Leonardo
Of course we didn´t ignore this promising piece of advise. After several more weeks of travelling we went down to the Thai islands, the territory of ´The Beach´: the book written by Alex Garland, turned into a Hollywood-movie featuring Leonardo di Caprio. Nowadays the atmosphere on most of the Thai islands is as poor as the filmversion of the story was last year, we were told. The island of Ko Phi Phi, where ´The Beach´ was shot, has been taken over by mass-tourism, just as the overcommercialized places Phuket and Ko Samui. The benefit of the doubt, so we understood, was given to Ko Pha Ngan, the island north of Ko Samui. The island is still known to be an unspoiled location for backpackers - for example because electricity has not yet reached all places on the island - which would still be a guarantee to hold off Ibiza-like partyscenes.

Not amused
Arriving by boat it´s especially the green-blue water of the Gulf of Thailand that provides Ko Pha Ngan with it´s exotic character, together with it´s nearly-white beaches and the thousands of palmtrees that are spread all over the island.
On arrival we are not amused by the presence of (too) many souvenir-stores, offices of travelling-agency´s and Internetshops. It doesn´t exactly provide for the kind of atmosphere we are looking for. Quickly we climb into the fourwheeldrive that´s going to bring us to the Haad Salad-resort, located in the same bay our contact told us the Highlife-resort would be…
But we get disappointed again. The Haad Salad-resort is a cultivated form of how it must have been. Surely: the bungalow-shaped cabins are here, the beaches covered with coconuts, just like the restaurant where ambient-music is playing. The staff is very nice too, just as the view at the bay and the diving-island of Ko Tao, which can be spotted on the horizon. But still, this is not what we want. Every bungalow has a sign on it (we´re staying in the ´chill-out´-cabin) and the beachgarden is kept so accurately that it reminds us of the discipline that shapes the yards in Dutch suburban area´s.
The place is inhabited by civilized thirtysomething-couples, who are spending their yearly holidays here. There´s not much that reminds us of the former hippy-culture of the island. We are for a moment starting to doubt the information we got on the presence of a Highlife-bay, where everything should still be authentic.

Dream
But, we don´t give up that easily. The next day we go out to rent a small motorbike and do some exploring off the island. Around twelve in the afternoon, in the extreme tropical heat, we climb a couple of hills, to make a discovery - sweating under the Asian sun. Passed a crossroads, on the road to another bay, is a sign with the words… HIGHLIFE-BUNGALOWS, together with an arrow to point the way. We found it!
With our fully loaded backpack (after four months of travelling) we move out the next day - after a treacherous ride over the rocky paths - to the one and only Highlife-resort. On arrival we start to suspect something. This could well be the place we were hoping for. The bungalow-village is beautifully build against the rocks, without disturbing the natural environment too much. It looks out over one of the most gorgeous bays of the island (as we discover on later trips around the island). Approximately fifty meters above the sealevel the build-out-of-bamboo-restaurant is the centre of the small community.
Guests are lying on the lazy furniture and are enjoying their fresh fruitshakes, the Thai-food and their first, late morning-rolly. We are surprised and excited about the character of the place. The fact that the location exactly resembles our image of a coffeeshop-paradise is unique. Our magazine and the resort could blend in easily. It´s like the location is a spin-off off the mag, or the other way around of course.

Here to stay
A Thai fairytale. That´s how the inhabitants of Highlife would like to call the way the owner of the place build up his resort. O.T. is the name of the young Thai who moved to the island several years ago, in search for new opportunities. On the boat to the island he met his wive Keh, who is still on his side today. The first years of his stay on Ko Pha Ngan O.T. was an employee at several other resorts. There he first played with the idea of building a place of his own.
Three years ago he made his dream come true. He rented some land and put up several bungalows. Things went fast after that. ´Highlife´ became a phenomenon. The bay wasn´t only visited by backpackers, but also by people that stayed in the resort for months. For them Highlife was more than the location for a short holiday or the place to rest after travelling. They actually felt at home in the place. A home with sun, sea and beach within reach.

Daniele Shiva Eye
The German artist, musican and designer Daniele also thinks of Highlife as his habitat. he produce with his thai partner Rachet the world famous Shiva Eye Jewelery. Daniele has picked up the sale of jewelry, which he produces himself with Rachet in a small studio, situated beside his bungalow. He and his Thai assistent produce the Shiva-eye neckless, made out of shells that are found on the bottom of the Island-bay. According to the legend the Shiva-eye protects it´s bearer against evil spirits. Daniele exports his product to Germany. The neckless is also sold to the souvenirshops on the island.

Location:
Follow the mainrd. to Haad Yao. keep going the dirtrd to Haad Salad.Pass the road to bay view and go until some green signs coming up with direction informations on this T-Cross you turn left and follow the sign to lucky resort or High Life Bungalow and you will find Lucky Resort, High Life Bungalow and the Shiva Eye Galery&Shop.

Come to visit us
and view the largest "Shiva Eye" collection in Thailand.
We use only the best quality deep water Shiva Eyes and mount them in 925 sterling silver to create our amazing jewellery. We have necklaces in silver, stainless steel or leather, pendends, bracelets, belly chains, chockers, body jewellery, earrings, rings, anklets and many other unique, hand crafted pieces on show.Visit us at our home, take your time, enjoy the sea view in the peaceful bush suroundings and choose your own personal "Lucky Stone". Our Shiva Eye jewellery is uniqueto these islands. We dive for them here and craft them here. The Shiva Eye is a true souvenir from these Islands.Each Shiva Eye will be packed up for you with discription

About Shiva Eye:
Hidden up to 20 meters deep on the floor of the ocean nearcoral-reefs and surrounded by brightly coloured fish, you will find, if you look carefully, the Shiva Eye. It is used as a protective door for the so called "Turbanshell". After this muscle dies naturally it gets cast off to reveal the decorative stone. Hidden too, is its beauty. For only after much patient and dedicated handwork are the intense colours revealed. The colours of the "Shiva Eye" aragonite stone vary according to the mineral content of the muscle.The aragonite mineral stimulates your sensibility and lowers nervousness and tiredness.Because of its high amount of calcium, the stone has also a positive effect on your muscels,your joints,your tissue and your skin.
It has, as a decorative stone, a unique charismaand as a protective stone it watches over the one who bears it. The "Shiva Eye" takes its name from sanskrit, in which the spiral symbolizes protection against bad spirits and gives you positive energy.

Balance  
Highlife does not have television and does not offer Internetservices, although it is possible for the inhabitants to access these media - if needed - on other parts of the island. For example on Haad Rin-beach on the southern part of the island, which is the decorum for the wellknown, monthly Fullmoonparty.
This Fullmoonparty originated from a beachparty of a few travellers fifteen years ago. It has developed in a big festival with thousands of partypeople present each month. A car drives to the party and back from the Highlife-resort. Often guests book a bungalow on Highlife weeks in advance, to be sure of a roof over their heads and… the best afterpartylocation. An afterparty that will not be disturbed by beerdrinking hooligans or - as happened several months ago - by a fight between the ´farangs´ and the Buddhist Thai (who did not appreciate party-visitors skinny-dipping after the party at all).

Shake
After the icecream-man´s visit the time has come to cut up the product. It´s still early in the afternoon. By the time the people in the Highlife-resort have been provided with their goods and are resting from their ´intense´ daily five minute swim, on Ko Pha Ngan the sun starts to set. The first fishing-boats appear on the horizon, while in the Highlife-restaurant the music is turned on. The right moment to order another one of those great coconutshakes. At this moment we are absolutely sure: Highlife lives up brilliantly to the name of the legendary Dutch magazine…