H20 Scuba Update

H20 Scuba School continues to improve its online presence with a new Facebook page. The page is better than most facebook efforts in that it tries to give a little bit of information rather than being like so many facebook pages which degenerate into random 'tweets' from a random bunch of people whom you probably don't know. Yes, the author thinks Facebook pages are a daft fad and Google is wasting space featuring them.

Other scuba news is that H20 Scuba now has a few branches to save the hassle of getting to Thong Nai Pan Noi if you are not staying nearby. There's a branch at Phuwadee (AKA Raiwin and the Pink Bungalows) on Thong Nai Pan Noi. There is also a place to sign up in Yai - Pen's Bungalows on the center of the beach. In Bottle Beach people can get H20 Scuba Information from Bottle Beach Resort.

Finally, for those people wondering if Koh Phangan would ever get a proper night club the day has finally arrived. It's not on Thong Nai Pan sadly. Rather it's in Haad Rin. It is called Club 9. They've managed to attract LTJ Bukem so far. Club 9 is the largest indoor venue on the island. Hopefully they will sack off Graham Gold and Brandon Block and get some more famous DJs to the island.

In short the options for a night out in Koh Phangan have just got better; as have the options for signing up for Scuba diving with H2O Scuba School.

Indian Bar

The Indian Bar is a business that has been around for quite a while on Thong Nai Pan Yai. The present incarnation of the bar is at the northern end of the village near the beach. It is located among the grassy paths leading down the beach near the middle school and the small wat.

All the times I've been over to Yai I have to put my hands up and say I've never stopped in for a drink at the Indian Bar. It is a big structure  - spiky Thai roof in corrugated metal with the usual open plan feel (no walls). Inside there is plenty of seating. I always guessed it was a place to chill out and play games.

The new website of the Indian Bar hardly makes it clearer what the unique selling point of the place is. As with so many of the websites done for businesses on Koh Phangan the site has bells and whistles but little useful content. There is no menu or price list (a sure sign this site will never be updated) and few pictures of the business.

A little bit of history is revealed by the site. The old spot for the bar was behind Havana Resort which back then was Honey Bungalows. This is interesting because Honey Bungalows in 1997 was the name of Sandee Bungalow on Thong Nai Pan Noi. Honey Bungalow many years ago was my favorite place to stay in Thong Nai Pan Noi. Around 2000 they moved to Yai and then shortly afterwards gave up their lease in Yai so Havana could be built.

Another interesting thing about the Indian Bar website is that it reveals that they have a few bungalows to rent. This is always useful to know if Dreamland or Central is full and you are despairing of finding a place to stay.

Returning back to the theme of bells and whistles and no wheels - the website also has a sophisticated forum, social network plugin which is marvelously underused  - 1 person has signed up. The chances are approaching zero of one of the Thai family who run Indian Bar of regularly administering such a thing. Thumbs down to the site, but thumbs up to Indian Bar for keeping the old hippy vibe of Thong Nai Pan Yai going.

So if you are interested, click here to go to the Indian Bar website.

Rasananda Live Webcam

This is one page that gives me great solace when I'm away from the beach. I can simply click onto the Rasananda website and then go to the live webcam and spend a good five minutes just watching the red flags of the resort fluttering in the breeze and the bored staff wondering around the empty pool looking like they are busy.

It is addictive viewing. I believe it is the first live webcam from Thong Nai Pan Noi. I'm not sure there sure that there should be more. After all, what happens on the beach should stay on the beach. Perhaps someone will spot Ryan Giggs on the webcam this summer regaling some C list celebrity with tales of his Welsh wizardry on the ball.

If you want to read more about Rasananda Resort click the link.