6 Months Living on Kho Lipe, Thailand

Kho Lipe Island, Thailand, during my stay as resident volunteer English Teacher.

     I want to share some photos I took during my 6 month stay on Kho Lipe Island, while I was resident English Teacher for grades 4, 5, and 6, following the Asian Tsunami.

     Kho Lipe has changed a lot in the last 6 years, although it is still wonderful, quiet and relaxing.

     Here is the original walking street, from Pataya beach to the Chao Lay Village and the school.

Walking down the trail from the beach for about 10-15 minutes I neared the “Sea Gypsy” village,  http://andaman-island-hopping.com/articles/seagypsies.htm

where there were a collection of “backpacker” restaurants with excellent sea food, so you know

 you won’t go hungry.  The Chao Lay Village has a population of around 800 in grass and tin shacks spread along a very pretty beach.  I walked the equivalent of 3-4 blocks, having

to make several turns at forks on the complex of dirt and sand walking paths.  After about 5 minutes, I reached the center of town,



This is the view of the beach in front of the school. It's possibly the best school setting in the world.



where a huge communal sala (roofed outdoor seating area) occupies the beach.  Behind the beach is the school complex, made up of about 5-6  

large buildings, solar panels and water tanks.  My classroom was located at the end of long school building, right in front of the ocean. It has to be the most picturesque school setting in the world.

   
       I was called “Achaan” Johnny.  Having the title “Achaan” in Thailand is somewhat like having “PHD.” after your name in the States.  My classes were fairly well behaved by modern standards

(no pandemonium and kids running wild), although if I didn’t keep their attention for the entire time, “They will eat me alive”.

      Since I am able to speak Thai Language, I was placed as 4th 5th and 6th grade teacher, so that I could talk to the children, and answer their questions.  When class was over,

     I got some of the kids to pose for a group photo.  Then we walked over to the main building where we met Ben, the

other American teaching English at the school. We became good friends while living on the quiet isolated island. 

   Here is a map of the area and the national park islands painted outside the school. There are over 50 uninhabited islands in the area, most of which are visible while walking the beaches of Lipe.  All of which can be visited for day trips from Kho Lipe.

After we left the main building, which looks out on the school’s basketball court which is on the ocean, and walked back past the classroom

building, and out of town along a VERY hot trail for about 20 minutes, till we came to a beautiful beach, called Sunset Beach, on the

opposite side of the island from the main tourist beach.  At the side of the beach closest to the village is the Thai Fisheries Department Compound.  Behind the main office building, there are 7-8 small bungalows, like the 3 rooms

where Ben I were living. We each had our own room, and a living room in between.  By this time, I was so hot, I was about to have a vapor lock, so I hurried down the

beach, which you can see is not very long, until I got to the

Porn Resort restaurant, where I had a deliciously cold beer Chang.

Then a nice barbecue fried shrimp dish, a rest on the beach, and

it was time to walk about 10-15 minutes across a low hill to the main tourist beach on the other side of the island. I had been invited by some German guy I met to go

deep sea fishing, and although we each got a hit that day, I was the only one with a good catch. Look at my barracuda below. We had it grilled, and it was excellent, especially having caught it myself.

Even if you don't fish, there are always plenty of fresh fish being served in the restaurants along the beach. Including Cuda, King Mackerel, red and white snappers, and various types of groupers, crabs and lobsters. Often you will see a Black Marlin like in the picture below, or a shark on the menu.

     That is what a day in the life of an English Teacher on Kho Lipe Thailand consists of.   Please contact me to talk about Lipe, Thailand, or my adventure.

           Of course, night after night, there are fabulous sunsets over the Andaman Sea!

Please check out my cook book,

16 Delicious Thai Dinners

Cooked in a Western Kitchen

 



Here I am swimming off the beach!





If you are lucky, your Bungalow will be like this!



Here is a Shark for dinner.