28 Dec 2010 - 2 Jan 2011
Lipe used to be one of Thailand’s best-kept secrets. What once used to be a quiet, laid back island frequented by mainly local Thai tourists is now a growing hot spot for Westerners escaping the touristy scenes of Phuket and Koh Samui. More and more backpackers and Malaysians are heading to the island as it is an easy one-hour ferry ride from Telaga Harbour in Langkawi.
We celebrated Aarti's birthday too with a cake imported all the way from KL and a nice bbq dinner.
Now what is there to do at Lipe. Nothing and everything I should say. We mainly chilled out in our huts and walked the island at night. Quite a lot of stuf to buy in the town. Food takes ages though and is relatively expensive compared to the rest of Thailand. I like the fruit shakes and "horny mangos and fake corns" as advertised.
Not much bars or clubs but it's decent enough. Nice bars on the beach where you can lie on thai pillows under the stars. Pattaya Beach was the scene of our New Year's party. It was simply amazing. Festive music reverberated through the air with happy revellers dancing on the sandy shores. Each beach bar played it’s own kind of music but the different melodies seem to gel seamlessly together somehow.
What I loved the most were the hundreds of paper lanterns that filled the sky. My heart lit with joy every time a lantern launched successfully into the air, carrying the wishes of the person who released it. It was a scene taken straight out of Disney’s Rapunzel.
We ushered in the New Year's amidst thousands of fireworks and Happy New Year hugs way into the new morning. Headed back to our pad to greet the first dawn of the new year. Such a tight crew. Love them to bits. So glad I saw the year 2010 go and greeted 2011 early in the morn. It will be a good year I know.
We were all quite stoned from the lack of sleep the night before. Most of us just chilled at our pads the next day. Sunrise Beach is an excellent spot for topless sunbathers. Many of the boys (and girls) enjoyed the view. Besides sunbathing and relaxing, there’s plenty of snorkelling that can be done straight off the beach, especially the two tiny islands Koh Kra and Koh Usen just of Sunset Beach. Best is to join the snorkel tours that take you out to four or five nearby islands where you can snorkel and soak in the sun till your heart’s content.
Diving is also a favourite with plenty of great dive sites offering peaceful and relaxing dives mainly at Koh Chabang, Koh Sawang, Koh Phung, 8 Mile Rock and Yong Hua wreck dive. Just ask any of the dive centres in town for the best rates and trips.
Koh Lipe is a lovely island that is simple and charming. I initially thought a week on the island was too much but it was with a very heavy heart that I bid farewell to the gorgeous paradise. I will return soon and hopefully, the place will be just as I remembered it.
Koh Lipe is an hour ferry ride from Telaga Harbour (www.telagaharbour.com) in Langkawi. A return trip will cost roughly RM230. For more information on the island, visit www.kohlipethailand.com.
"Come to Lipe la.. your last chance to party kau kau with us!" said Sim & Hema. I was going to move to New Zealand in February and this would be my last chance to lepak with the extended party crew. Well, haven't really made any plans for New Year's and I've never been to Koh Lipe before so why not.
Koh Lipe, meaning paper island in the local Choa Ley language, is a small island in the Satun Province, located in the southern part of the Andaman Sea. It forms part of the Butang Islands in Tarutao National Marine Park. Wrote about it in Star Weekender too.
Lipe used to be one of Thailand’s best-kept secrets. What once used to be a quiet, laid back island frequented by mainly local Thai tourists is now a growing hot spot for Westerners escaping the touristy scenes of Phuket and Koh Samui. More and more backpackers and Malaysians are heading to the island as it is an easy one-hour ferry ride from Telaga Harbour in Langkawi.
The island is divided into three main areas of accommodation - Pattaya Beach, Sunrise Beach and Sunset Beach. Pattaya Beach would be the most happening place to stay with dozens of chalets, restaurants, bars and massage centres lining the beach. This is the venue that hosts the New Year’s party every year. Pattaya Beach is also where you will land if you are coming from Langkawi. The Immigration Centre is actually a very very small shack!
There was about 30 of us noisy Malaysians who disrupted the peace at Sunrise Beach - family, singles, couples, kids and toddlers. We booked more than 10 huts in total. Pity the other guests who had to put up with our boisterous partying and loud music!
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| The Immigration Centre at Lipe |
There was about 30 of us noisy Malaysians who disrupted the peace at Sunrise Beach - family, singles, couples, kids and toddlers. We booked more than 10 huts in total. Pity the other guests who had to put up with our boisterous partying and loud music!
 |
| Our pad at Sunrise Beach |
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| Mummies & babies chillaxing |
We celebrated Aarti's birthday too with a cake imported all the way from KL and a nice bbq dinner.
 |
| Happy birthday Aarti! |
Now what is there to do at Lipe. Nothing and everything I should say. We mainly chilled out in our huts and walked the island at night. Quite a lot of stuf to buy in the town. Food takes ages though and is relatively expensive compared to the rest of Thailand. I like the fruit shakes and "horny mangos and fake corns" as advertised.
 |
| Honny bananas or fake corn anyone? |
Not much bars or clubs but it's decent enough. Nice bars on the beach where you can lie on thai pillows under the stars. Pattaya Beach was the scene of our New Year's party. It was simply amazing. Festive music reverberated through the air with happy revellers dancing on the sandy shores. Each beach bar played it’s own kind of music but the different melodies seem to gel seamlessly together somehow.
The beach was hardly recognisable with pretty, colourful lights decorating the sand. Short bursts of fireworks were lit every now and then, a preview to the fireworks feast to come at the stroke of midnight. You know it will be a good send off seeing the rows and rows of huge fireworks placed strategically all around the beach.
What I loved the most were the hundreds of paper lanterns that filled the sky. My heart lit with joy every time a lantern launched successfully into the air, carrying the wishes of the person who released it. It was a scene taken straight out of Disney’s Rapunzel.
We ushered in the New Year's amidst thousands of fireworks and Happy New Year hugs way into the new morning. Headed back to our pad to greet the first dawn of the new year. Such a tight crew. Love them to bits. So glad I saw the year 2010 go and greeted 2011 early in the morn. It will be a good year I know.
 |
| Some of the crew who stayed awake to see the first dawn of the 2011 New Year |
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| First sunrise of 2011 |
We were all quite stoned from the lack of sleep the night before. Most of us just chilled at our pads the next day. Sunrise Beach is an excellent spot for topless sunbathers. Many of the boys (and girls) enjoyed the view. Besides sunbathing and relaxing, there’s plenty of snorkelling that can be done straight off the beach, especially the two tiny islands Koh Kra and Koh Usen just of Sunset Beach. Best is to join the snorkel tours that take you out to four or five nearby islands where you can snorkel and soak in the sun till your heart’s content.
 |
| View from our pad |
 |
| Pristine white sandy beaches |
Diving is also a favourite with plenty of great dive sites offering peaceful and relaxing dives mainly at Koh Chabang, Koh Sawang, Koh Phung, 8 Mile Rock and Yong Hua wreck dive. Just ask any of the dive centres in town for the best rates and trips.
Koh Lipe is a lovely island that is simple and charming. I initially thought a week on the island was too much but it was with a very heavy heart that I bid farewell to the gorgeous paradise. I will return soon and hopefully, the place will be just as I remembered it.
Koh Lipe is an hour ferry ride from Telaga Harbour (www.telagaharbour.com) in Langkawi. A return trip will cost roughly RM230. For more information on the island, visit www.kohlipethailand.com.
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