’s very easy and quick, you just need to understand English and have a fairly well-filled wallet. Should you opt for a visa? We compared the different visa options in this article. Personally, we chose to come to Thailand with a visa exemption (30 days right now). This allows us not to have to go to the Thai embassy in Paris or do the e-visa online. The 30-day extension is super easy to get on the spot. Right now, stay extensions (Covid…
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Shooting range session in Koh Phangan (Thailand)
Back from a hotel stay for my birthday, we happen to pass by the entrance to the Phangan Yang Yai Shooting Association (link to their Facebook page). Judging by the photos on their Facebook page, this is where the police forces train in shooting. Since I’m still a big kid and shooting a pistol is fun for me, we follow the path without really knowing if the shooting range is open during this covid period. The dirt road is quite long but manageable by scooter, and it’s by hearing several gunshots that we get our answer: it’s open. The range offers many different weapons and the price depends on the…
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Celebrating JB’s birthday at Anantara Rasananda in Koh Phangan (Thailand)
Because of a small Covid wave hitting Koh Phangan island, all the “cool” plans to properly celebrate JB’s birthday fall through. But that’s okay, we decide to spend 1 night at the Anantara Rasananda hotel, which we really liked during our little excursion last time. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal I wanted to go there by boat from Chaloklum, then be brought back to Chaloklum the next day, but that requires two round trips for the fisherman and he gives us a very high rate. What’s the point of taking the boat if the visibility isn’t great and we can’t even go snorkeling? JB…
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How to Apply for the 60-Day Covid Extension in Thailand? Koh Phangan Immigration Office
After getting a visa extension of 30 days without any hassle in Koh Samui, we applied for the 60-day Covid extension for the first time, which allows us to stay in Thailand a bit longer. This extension, called Covid, was originally designed for tourists stranded in Thailand since March 2020. However, the deadline keeps getting pushed back. For now, it can be requested until November 26, 2021, for an extension until January 25, 2022. But Thailand has continued to extend the possibility of applying for this extension since last year, so for now, it’s a fairly safe way to stay in Thailand until the country considers that Covid no longer…
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Snorkeling at Haad Khom & Bottle Beach: Koh Phangan (Thailand)
For several weeks now, we’ve been looking to go on a boat trip for snorkeling. Unfortunately with Covid, boats rarely leave to Koh Tao, where there are several snorkeling/diving spots. While eating lunch near Chaloklum port, at the restaurant Leo Thai Food, we spot a “taxi boat” sign and it turns out the owner’s husband is a fisherman and can take us on a snorkeling tour by boat. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Not having seen his boat before the tour, we discover it on the day. It’s a true fishing boat, with two fishing rods on the sides. When he comes to pick…
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Boat tours near Koh Samui: Ko Rap, Koh Madsum, and Ang Thong Marine Park (Thailand)
Before Covid, there was no shortage of boat trips to explore the small islands and the marine park near Koh Samui. But with tourist numbers plummeting, finding a tour has become mission impossible. We had to contact a friend of a friend of a friend… to find a trip around Koh Samui organized by a Frenchman who’s been living here for 20 years. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Note: The two tours featured in this post were taken in June. But it’s only now that I’ve found the time to write about it 😀 Trip 1: Ko Rap, Koh Madsum The boat leaves in…
