The Gloves are Off with Ra Sa Nan Da pricing

The Ra Sa Nan Da is a swanky place with a daft name. Well it wouldn't be so daft if they hadn't parcelled off the syllables - ananda is sanskrit for "joy" (as many people know) and ras is sanskrit for "abolish, roar or scream". Perhaps Ras isn't sanskrit. Anyway I'm sure it means something to Thai people, but to us farang it's incomprehensible and made more so by splitting up the name. Ra Sa Nan Da goes one better than Santhiya. Santhiya is a massive hotel with a huge pool and it's own beach. But there's the caveat. Santhiya beach, as they like to falsely call it, is not so great. That's why Santhiya guests congregate around the pool instead. In comparison Ra Sa Nan Da has the lion's share of the best beach in Koh Phangan and arguably one of the best beaches in Thailand, Thong Nai Pan Noi. They are right on the beach. They have got cool modern tropical mini villas with small plunge pools and salas. The colouring is an opulent red. The theme of the resort is boutique and exclusive. And now the promotional phase has finished they have got outrageous prices to match. Gone are the moderately reasonable rates between 12,500 thb and 25,500 thb per night. Now they are asking between 22,000 thb and 50,000 thb for a night. Incredible when next door in Baan Panburi you can get a bungalow for as little as 550 thb a night. There's a contrast. It's the same beautiful white sand beach, the same tropical scenery, the same bars and restaurants but the hoi polloi are kept at arms length while you lounge in your personal sala and stare at the stars. Ra Sa Nan Da does, however, have this quite amazing wine rack in the reception area, and an odd art piece red chair to match.

Changes on the beach

Thong Nai Pan Noi and Thong Nai Pan Yai continues to up-grade facilities and accommodation.

The most noticeable change is the new concrete road in Thong Nai Pan Noi which starts at the shop near the Panviman entrance, goes through the 'village', past Sandee Bungalow and then runs parallel to the beach behind Ra Sa Nan Da. This means no more bumpy pot holes and permanent puddles.

The next striking change is the opening of the new ultra fancy and expensive Ra Sa Nan Da resort. It takes up a big percentage of beachfront on Thong Nai Pan Noi, between Baan Panburi and Puwadee Resort. It comprises of 44 two-storey villas. Each villa has it's own small plunge pool and sala. The villas come with expresso machines, rain water showers, flat screen TVs and ipod docking stereo systems. The communal facilities include a swimming pool, restaurant and spa.

In Thong Nai Pan Noi village a few businesses have changed. The Mios is sadly gone. The only place to watch football is now the Indigo Cafe. The Rock Bar has been pulled down. This is not a great loss because it was a shabby place and nobody patronised the place. The Romfar massage place has been abandoned as a business and the infamous Pong's Republic has been turned into a workshop for a local carpenter and furniture maker.

Santhiya has added another huge building to the hillside, which like its predecessors is very visible.

Thong Nai Pan Resort, formerly known as Raiwin, has undergone a new name change. It's now known as the Puwadee Resort. The good news is that they have started re-painting some of the pink bungalows white.

Behind Puwadee is a new shop, the Flip Flop Minimart. I didn't see anyone using the shop, but I suppose it might be successful if Ra Sa Nan Da guests use the shop.

On Thong Nai Pan Yai the road hasn't been upgraded to concrete but at least it's been levelled out a bit.

Thong Nai Pan Yai now has a gym called 'The Living Well Gym'. It's down the road from Nu-bar. On the same side road to the beach a new restuarant has opened - 'Deeva Pub and Restaurant'.

Dreamland has built a swimming pool. And a new resort is being built on the beachfront in Thong Nai Pan Yai called 'The Star Light Resort'. It has a great black tiled swimming pool with a dolphin pattern.

What hasn't changed is that Thong Nai Pan still has the best beaches on Koh Phangan and the most laid back atmosphere on the island. There's still a few cheap accommodation options available and the parties (despite new licensing laws) at the Jungle Bar, The Hideaway and Funky Buddha are still weekly events. DJ Ton seems to have got over his obsession with Vanilla Ice which is great news for music lovers.