Hat
Tien Beach itself is a small cove. On one side is
Hat Yuan which is a long stretch of white sand.
On the other side is Hat Wai Nam, a smaller white
sand beach. Both beaches are accessible through
a trail over the cliffs that enclose Hat Tien. The
bungalows in this area are quite interesting. Quite
often they perch on boulders and cliffs directly
overlooking the sea. It's enjoyable to hear the
sea whistle and breathe as you're lying in bed at
night, savoring the cool moist air.
Hat
Tien has a lot of yoga gurus, dreadlocked fire-dancers
and ultra cool travelers with 10-mile stares. That's
probably why some people don't like it. I've heard
adjectives like pretentious and fake thrown about.
From my perspective, who cares? I am there for the
music, the nature and the food. Some of the most
peaceful states of mind I have achieved have been
sitting on a beach gazing at the horizon.
Hat
Tien has some interesting clubs that only open in
the evening. My favorite had giant batiks of organic
and geometrical patterns all in fluorescent colors,
reminiscent of 60's psychedelic fantasy recycled
for the Rave generation. There are oil lamps and
floor cushions and the places look as if they were
specifically designed for testing the limits of
waking reality.
Had
Rin Hangouts
Before
I discovered Hat Tien, I used to go to Hat Rin beach
and, although I wouldn't stay there again, there
are some cool places. Overall, it's too busy for
me and I prefer the more remote beaches. However,
there are some places I really like about Had Rin.
Had
Rin is filled with young backpackers, mainly, Australians,
British, a sprinkling of Italians and hordes of
Israelis. The vibe is definitely young and single
with an emphasis on hedonistic forms of recreation.
The beach of Had Rin is filled with numerous clubs
which open directly on to the beach and blast techno
music in the evening. The bars operate regardless
of the state of the Moon and it is always happening.
Jungle
Gym is one of the best gyms in Thailand. The gym
located right off Sunset Beach when you get off
the ferry from Koh Samui. Marisa and Wendy are the
owners. They have weightlifting equipment, a boxing
ring and boxing equipment. They feature classes
in Muay Thai boxing and other yoga and aerobic classes.
But their specialty seems to be boxing; Marisa is
a former professional whom I got to know from my
Muay Thai gym in Thailand. She was downing some
beers with some friends in Bangkok one afternoon
and Jitti came and asked her if she wanted to fight
that evening. With no preparation and half drunk,
she went into the ring against an unknown opponent
and she won.
One
time I was working out at Jungle Gym and there were
some buffed Australian guys there lifting weights
and playing with the boxing equipment. The biggest
guy, who like a linebacker, started punching the
heavy bag and in one blow actually knocked it off
its chain. Everyone just stood and gaped. It was
hilarious; I have been training for years and never
knocked a bag off its hinges.
There
are several very tasty restaurants in Hat Rin. Outback
Restaurant is Australian-owned of course and features
Western style fare but also advertises absinthe
shots. There's a great bakery on the main road that
serves sandwiches as well as scones, calzones and
bagels. There are also a few good Italian restaurants.
