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FOR LAND LOVERS
Koh Lipe is not just for water sports en-
thusiasts. Besides the obvious relaxation
time on the beach or pottering around the
coral that appears when the tide goes out,
there are many trails for hiking, giving
easy access to the tropical jungle or a
view of village life. The main shopping
area, Walking Street, is a hive of small
stalls and shops, mostly selling tourist
items like t-shirts, flip-flops, swimwear
and sunscreen, interspersed with bars,
restaurants and massage parlours.
Rather than choosing one of those I
opted for a Thai massage on the beach
instead. The sound of the waves lapping
the shore was the perfect, natural accom-
paniment to the soothing sweeps, deep
kneading and revitalising stretches my
body received from the powerful hands of
themasseuse. After that, the only thing left
to dowas to swing in the hammock on the
deck of our beach villa. The surroundings
seemed quiet at first, but as I stopped to
listen, I heard a perfect harmony played
out by the waves, the breeze, the insects
and the birds.
EAT WELL AND SLEEP EASY
There is a wide choice of eateries on the
island, from beach shacks to a la carte
restaurants serving Thai and Western
dishes. Mouth-watering fresh seafood
are prominently featured on every menu.
One of my favourite eateries was Jack’s
Jungle, a walking distance from Sunset
Beach. Jack and his wife, Pi Dtai, have
been in the business for eight years,
serving freshly cooked food using the best
quality ingredients. The crowd here can
be unpredictable so placing a reservation
is highly recommended!
Another place I where would recom-
mend is La Luna – reportedly Koh Lipe’s
best Italian restaurant – where one could
enjoy traditional, thin, crispy pizzas along-
side pastas, steaks and burgers. Its bakery
across the street is also worth a visit for
a sweet treat.
For a beachside meal, I enjoyed the
Castaway Resort, where we sat on cush-
ions at low tables on the wooden deck
surveying this tropical paradise. Themenu
may be limited but the was food first-class
and inexpensive.
Accommodation in Koh Lipe ranges
from backpacker’s lodges to five-star
hotels, so there is something for every
preference and budget. Top of the range,
Idyllic Concept Resort, has one of the few
swimming pools on the island, although
with the calm sea and the clear waters
one might not miss a pool. There are
multiple options on all three beaches, like
Castaway Resort on Sunrise Beach, Lipe
Sunset on Sunset Beach or Mali Resort on
Pattaya Beach. Cheaper stays are found
in the middle of the island, along the
Walking Street.
For those who wish to explore beyond
the island, ferries from Koh Lipe connect
to islands further north, including Koh
Lanta, Koh Phi Phi and Phuket, where
it is possible to re-connect with Firefly
for the inevitable return to reality. As we
boarded the speedboat back to Langkawi
I gazed enviably at those people who had
chosen that option. Perhaps next time I
should too.
Enjoying a massage in a hut by the beach
Pretty blooms found all over the island
Exploring the open waters
Back to nature: A villa sitting
amongst lush greeneries