The clear water of the Andaman sea.

The first time we ever heard of the word “Koh Lipe” was only a few weeks before our departure to this gorgeous small island of Thailand situated in the southern area of the Andaman sea – at the mention and suggestion of a former collegue of mine. Located in the Satun province, this heavenly hideaway is among more than 70 beautiful islands that are part of the Tarutao National Marine Park. If you’re looking for an island with white sand, turquoise sea, azure sky, as well as seclusion and serenity, Koh Lipe has all that – and more, thanks to the factor of non-commercialization. Most people I talked to before the trip, including frequent tourists and travellers, hadn’t heard of Koh Lipe and hadn’t the slightest idea where it was. Believe it or not, I even got the chance to know a girl from Hatyai who only discovered about the island from her American boyfriend; they were there for the second time after the first visit just a week before! The travel category at bookstores don’t have a specific guidebook, but only included as a small section in the ones on Thailand’s islands and beaches.

There are roughly less than 1,000 sea gypsies inhabit here, and since Paper Island (English translation of Koh Lipe, although I have yet to discover why) is in between Malaysia and Thailand and the local people are neither from each of both countries, the chao ley community speaks a different language and adhere to a different religion and practice a different set of culture and dances. That being said, you might think twice before stashing away that book on basic Thai language. A large number of people, either tourists or service providers, hail from Thailand and I’m sure you’ll find it easy to communicate to them beyond “Sawadee ka!” and “Kob khun ka!” Few speak Malay.

Pattaya Beach of Koh Lipe. This picture was taken on our first day, waiting to be transported from the speed boat to the water taxi.

Because of the splendid foreign exchange coupled with the low-cost of basically everything there, you get to ’stretch’ your moolah further. One good tip is to withdraw your money and exchange it first before you actually set your footing there, as you will never find a single ATM machine on this small island and the money changers will charge you as high as 8% for their commission. Cash is king in Koh Lipe, since not many places accept credit cards.

We intentionally planned our vacation to Koh Lipe in May, right after the Songkran festival in the end of April, and also the fact that it is the starting month of the low season. If snorkelling is in the agenda, low season is the best time to go because of the visibility of the sea and the water is beginning to become clearer. The rain starts to pour less frequently, as opposed to the high season between November and May. If you’re looking for more crowd, you might want to visit in the peak season, which is somewhere December and January. This is when it’s more ‘happening’, and more shops are open along the Walking Street (see below) during this time. The good news is, according to the same Thai girl, 2010 is the first year that they’re trying to open the shops all year long – regardless of whatever season it is.

Come somewhere in May until November to get the best out of your snorkelling experience!

Get what I mean?

You can do plenty of things at Koh Lipe – or nothing at all! The idea of coming to an isolated island is essentially to just lie on the chair, under the umbrella shielding you from the scorchingly hot sun, and shut your eyes. Mind you, if Malaysia’s weather is hot, Koh Lipe’s weather is hotter! But you’ll have nothing much to complain about, as when you open your eyes from a short nap or divert your attention from the book you’re reading, all you will be seeing is the crystal-clear seawater. Wooden boats can be seen parked along the coastlines, but speed boats don’t go near the shores. Snorkelling and diving are hot, and many operators provide excellent services, including some of the accommodations. All you need to do is to ask around for the best deal, even though there isn’t much difference in terms of pricing and spots they bring you to. Even on low season, you can find a good number of restaurants and bars for wining and dining. The local people are very friendly, and if you establish a good relationship with them, they don’t mind bringing you to the best place to chill. Artsy-fartsy people can get their hands on batik painting; adventurous lot can try kayaking and hiking. In need of something that fuels your energy for more? Try traditional Thai massage! Small massage centres are scattered everywhere in the island, but for those of you who are not keen on doing some yoga positions with the help of your masseuse, other options are available for you to pamper yourself.

Walking Street is the short pathway in Pattaya beach that divides itself into more pathways that each leads to Sunrise and Sunset coastlines. Walking along this street is where the real life is, for you will discover the houses of the local people. The children are free to roam around the island, running and playing with themselves. The adults commute by either bicycles or motorbikes, and not one car can be found. There’s also an array of shoplots of massage and tattoo services, restaurants, groceries, snorkelling and diving operators.

At the Walking Street, you will find a tattoo shop...

... Thai Pancake Shop...

... Pooh's Bar...

... Books Cafe, and many more!

The pace of life is slow at Koh Lipe, but time seemed to fly fast for us tourists and travellers. The period of four days and three nights didn’t seem enough, and we made it a point to come back again in the future – and that time it will be longer!

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