Ban Thai, South East, Koh Phangan
The resort village of Baan Thai on the south east coast of Koh Phangan is one of the oldest settlements on the Island, historically a fishing village, now a mixture of old village houses and new tourism services. Baan Tai sits on the main road that runs from Thong Sala to Haad Rin about half way between the two. The mountains of koh phangan's national forest reserve make a natural backdrop, with just a few villas and houses dotted around on the lower hills, that break up the jungle canopy.
The village contains a number of resorts, shop houses, restaurants and other services like gasoline refill stations, bike or car repairs and rental, travel agents and business services. A popular stop for a coffee and cake is Nera's Bakery, located just after the pier on the right if coming from Thong Sala. A selection of breads, sandwiches, cakes, teas and coffee is served, with the choice similar to a western coffee house. The resort village has a Seven Eleven convenience store, good for drinks or snacks when out on a day trip away from the villa. The turning to the north of Koh Phangan and ThongNai Paan is just before the Seven Eleven. Car rental is essential if trying to visit Tong Nai Pan or Thaan Sadet, as although the road has been paved from Ban Tai to the top of the mountain. Parts of the decent or returning ascent have not been paved yet and require a good four wheel drive rental vehicle to traverse them.
Several new larger shops are being constructed on the main road that cuts through the village, most is before tho, in between here and ThongSala. There is strong speculation that the mega market brand Big C plans to construct a store close to Baan Tai. Logical as the traffic is the most on the Island here as its the only road to get to ThongSala from the south or east of Koh Phangan.
the fishing community is still strong here and the pier has been re-built in recent years to give better facilities to the local and incoming fleets. Most the time all the seafood will be sold in the market although if here early it may be seen offloaded from boats and longtails into beach side sorting houses. They do sell dried fish at the side of the road near and around the pier, a common sight on Koh Phangan and one that local find delicious.
Just opposite the pier there is a large coconut depot where the fruits come in from all around the island to get processed. Sometimes there can be tens of thousands of coconuts here in huge piles set into jungle clearings. They fleshy meat is taken out and dried and used to make coconut cream, coconuts and fishing had previously been the main industries on Koh Phangan until tourism experienced the significant growth it has seen the last few years.
The road can be quite dangerous here so be careful, the traffic is constant being on the main link to Haad Rin or TongNai Pan when coming from anywhere else on the west Coast. There are a few blind corners so drive slowly through the built up areas where the road is lines with villas and houses.