Pimalai Resort & Spa, the authentic and natural five-star sanctuary on Koh Lanta, Thailand, is giving Thai residents the opportunity to take an extended break from their daily routine and discover a new “home away from home” in paradise, combining peace and privacy with world-class facilities and complete connectivity. Following the Royal Thai Government’s request that all citizens work from home, what could be better than relocating your daily workspace to secluded 100-acre sanctuary, surrounded by lush tropical forests and overlooking the shimmering Andaman Sea? At Pimalai, guests can escape the outside world and unwind in an atmosphere of pure island bliss, without sacrificing any of life’s luxuries. With a collection of contemporary Thai-style rooms and villas, providing plenty of living space, refreshing bathrooms, panoramic views, working desks and complimentary Wi-Fi, guests can make a seamless transition to their new home office. Then, when it’s time to relax, Pimalai promises a wealth of facilities, including a sea-facing infinity pool, award-winning spa, fully-equipped fitness centre, invigorating water sports, island excursions, superb diving and snorkelling, uplifting activities such as yoga and Thai boxing, and of course, outstanding cuisine either in the resort’s restaurants or delivered straight to the room. By working in such rejuvenating setting, without any unnecessary interruptions, professionals can even increase their productivity, be inspired to complete long-standing projects or even embark on exciting new ventures. To help local residents and expats discover their perfect place to work, rest and play, Pimalai has created an exclusive extended-stay promotion that offers a seven-night stay for the price of just five nights. A choice of luxurious rooms and suites are available, ranging from 48 and 650 square metres, and rates start from THB 17,530 for a full week in a Deluxe Room or only THB 42,200 for a Hillside Ocean View Pool Villa (when combined with the “Travel Together” campaign), including daily breakfast and airport transfers. This promotion is valid until 31st March 2021. For truly immersive experiences, longer stays of 15, 20, 45 or 60 nights can be taken between now and 30th June 2021. Rates start from just THB 2,150 per night for a Deluxe Room as part of a 60-night residency, rising to THB 21,970* per night as part of a 15-night sojourn in a Three Bedroom Beachside Pool Villa. Thai citizens who participate in the government’s Rao Tiew Duay Kan campaign will enjoy an additional discount. In accordance with the latest government advice, Pimalai Resort & Spa has created a series of highly effective of health and safety protocols that bring total reassurance to visitors, while also ensuring the highest standards of Thai hospitality. Under the “Pimalai Care” initiative, innovative measures include 24-hour vacancy periods between bookings, three disinfection tunnels, ozone sanitisation in the guest rooms and heat cleaning in the kitchens.

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A visit to Following Giants is something that will stay with you forever, it’s a must-see experience you will never forget. Once you step into the lush green jungle home of the residents of Following Giants in Koh Lanta you will immediately see why these beautiful creatures deserve to lead a peaceful life.  World Animal Protection partnered with Following Giants to create an environment where elephants can go about their day to day lives doing what they should be doing, just being elephants. But at the same time allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of the elephants without disturbing them, hence creating a better understanding and connection. It truly is the best of both worlds.  Following Giants offers visitors a variety of activities that not only allows them to watch the elephants but also assist in replenishing their jungle food source, learn more about their habits and lives, and even get a bird’s eye view from the tree-house viewing platform.  One of the fun and fulfilling activities is taking part in the making and distribution of ‘seed bombs’. Our elephants have big appetites, so they need a constant supply of food, that’s where our ‘seed bombing’ activity comes in. You not only get to help make these seed-bombs you also get to distribute them throughout the jungle. There are three resident elephants at Following Giants – Sow, Jahn and Chok –  and they all love living their new lives in peace and harmony. All of them previously lived harsh lives in either logging camps or providing endless rides for tourists. But now they are free to simply live the idyllic lives they were born to live.  World Animal Protection’s mission is not only to provide a happier and more beneficial life for animals, but it also helps show local communities how they can change their business practices and still proved a profitable service to tourists and visitors. Following Giants is a key example of this mission.  When you visit Following Giants you are not only showing your support for the wonderful elephants who call this place home, but you are also encouraging the local community to embrace a more eco-friendly approach to tourism activities. To arrange site visits, please contact the owner, Charae Sangkaow, directly at followinggiants.lanta@gmail.com  – m: +66 (0)84 744 7060 https://www.followinggiants.net/  For more information please contact Vivaldi Integrated Public Relations, Sansiri Sirichotinun (Noke) T: + 669 9426 6547 E:  sansiri.s@vivaldipr.com About World Animal Protection From our offices in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, Thailand, UK and USA, we move the world to protect animals. During 2018 we gave more than 3 billion animals better lives through our campaigns that focus on animals in the wild; animals in disasters, animals in communities and animals in farming. Since the launch of our Wildlife not Entertainers campaign in 2015, more than 1.6 million people have joined our campaign to protect wild animals from abuse and cruelty in the name of ‘entertainment’.

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In Cambridge Dictionary, a hero is described as someone who “is admired for having done something very brave or having achieved something great”. In this case, we can surely describe Trash Hero Koh Lanta volunteers as heroes! Trash Hero is a great non-profit cleanup organisation founded on Koh Lipe, Thailand, in 2013, and it has been steadily gaining traction for the past few years and is focused on making Krabi province beautiful for generations to come. Arriving in Ao Nang, Krabi, in 2015, the Trash hero group spread its wings and brought schools, government officials, resorts and locals alike together on several annual beach cleaning days. The community-funded group has then put down its roots in Koh Lanta, the largest island in Krabi province. With the bridge connecting Koh Lanta Noi to Koh Lanta Yai completed, the traffic and growth of the region is increasing exponentially, which will in term inevitably come the more homes, hotels, shops, people and so on. And more garbage scattered all over the place. Trash Hero Koh Lanta have been informally cleaning beaches on a weekly basis, and it has the support of Lanta Tourism Association, Oasis Yoga, KoHub, Casuarina Resort, Siam Home Bakery, Lanta International Language School, The Living Room and more locals and foreigners alike, all dedicated to a greener island. THEIR MISSION The Trash Hero mission is to create sustainable, community-based projects that remove existing waste, and reduce future waste by inspiring long-term behaviour change. They do this through: Action and Awareness. They pick up trash. Whether a cigarette butt on the road, or 20,000 kilos from island beaches – if they see it, they clean it! And as they say, actions speak louder than words. By spending just a few hours together picking up trash, people can see the real world consequences of being careless about waste. Education. They back up hands-on experience with educational information about the impact that trash has on the global environment. “The success of our species is in the hands of the youth”, a saying we have all heard before and can agree with. This is the fundamental point for the Trash Hero clean up group, to get the younger generation involved and they will imbue what they learned with their everyday actions. The response in Ao Nang from local schools, and government officials has been great, a number of classes have been brought out to the beaches given speeches on why cleaning up the trash on our beaches is important. Sustainable Projects. They create long-term projects that bring communities together to remove and better manage their waste, and strategies that reduce the amount of waste being produced in the future. Inspiration. They motivate people to become Trash Heroes in their everyday lives. Trash Hero Thailand alum have gone home to make their own heroic clean-ups around the world. ABOUT TRASH HERO While solving the global garbage problem may be complex, knowing what to do about the garbage that is currently littered on our beaches and in our communities is relatively simple: pick it up. What’s the idea? With the support of local businesses, people come together once a week to pick up trash. When and where is this happening? At the time and location designated each week by the local Trash Hero group. Participating local businesses each week generously donate gloves and trash bags, food and beverages, and transportation when needed. Does it work? As of September 2015, 5000 volunteers have removed 100 metric tons of garbage from the beaches of Thailand and Indonesia. YOU CAN BE A HERO TOO Of course, anyone can be  a Trash Hero! A Trash Hero wastes as little as possible, reuses as much as possible, and works to preserve and improve the spaces they are in, wherever they may be. Also, the organization is always in need of additional volunteers; if you would like to spend the day doing something worthwhile, check Facebook for dates and times of their next cleanups! https://www.facebook.com/trashherokohlanta/?fref=ts To contact Trash Hero in Thailand, call +66 94 585 0251 or LINE trashhero, email info@trashhero.org Follow Trash Hero on http://trashhero.org/ 

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Save the date: this year Lanta October Fun Fair is set on Sunday the 9th October 2016. Every year the Lanta October Fun Fair raises money for an important cause on the island. This year they are using all the proceeds to start the much needed Lanta Community Composting Project. Lanta October Fun Fair is an annual event open to all communities on Koh Lanta, bringing everyone together to have fun, socialise, chill, support and donate to a worthy cause. This year the fair organisers offer more fun and games for both kids and adults, Bring&Buy sale and local crafts area, Trash to Cash competition, BBQ by Chef Daniel from The Frog, Gelato ice cream by Two Scoops, Swedish baked goods by Anna of the Swedish church, Chicken Biryani by Lanta Language school, Live band and 2 DJs, Cocktail Bar by Banana Beach Resort and last but not least beer. At last year’s event, 1,680 bottles of beer were sold. If you would like to be involved, there is retail space in exchange for a 1000 thb donation. You can use the space to sell your products (anything except food or drinks) and promote your business. Retail space can be shared by more businesses. Join Lanta October Fun Fair on 9th October 2016 at Banana Beach Bungalows, Klong Dao Beach, Koh Lanta.

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Rubbish, garbage, waste or whatever you want to call it is a huge problem everywhere, and Koh Lanta is no exception. The overall objectives of Lanta Community Composting Project is to demonstrate the possibility of reducing organic waste going to landfill by composting both on-site and off-site. Given the small scale of this pilot project, while it will reduce organic waste and produce income, it is not expected to solve Koh Lanta’s waste problem at once. The intent is for the project to serve as a learning center, to inspire and empower individuals, business owners and community leaders to set up small scale composting stations throughout the island. The project will be set up, co-ordinated and overseen by a volunteer committee, committed to transparency and open books with the financial plans and collections for this project. Lanta Community Composting Project will secure a reliable source of food and yard waste by Membership drop-off system. Training will be provided with regards to what can and cannot be composted. Local businesses and individuals who are interested are registered as members; they will need to put food waste into covered container provided by the project to be dropped off daily to the composting station. All new members should receive a basic orientation in how to compost, and the quantity of members should be regulated to ensure that the bins are neither significantly underused nor overused. The project will recruit local sea gypsy in Nai-Rai community, preferably elderly members to perform the day-to-day composting operations, maintenance and monitoring of the composting station. A big thank you goes to Khun Teerapoch Kasirawat, Chairman of Lanta Tourist Association, who offered the use of his land at Boat Leaf Resort to start the project. The land measures approximately 1600 sqm of land, or one rai in Thai standards, and the pilot project has been given a 2 years lease  free of charge, with the possibility for longer period. Boat Leaf Resort is an ideal location for a small to medium scale off-site composting station being situated behind Saladan School, with the road leading to many restaurants and resorts in the area. The site would be a drop off location of organic waste from restaurants around the community and serve as a central station for composting. It is also at a central location to engage and educate students, local residents and businesses, and it is on the main road so it can be seen by all passers by who can then visit the station. Koh Lanta will benefit in different ways: in the Short term, the development of a pilot project will demonstrate the possibility of individual home composting as well as small scale community composting stations; also, the project will raise local awareness of the value and opportunities of composting through education in schools and community outreach. In the Long term, the future chance to develop small composting stations throughout Koh Lanta in partnership with community leaders and business owners; the reduction of organic waste going to landfill; the usage of organic waste for growing local products; and the potential to create jobs and revenue for communities through sale of high quality compost. If you have any question, wish to receive news and updates or you wish to donate to the project, you can contact them at https://www.facebook.com/cashtotrashlanta Check out details on the method used at Lanta’s first Community Compost Station here: https://www.facebook.com/lantaoctoberfest2015/posts/1127425760652678 Composting without turning Lot of questions were posted on their Facebook page about how the compost system works and what system they are using. Here is the breakdown on the compost without turning plans. The best part is: no smell and very little work! After studying a number of composting options that are available, ’Composting without Turning’ is the best method to use. An innovation in food waste and green waste composting method, developed by Maejo University in Chiang Mai, composting without turning allows for organic waste to be managed at individual household scale up to industrial scale with minimum labour and equipment. This method of composting have been widely used since 2009. Composting without turning is an Aerobic type of composting where a large amount of oxygen is needed and moisture is crucial to support the micro-organisms. The method is therefore suited to this pilot project for the following reasons: – The compost rings/bins to contain the waste for composting are economical and readily available – The compost rings/bins can be placed in the open and requires very little space – Very low tech – Low maintenance – Can be adjusted to any scale of users; community, hotels, resorts, restaurant/bar, home The rings/bins are set up to allow generous air flow and waste is layered lasagna style, alternating between kitchen wastes, green wastes( leaves, grass clipping) and animal manure. Once full, the rings/bins are left to stand for approximately 60 days during which time the rings are watered at intervals. In conversations with the head of Compost project at Birds & Bees resort and Maejo University, and testing the method at Costa Lanta, this system does not create nuisances to the surrounding community. When layered correctly, the compost rings/bins do not attract rodents, flies or other pests. Check out these photos of how Costa Lanta Resort, Ko Lanta, Thailand has already implemented the system. This year Lanta October Fun Fair, set on Sunday the 9th October 2016, will raise money for Lanta Community Composting Project. Follow them on fb  https://www.facebook.com/lantaoctoberfest2015/ and check their article HERE !

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I had been planning a day out at sea in Koh Lanta and finally, on a stunning morning not so long ago, I got the chance to hop on my friend Didier’s wooden boat. I had carefully planned the trip from Ao Nang, on the mainland; I set off in the early morning and my car and I managed to board the first set of ferries to the Lanta islands. We reached Koh Lanta Yai at 8am, I stopped in the village of Ban Saladan to buy some breakfast fritters from one of the local vendors and arrived at Didier sea-front wooden house on stilts soon after. My friend was busy talking to his captain and checking the boat for the forthcoming trip. I drunk a coffee and socialised with a group of tourists who were joining the tour, before being summoned by Didier; we boarded the boat via a bamboo floating jetty and off we were, cruising towards the Koh Lanta straight. On the Ban Saladan shores, a series of private piers hosted boats on which staff loaded air tanks and diving equipment, and divers chatted with their instructors, excited about the day’s programmed dives. The water on the straight was calm and the tides high, and the captain headed towards the maze of mangroves. The program then proposed cruising south through the islands of the straight, with Koh Mook, in the Trang archipelago, as the southernmost destination. As the captain cruised skillfully, I took my time to check up the back of the boat. It was different from the traditional longtail boat that characterize the Andaman, which uses an overboard engines attached to a long iron stick that ends with a propeller. This was a bigger boat, with an onboard stored-away engine and a proper rudder. Captain Bang Sod, an aged local with white hair and a witty smile, with his several years experience at the command of large diving boats, looked quite proud to be the captain of such a boat. With my exploration completed, I turned my attention to the mangrove forest; their environment is so complete, so quiet and peaceful especially at that time of the day. Thailand only has a few areas that have been recognised as wetlands of the world and the mangrove forest of Krabi Province is ranked in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Lots of plants and wildlife live in the mangrove environment, including monkeys, birds, and fish. The boat’s slow pace then allowed us to enjoy the magnificent views of the gulf, and to take on the healthy sea breeze. The magic of the sea is always appealing to me. I love slow boats, drifting in the vastness of the water masses, watching the horizon line and never reaching it, evoking past navigations of intrepid seafarers. At 9am we exited the mangroves canals and the sun started to get stronger; the sky was a nice shade of blue. The boat cruised along Koh Por island with its nice bays and a picturesque fisherman village, passed Lanta’s southernmost point, then a few islands: Koh Ngai, where several boats discharged sunbathers; Koh Ma and Koh Chuak, well-known diving and snorkeling sites; Koh Kradan and Koh Mook, the most popular islands in the Trang province, part of Had Chao Mai National Park. Koh Mook is home to several local communities; it features high cliffs and rocks facing the open sea at its western face, and is well known thanks to Morakot (emerald) Cave, a unique attractions part of the Unseen in Thailand tourism campaign that takes its name from the color the water assumes in the proximity of the cave. Captain Bang Sod anchored the boat in proximity of the cave entrance, where one by one we jumped in the water. The exciting thing about this hidden lagoon is that in order to reach it you need to swim through a narrow fissure a few meters wide, a sea tunnel inside the majestic limestone rock, carved by the sea. Didier swam at the helm, holding the torch and making the way through the pitch-dark tunnel accessible only during low tides. At that time of that day the tide was so high tough that it forced us to lower our heads in order to avoid hitting the rock ceiling. After a short while, a ray of light filtered in from the end of the tunnel, and soon we entered the small lagoon. Enclosed in a shell of sheer rocks several hundred meters high covered in tropical vegetation, a small beach was lined with huge beech trees and plants that sprouted massive foliage from a red earthy ground. We got out of the water; the sand there had the consistency of powder. We spent some time in peace, had another swim, explored the jungle-ridded sides of the encircling mountain, and left for the swim back. Captain Bang Sod was waiting for us, ready to cruise on. On the way back, we had lunch: a simple yet delicious rice and vegetable ratatouille, followed by fruit and soft drinks. During our trip back, we sailed along the West side of Koh Lanta, stopping to snorkel at a couple of destinations, and taking a break at a semi-desert bay along the coast. We arrived back in Ban Saladan jetty at 5pm, tired from the several hours of boating but happy and content, amazed by this experience  out at sea in Koh Lanta.

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The Pub is an amazing place that offers just what you need to feel at home: great food, friendly staff with a smile, and an affable owner, a trendy atmosphere and some nice music. We are here today to talk about the food. The Pub chef hails from Chiang Mai and has a background in big hotels’ kitchens for many years (and it shows!) before deciding to run and help his long time friend Khun Sae, The Pub owner. His menu comprises tasty Thai food and a wide range of refreshing drinks, including Chang draft and Leo draft, plus a range of signature cocktails, as well as the usual suspects. We went for a couple of starters, prawns tempura and chicken satay. Sure, you cannot go wrong with these two dishes, yet they were both a step above average: tasty, not oily and not too salty. Plus the sauces that came with them were exceptionally tasty (and some even spicy!). The mains were two fish: one steamed and the other filleted and stir fried with ginger and herbs. We loved them both, and ate a dish of steamed veggies with olive oil or ‘nam prik’ sauce to accompany them. The tables were good and the dining room spacious and comfortable. So now you know: whether it’s for a quiet meal, Thai and fusion, chatting with friends with a drink or three, or perhaps you fancy some late music, head for The Pub. Enjoy the warm friendly atmosphere of this genuine Thai night place. Relax inside or seat in the spacious outdoor terrace, and enjoy your time chatting away or looking at your emails (yes, there is WiFi). At The Pub they offer: – Large selection of beers – Draft beers: Leo and Chang – Good range of wines, cocktails and spirits – Single Malt Whiskey – Mouthwatering western, fusion and Thai food – Food served every day, lunchtime and evening – Live music (low season sporadically or on request) – Outside tables and chairs in the terrace Large, comfortable, covered Sala for smokers Easy accessible location Extensive car parking Find The Pub in the middle of Klong Dao boulevard, right in the parking fronting the entrance of Southern Lanta Resort, behind the  Krung Thai Bank. For reservation or requests call Khun Sae on 080 0796900. Check them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KohLantaThePub/info

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From Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe – a ride by a Hi-speed open water limo There can come a time when you may want to squeeze in a little more to your Southern Thailand Island holiday. Need to get to that next tropical Island fast and in comfort? Speed is the need? Climbing aboard a Hi-speed open water limo may be the answer for you. When planning an Island hopping holiday in the Andaman Sea, time, or lack of it, may be your only restraint. ‘Sooner’ rather than ‘later’ can be a necessity if you hunger for that next Island destination and you are on a limited time schedule. In other words you want to get there fast without sacrificing comfort. I found myself in such a situation when I needed to get from Koh Lanta to Koh Lipe – Thailand’s most southern ‘chilled out’ Island destination – in a hurry. My choice, jump aboard a Hi-speed purpose built power boat, an open-water speed machine. Its departure time at 1.30pm from Saladan Pier meant that I wouldn’t lose a day in transit and I would be in Koh Lipe well in time for sunset cocktails. I wasn’t alone in my quest as I gathered with other speed ‘junkies’ at the Ban Saladan passenger jetty. The ‘Satun Pakbara Speed Boat Club’ operates a Koh Lipe – Koh Lanta – Koh Lipe service on a daily basis through high season, November to April. This super efficient service offers fast water transport between distant, romantic, isolated Island getaways. With luggage stowed we settled in and cruised from the jetty out into open water. The popularity of this service was evident, as there were at least 40 other passengers aboard. I found most were of the same opinion as me, that by paying a modest increase in fare can equate to even extra large savings in time. This sizable boat was a thoroughbred. Built for speed and designed to race across the top of any swell with maximum passenger comfort and safety. Powered by three, fuel efficient, emission friendly, four stroke 225h.p outboards, this baby could move. Scooting down the length of Lanta we were soon into open water, and distant specks on the horizon were soon intersected, as we flashed past various smaller southern islands. Our captain guided us, perfectly judging the different directions of minor swell changes, as some passengers snoozed whilst others used their time catching fantastic photo opportunities. Laughing with passengers we compared this journey to something like a high-speed limousine service between Island hideaways. It was for many, as we stopped off at a few pre-arranged isolated Island locations. Here couples or families, disembarked onto waiting long tail boats that had come out to meet them. For them this was ‘instant’ remote Island paradise. For me, Koh Lipe was still over the horizon, but not for much longer. A cluster of Islands ahead indicated that we would soon be docking just off Pattaya Beach, Koh Lipe. Stepping off and onto our waiting long tail boat, I pondered on next time staying aboard and doing the extra15 km across the border to Langkawi, Malaysia. Thoughts of cold beer and a few sunset cocktails at any of the beach bars I could spy soon evaporated those ideas. Maybe next time… For boat schedules, fares and more destination details browse www.tarutaolipeisland.com

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