simple. Breakfast in Koh Samui, lunch in Koh Phangan. This is the life! <\/span><\/p>\nRocking up to Anantara Rasananda<\/span>, I was immediately struck by a number of things:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Island lifestyle<\/span><\/li>\n
- Peace\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Seclusion <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
This is my dream Island resort<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0017-e1601883861644.jpg?resize=1170%2C894&ssl=1\")
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<\/span>ISLAND LIFE<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nTranquillity is not perhaps what you imagine when you consider a Koh Phangan holiday. It is, after all, renown<\/span>ed<\/span> the world over as <\/span>b<\/span>ackpacker heaven, Full Moon parties, Half Moon parties, Black Moon parties, indeed any sort of a party, you name it. <\/span><\/p>\nGiven this reputation, I have always thought <\/span>it was the sort of destination where you need to be sure that you knew what you were getting yourself into. Well, at my age anyway!<\/span><\/p>\nWe really enjoyed our first Koh Phangan trip in 2017. It was after a stream of <\/span>u<\/span>niversity students <\/span>\u201cgappies\u201d <\/i><\/span>returned to our Bangkok apartment with all sorts of tales about their Koh Phangan <\/span>experiences<\/span>. We heard it all, from the \u201cI bet you wouldn\u2019t tell your Mother this,\u201d to their dreamy stories of idyllic island life.<\/span><\/p>\nWhy should the young have all the fun?<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Koh-Phangan.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1\")
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<\/span>Koh Phangan in 2020<\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\nThey persuaded us that we should go, to see for ourselves the lush mountains, beautiful beaches and azure waters. We know that outside the BIG parties, Koh Phangan is a sleepy island where you can live the true <\/span>meaning of the <\/span>word escape. <\/span><\/p>\nThese days there is nothing even to escape <\/span>from<\/span> on the Island, it is as quiet as anyone can remember<\/span>.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span>They tell me the last full moon party was a mere gathering of 30-40 people. Making it is the perfect time to enjoy <\/span>its <\/span>delights. What\u2019s more, Koh Phangan is another destination that desperately needs the support of Expats in Thailand<\/span><\/p>\nCome and take a wander with me and I\u2019ll show you around.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0002.jpg?resize=1170%2C1560&ssl=1\")
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<\/span>SPEEDBOAT ARRIVAL<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nAnantara will either pick you up from Koh Samui International Airport <\/span>or<\/span> if like me, you are transferring from Anantara Bophut in<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>North <\/span>Samui<\/span>, it\u2019s a short car ride to the pier.<\/span><\/p>\nThere is time for a quick welcome drink, a cold towel, a temperature check before we leave our shoes in individual cloth bags on the pier. This is the start of the barefoot luxury of a Rasananda stay. <\/span><\/p>\nNote to self: remember smarter shoes <\/i><\/span>on collecting my perfectly lined up scruffy beach shoes on arrival!<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0038.jpg?resize=1170%2C878&ssl=1\")
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We board the speedboat and don our bright life jackets with the sticker \u2018disinfected prior to use\u2019. <\/i>The beauty is in the detail with Anantara, I always find the <\/span>hotels <\/span>reassuringly efficient at all they do. Water or cool towel anyone?<\/span><\/p>\nWe arrived less than 40 minutes later, to be welcomed by the General Manager<\/span> Andrea and his team standing on the beach. We all paddle ashore with a massive grin on our faces. You know that smile when you are just relieved that the reality is EVEN better than the website. Bring it on Anantara!<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0016.jpg?resize=1170%2C878&ssl=1\")
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THE RESORT – a secret paradise hotel. <\/i><\/b><\/span><\/h5>\nAs we walk up the beach with the world\u2019s softest sand beneath our feet, you can\u2019t help to admire the pristine Tong Nai Pan Noi Beach, no wonder it is described as one of the best beaches in Thailand. Nestled in front of the towering coconut palms are the jaunty red umbrellas and red towels on the beach sun loungers. <\/span><\/p>\nA couple of kayaks and some <\/span>paddleboards <\/span>rest <\/span>a<\/span>waiting, tempting guests out into the calm waters<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0012.jpg?resize=1170%2C878&ssl=1\")
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<\/span>CHECK-IN <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h6>\nWe walk past the infinity swimming pool and The Bistro @The Beach into the <\/span>open-air <\/span>reception area. To the left is a bar with funky red cane chairs with a floor to ceiling wine wall backdrop. Yep! This will do very nicely! <\/span><\/p>\nIt\u2019s a modern Thai style resort <\/i><\/b><\/span>built of natural materials with an A+ for design flair!<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0018.jpg?resize=1170%2C878&ssl=1\")
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<\/span>OCEAN POOL SUITE <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h6>\nThere are only 58 luxury suites & villas here<\/span>,<\/span> which I like. Just call me fussy but I love having a small number of guests with large resort grounds. Big tick this is perfect<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\nRoom 15 feels exclusive and secluded. Here everyone gets<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>their own spacious retreat with a private plunge pool – nice. I\u2019ve already met Pup, my Villa Host who gives me an introductory tour with his direct line number. <\/span><\/p>\nA brave move perhaps? Nah, not at this hotel where everything worked perfectly, I never called him once.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0004.jpg?resize=1170%2C1560&ssl=1\")
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The room is ‘beachy understated\u2019. I\u2019m not sure the designer would be that impressed with this description but it all works. You immediately feel relaxed and at peace. The view is absolutely <\/span>the<\/span> main star of the show. <\/span><\/p>\nI admire the cute elephant towe<\/span>l-<\/span>art and my eyes rest on the lamps modelled on traditional Thai fish traps. Others would be impressed by all the mod<\/span> cons here, including the huge<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Apple TV, Netflix and the great WIFI. Not to mention the fabulous bathroom, talk about a shower with a view<\/span>!<\/span> AND I like the hairdryer which says it has been sanitised for my protection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.littlewanderingwren.com\/staging\/8794\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/IMG_0009-e1601885972513.jpg?resize=1170%2C873&ssl=1\")
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<\/span>ROUND ISLAND TOUR<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h5>\nHere<\/span> there is no time to do nothing. I have an island to rediscover. The big question is \u2026<\/span><\/p>\nIs there enough to do on Koh Phangan for a return visit with my husband? He who never likes to sit still for very long? <\/span><\/p>\nFive and a half hours later after a<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Rasananda Island tour with Jae, in one of the Anantara cars, I declare the answer yes<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\nWe\u2019ve hiked to waterfalls, admired the tallest tree on the island, been to the scenic restaurants, art galleries, 360 <\/span>Bar <\/span>for sunset drinks, I lost count of the number of beautiful beaches we saw. We even stopped to say hello at Haad Rin Full Moon beach. Sorry<\/span>, <\/span>but I was supposed to be at Glastonbury 2020. Just call <\/span>(be) me <\/span>a sad, ageing, wannabe rock chick, but at least in my 2020, I can say Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan<\/i>, I\u2019ve been there, seen it, not done it<\/span>,<\/span> and I now have the T-shirt!<\/span><\/p>\nActually<\/span>, <\/span>Jae tells me<\/span>\u00a0he\u2019s picked up people at <\/span>3 am <\/span>and returned them safely to Rasananda after their Full Moon experience. What a way to live<\/span>! Gosh, last time I went to an all-night rave (haha only as a volunteer!) we camped out for 6 nights in a cow paddock, <\/span>I so want to do this!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/span>DINING<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n<\/span>DINNER AND BEACH MOVIE<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h6>\nThere is no time to shower and I\u2019ve not had any lunch, so I\u2019m straight out to dinner at Bistro at the Beach. <\/b>With its all-day dining, I sneak <\/span>in grubby, sweaty and happy to get a <\/span>beachfront<\/span> table before the casually dressed for dinner set arrive. It’s a front-row seat to watch the beach movie <\/span>\u201c<\/b><\/span>