Korean Job Discussion Forums

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

The gym is located at 'the most popular place on the island', Haan Rid(another spelling is 'Haat Rin') and that's at the southern tip. I read that there are 'bed bugs' in the bungalows. If you don't know, they are like ticks (maybe they ARE ticks). Typhus? 'Some of the places on Koh Phangan are downright nasty'. Huh? I was looking for a place with a gym. The only other area seemed to be Pattaya, or Bankok (at least listed on the internet as having gyms). Someone said this about Pattaya; 'if a superior being descended and wanted to give an enema to an ailing planet, Pattaya would be where to put the tube'. Same for Koh Phangan? I've never been there. Been to Koh Sammet, Phi Phi. There were some lonely planeteers sporting prison tattoos, but they weren't wrecking the place.

camel96 · Guest

Yeah Hat Rin is total assholedom around full moon time.
I don't know if you're going to party. You may like that.
It could be hard to find a place to stay then.
Combined with the bed bugs and ticks though you may want to keep shopping around for a bit.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

I'd be arriving there Oct 17 or so. Talk about a change of pace. From conservative Korea to 'total assholedom'. I think the lycanthropes would be congregated about the southern tip. I'd just head away from that until they leave again. No, I'm not going to party. I'll be the one with the sneer from glaring back at stern ajoshis and naughty kids, the one who looks like the antithesis of a 'hippie', for awhile at least. Like to go somewhere with a gym because, from my experience, being a hagwon teacher is akin to being a nightclub bouncer. Maybe I've been in Korea too long, with too much 'bali bali' taken to heart; I just can't picture 'sitting around' for 2-6 weeks. And returning to Korea to get sand kicked in my face by the rugrats back in the classroom. Never seen a bedbug. Could find some 'sacred place' and commute into Haad Rid to visit the gym. There is a buddhist temple there that takes tourists in on retreats there, as well. Gonna be culture shock, all right. I might miss Korea.

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Waterbaby, how do you think you contracted typhus there?

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Yeah, Had Rin is a shithole.

I'd suggest going up North/East to Thon Nai Pan Noi.
Great little community of there and quiet.

I was on the island the night of the Full Moon Party and drove my scooter through Hat Rin.

Talk about an exercise in human stupidity.

Felt sorry for the 7-11 clerks that had to deal with the assholes I saw hanging out in there.

Drinking Samsong and Red Bull out of their sand pails with neon paint on their faces.

Complete morons.

Then you have the dred locked guys with Chinese tattoos on their arms and backs wearing fisherman's pants - aha, haa!! A good laugh at times.

justaskdan · Joined: 28 Apr 2003 Location: Me in Pohang - Oct 20th

I'm going to Phuket for two months on November 4th to take my TESOL certificate. $1600 US and they give you a shared apartment for five weeks. The course is one month long.

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Great - Good luck!

Get out to Ko Phi Phi or Ko Similan.

rudyflyer · Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Location: pacing the cage

I like TECO's suggestion of Thoi Nai Pan (sp???) up on the NE part part of Pha Ngan. Spent a few days there last year a little too quiet for us plus the electricity is only on at nite but overall very nice and cheap.

There is a gym on the ring road on Samui in Chaweng I saw there in July. As somebody said forget about Chaweng now, way too overbuilt and overpriced. Our preference is Lamai now. Variety of places to stay from cheap to very nice. In July we spent 2 weeks at a place called The Weekender Resort, for 900 baht/nite we got an very nice room with a/c, hot water, tv, fridge, beach AND bath towels plus one of the best breakfast buffets I've seen there. Additionally they have a pool and beach chairs/umbrellas set up on the beach. For us it was perfect

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Yeah, the N/E area is quiet - maybe too quiet.

Nice for at least a day trip if you want to ride up on a bike.

WORLD GYM is not far from the LOTUS/TESCO on Samui.

Also, there is the NEPTUNE GYM in Chaweng Beach.

Lamai is where I'd stay next time also.

I'm really sick of Chaweng after this last trip and will probably not go back.