Exploring Koh Lipe, Thailand - Phototour Part 1

After the amazing experience at HiveFest in Kuala Lumpur, we decided to stay in Asia for two more weeks. Right after the event, our next destination was the beautiful island of Langkawi in the north of Malaysia. We originally planned to stay for two nights, but we ended up staying an extra day because our ferry to Koh Lipe did not leave as expected. But that story is for another post – and it is a good one!

Once we finally arrived on Koh Lipe, we spent a lot of time exploring the famous Walking Street – the heart of the island. This small but lively street is full of restaurants, shops, massage places, and small bars. It is where most of the island life happens.

During this time of year, the island is affected by the monsoon season, which brings short but intense rain showers. Some days were sunny and hot, and others brought heavy rain out of nowhere. You really have to be ready for both – flip-flops and an umbrella are a must!

One day, I decided to take my camera with me – the same one I used at HiveFest – and try to capture the special atmosphere of the island. I walked around slowly, just observing life on Koh Lipe. It is a very peaceful place, with beautiful colors, friendly locals, and lots of small details that make it special. Even the rain adds something to the charm – people sitting under small roofs, raindrops hitting palm leaves, and kids jumping over puddles.

Coconut Donut 10 Baht 10 Baht

If you ever visit Koh Lipe, I can almost guarantee that you will leave the island with at least two unforgettable memories stuck in your head. These are not about the beaches or the sunsets – although those are amazing too – but about two very special people who make Walking Street a place full of character.

The first one is a man with a small Coconut Donut stand, located right in front of a 7 Eleven on Walking Street. He does not sell anything else – only small round donuts made from coconut. They are freshly cooked, slightly crispy on the outside, and soft and sweet inside. And the best part? He sells them for just 10 Thai Baht each, which is about 25 euro cents.

But what really makes him famous is his unique marketing style. He has a small speaker playing the same catchy song on repeat all day long. The lyrics are simple and get stuck in your head after just a few minutes:
"Coconut Donut… 10 Baht… 10 Baht!"

Sometimes he even sings along himself, smiling and waving at people as they pass by. His energy is so positive, and you just cannot walk by without smiling. He is always in a good mood and brings joy to the street, even if the weather is not perfect. After a few hours on the island, you find yourself singing the donut song without even realizing it. He is truly a Walking Street legend.

The second memory that stays with you comes from a nearby restaurant called "YooHoo YooHoo". In front of it sits an older woman who has her own unforgettable way of attracting attention. As soon as tourists walk by, she calls out in a loud, cheerful voice:
"YooHoo… YooHoooooooo!"

And she does this all day long – every few seconds, with full energy. You can hear her from far down the street, and it always makes you smile. The way she says it is so unique that it becomes another little song in your head. Even if you do not eat there, you remember her voice and the way she laughs when people smile back at her.

Both of these people are not just part of the street – they are the street. They bring life, color, and sound to the island in a way that no shop or beach photo ever could. Koh Lipe is beautiful on its own, but it is the little characters like them that make it feel truly special.

On Koh Lipe, you never stop discovering new little things – almost around every corner, there is something that catches your eye. One moment you are walking past shops and restaurants, and the next you find a peaceful spot that feels almost hidden.

One place like that was in front of a small massage salon, where we saw a beautiful shrine with a Buddha statue. It was placed just at the edge of the path, right before the street begins to go uphill toward the center of the island. It felt quiet and peaceful there, even though it was near the busy part of Walking Street. The smell of incense filled the air, and some locals had placed small offerings like flowers and fruit around the statue. These small shrines are quite common across Thailand and are used by locals to pay respect and bring luck to the places they live and work.

Corner Bar Koh Lipe

If you're looking for a sign to Drink tonight, this is it.

Just around that same corner, we found a great place to spend a few evenings – a small bar called the Corner Bar. We ended up going there several times because the atmosphere was so relaxed and welcoming. They played classic rock music, which was a nice change after hearing mostly reggae and beach pop everywhere else. The lighting was cozy, the seating was simple, and it had a nice view of the street – perfect for people watching while enjoying a drink.

Our drink of choice most nights was the famous Singha beer, one of Thailand’s oldest and most popular beers. A 0.33 liter bottle cost about 100 Thai Baht, which is around 2.50 to 3 US dollars, depending on where you are. It is a crisp, light lager with a slightly bitter finish, great for warm tropical evenings. Singha has been brewed in Thailand since 1933 and is still owned by a Thai family-run company. It is known not just for its taste but also for its logo, which shows a powerful lion-like creature from Hindu and Thai mythology.

During the daytime on Koh Lipe, it is allowed for delivery traffic to move through the Walking Street. So, if you are walking there in the middle of the day, you will probably have to step aside from time to time as small scooters with sidecars pass by. These scooters are used to transport goods to restaurants, shops, and hotels across the island.

Personally, I do not find this a big problem – as long as the drivers are careful and respectful toward the tourists walking around. And to be honest, most of them really are. The people of Thailand, especially those living and working on Koh Lipe, seem to have a very good understanding of how to interact with visitors. They are usually friendly, kind, and helpful, even when the streets are busy or the weather is hot.

It is worth noting that Koh Lipe is a very small island, only about 2 kilometers long and 1 kilometer wide. That makes it easy to explore by foot. However, once the last ferries leave for the day, the island is completely closed off. There is no way on or off until the boats come again the next morning. This creates a special kind of feeling – like you are part of a little world of your own, floating peacefully in the Andaman Sea.

But that is something I will write more about in my upcoming posts, where I plan to share more about my experiences and photo walks on the island. From sunsets to street food, from quiet beaches to rainy afternoons, Koh Lipe has a lot of stories waiting to be told.

So stay tuned – more soon from my time in Thailand! Until next time!