Koh Phangan, Thailand...

[zaskar]

Anyone been to the very North West of Koh Phangan in the last 6 months? How built up is it now?... I was there Xmas '94 and again in Nov '95 as part of a bigger trip... where I met this feisty Ozzie gal at 'My Way' bungalows, Had Salaat (near 'Bottle Beach')... back then it was just a collection of 10 wooden stilted bungalows, nestled amongst the coconut palms; no lecky, toilets or water after 4pm... 10 years on and I'm thinking of visiting Southern Thailand again, with the feisty Ozzie gal - who, for her sins is now my wife - and for sentimental reasons, we would like to go back to the same area... as long as it's not gone all 'benidorm'...

[Pinotage]

Always a mistake to go back expecting it to be the same. I was heartbroken when I returned to the quiet little Thai island I used to stay on; so much crass development.

I went once to Koh Phangan many years ago, so can't answer your question dircetly, but a browse around www.kohphangan.com might help

[morg_monster]

I spent a week or so around that area last february (we stopped in Thong Nai Pan Noi though - the sea was too rough to go round to bottle beach).  It was still much less developed than the area around Haad Rin, but there are new bungalow developments going up all the time. 

[stillroaming]

Hi

I lived in Samui for 6 months about a year ago, this place is turning into a benidorm:(  loved that place.

I also went to bottle beach and had salaat, and yes there are more than 10 small shacks, but it's still very quaint.  I think this part of Phagnan will stay like that for quite some time.  You could always try Koh Tao