Koh Phangan Research Articles

Mass mortality event of the giant barrel sponge Xestospongia sp.: population dynamics and size distribution in Koh Phangan, Gulf of Thailand

Marine sponges are prominent organisms of the benthic coral reef fauna, providing important ecosystem services. While there have been increasing reports that sponges are becoming one of the dominant benthic organisms in some locations and ecoregions (e.g. Caribbean), they can be impacted by changing environmental conditions. This study presents the first documentation of a mass mortality event of the barrel sponge Xestospongia sp. in the lower Gulf of Thailand and its consequences on population dynamics and size distribution. Two anthropogenic impacted reefs (Haad Khom and Mae Haad) of the island Koh Phangan and two anthropogenic non-impacted reefs of the islands Koh Yippon and Hin Yippon within the Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine National Park were surveyed in the years 2015 and 2016. The results showed a strong shift in population densities at Koh Phangan. Fatal “bleaching” ending up in mass mortality was observed for these reefs in 2015. Xestospongia sp. abundance decreased from 2015 to 2016 by 80.6% at Haad Khom and by 98.4% at Mae Haad. Sponges of all sizes were affected, and mortality occurred regardless of the survey depth (4 and 6 m). However, Xestospongia population densities in the Marine Park were at a constant level during the surveys. The abundances in 2015 were 65% higher at the Marine Park than at Koh Phangan and 92% higher in 2016. The most likely causes of the mass mortality event was a local harmful algal bloom event, pathogens, undetected local higher water temperatures, or a combination of these factors, whereas sea surface temperature analyses showed no marine heatwave during the observed mass mortality event in 2015. Considering the ecological importance of sponges such as Xestospongia sp., long-term monitoring of reefs and their environmental parameters should be implemented to prevent such mass die-offs.

Recent and rapid reef recovery around Koh Phangan Island, Gulf of Thailand, driven by plate-like hard corals.

Mass bleaching events and local anthropogenic influences have changed the benthic communities of many coral reefs with pronounced spatial differences that are linked to resilience patterns. The Gulf of Thailand is an under-investigated region with only few existing datasets containing long-term developments of coral reef communities using the same method at fixed sites. We thus analyzed benthic community data from seven reefs surrounding the island of Koh Phangan collected between 2014 and 2022. Findings revealed that the average live hard coral cover around Koh Phangan increased from 37% to 55% over the observation period, while turf algae cover decreased from 52% to 29%, indicating some recovery of local reefs. This corresponds to a mean increased rate of coral cover by 2.2% per year. The increase in live hard coral cover was mainly driven by plate-like corals, which quadrupled in proportion over the last decade from 7% to 28% while branching corals decreased in proportion from 9% to 2%. Furthermore, the hard coral genus richness increased, indicating an increased hard coral diversity. While in other reefs, increasing live hard coral cover is often attributed to fast-growing, branching coral species, considered more susceptible to bleaching and other disturbances, the reefs around Koh Phangan recovered mainly via growth of plate-like corals, particularly of the genus Montipora. Although plate-like morphologies are not necessarily more bleaching tolerant, they are important for supporting reef fish abundance and structural complexity on reefs, aiding reef recovery and sturdiness. Hence, our findings indicate that the intensity of local stressors around Kho Phangan allows reef recovery driven by some hard coral species.

Cover Image

Environmental DNAVolume 5, Issue 2 p. i-i COVER IMAGEFree Access Cover Image First published: 15 March 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/edn3.321AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Graphical Abstract Photo caption and credit Top Left: A snapshot of the roughly 130 species that makes up the diversity of fishes in Switzerland. Credit: Michel Roggo, 21 photos; Oliver Selz, 2 photos; David Marquez, 1 photo. Top Middle: Photo of Pachyseris sp. and Porites sp. colonies that dominate the reef slope at Haad Salad, Koh Pha-ngan, Thailand. Credit: Fabian Gösser. Top Right: Caption- Airborne environmental DNA passive sampler. Credit-Mark Johnson Bottom Left: A common vampire bat, Desmodus rotundus, caught in flight in Belize. Photo Credit: Sherri and Brock Fenton Bottom Right: Enrichment of environmental DNA using specialized eDNA filter equipment. Credit line: Photo by Jianghua Yang Volume5, Issue2March 2023Pages i-i RelatedInformation

Volunteering

Caroline Haywood is a veterinary surgeon at Blake Veterinary Group Ltd. in Bridgwater, Somerset. After qualifying from the RVC she saw mixed practice and then transitioned after 4 years into solely companion animal work. Over the last 16 years she has achieved a CertAVP, developed an interest in laparoscopy and spent 15 months working in Phuket, Thailand as the Medical Director of the Soi Dog Foundation, a not-for-profit organization and the largest animal charity in Asia. Here she describes her volunteering experiences at PACS, Koh Phangan, Thailand which she highly recommends to anyone in the veterinary profession wishing to rekindle their dwindling sense of purpose.

Outpatient department development in the situation of COVID-19 pandemic, Koh Phangan hospital, Surat Thani province, Thailand

Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a huge impact on society including medical and public health service systems. It has also caused health care providers to be focused on adjusting the health service system of various departments to obtain patients’ satisfaction and to provide safety for both providers and service recipients.Objectives: This action research aimed to develop outpatient department (OPD) and compared the differences in satisfactory level before and after developing OPD in the situation of COVID-19 pandemic, Koh Phangngan Hospital, Suratthani Province.Methods: 4 steps were operated to OPD development: (1) Plan (2) Action (3) Observe and (4) Reflection. 310 samples were responded the satisfy questionnaire before and after developing OPD. Descriptive statistics including frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. Paired sample t-test was used to analyze the differences.Results: Findings revealed that the setup of OPD improved the surroundings with symbols, signages and directions for social distancing of COVID-19 measure. Service system set up with KIOSK, face recognition, thermos scan and home delivery of medications were implemented. The average satisfaction scores before and after developing OPD was with statistically significant difference (Mean difference =-5.2 95%CI: -5.6 to -4.8).Conclusion: Service recipients received good quality services from OPD in accordance with the measures to prevent Covid-19 infection, and they were satisfied with the service system.

The Acceptance of Tax Inspection and Educational Visit System of Entrepreneurs in a World-Class Tourist Attraction of Thailand

The purposes of this research are (1) to study the acceptance of tax inspection and educational visit system of entrepreneurs, and (2) to study the literacy factors affecting the acceptance of tax inspection and educational visit system of entrepreneurs in world-class tourist attractions of Thailand, which are, Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. The sample group was 301 juristic person entrepreneurs using a questionnaire for data collection to analyze the statistics, which include; Frequency, Percentage, Mean, and Standard Deviation, to test the relationship and Causal Effect Size. The research result revealed that the acceptance of tax inspection and educational visit system of entrepreneurs was at the most level of all three aspects: receptive attention, cooperation, and taxation. Moreover, the factors of entrepreneurs who had different taxation practices on the accounting of current enterprises had the acceptance of tax inspection and educational visit system in terms of cooperation differently by statistical significance at 0.05 levels. Furthermore, the relationship of literacy factor was positive with the acceptance of the educational visit system and tax inspection. When considering the size effect in each aspect, there was only the literacy building on benefits and risks that affected the acceptance of the educational visit system by statistical significance at 0.05 levels.

Natural Radionuclides in Medicinal Plants and Forages from a Granite Mountain area, Phangan Island, Surathani Province.

The radioactive nuclides were a cancer causing agent. They have a source of origin from nature and man-made. The natural radioactive elements were found in granite rock. The purpose of this research were analyze the activity of radioactive nuclides (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in herbs and forage plant samples from Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province and to analyze the Annual external effective dose rate (E). A total of 20 species of plants, including medicinal plants and food chains plant were randomly sampled. The plant samples were analyzed by the gamma spectrometry system with high-purity germanium (HPGe) detector. It was found that the radioactive nuclides of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were ranged from 6.75 ± 0.16 to 61.55 ± 0.48, 1.76 ± 0.15 to 34.24 ± 0.25 and 330.74 ± 0.37 to 1337.54 ± 0.64 Bq/kg, respectively. In addition, the Annual external effective dose rate (E) in all plants were lower than required (UNSCEAR, 2000).

Estimation of Radionuclide (226Ra, 232Th and 40K) in Soil Granite Rock Mountains Phangan District, Surat Thani Province

The objective of this study were to analyze the specific activity of the natural radioactive nuclide of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K and to calculate the Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the Internal hazard index (Hin), the External hazard index (Hex), the Gamma-absorbed dose rate (D) and the Annual external effective dose rate (E) in the 20 soil samples from Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province by using gamma-ray spectrometer with a high purity germanium detector (HPGe). The results show that the specific activity of radioactive nuclides in many samples were higher than Thailand and the global average values. In addition, the Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), the Internal hazard index (Hin), the external hazard index (Hex) and the gamma-absorbed dose rate (D) were higher than the UNSCEAR criterion (2000). The present study found that the radioactivity may affect the health of people living in that area.

Excerpts from The King of Bangkok

This is an excerpt from The King of Bangkok. Originally appearing in Chapter 3, the section we present is a flashback that follows the book’s protagonist, Nok, on his journey to the island of Koh Pha-Ngan in the Gulf of Thailand. Nok has secured work on a construction site there during the height of the country’s economic boom. The section demonstrates how opportunity and precarity, excitement and devastation are fundamental forces animating and shaping the experiences of migrant workers like Nok.

The Small Reflection of Things

The Small Reflection of Things Dusty Cooper The ferry was late, a white speck of debris bobbing to the island. It worked against the coming storm, the gulf roiling with a restless rhythm. Feeling shook the marbles in his pocket with the same nervous energy. Only a dozen or so tourists had unloaded from each of the first three ferries, and his cart was still more than half full of coconut drinks. Normally, he would have sold out by the second ferry, and spend the rest of the day with his friend Driver. Feeling took off his shoes and dangled his toes off the pier. His shirt, a hand-me-down from his brother, billowed in the wind, pulling him backwards. He accepted the challenge and inched forward, testing gravity. Koh Phangan was a small island, and he'd never been farther from home than this edge. As he leaned forward a wave splashed against the cement wall. Feeling jumped back to avoid the spray, but a warm gust splattered his face with salty water. He rubbed his eyes, shook his T-shirt, and slapped his leg to check that his marbles were secure in the corner seam of his pocket. He spent most afternoons in the alley behind the open markets watching other boys shoot marbles. But tourist traffic dwindled in the rainy season, and it had been over a week since he'd been to the alley. His father's rule, or business agreement, being that he could do whatever he wanted until dinner as long as he sold all his coconuts. He wondered if the weather knew it dampened his sales and cut into his free time. The stubborn speck of a ferry lingered in the distance, and the storm seemed to be moving even slower. If he left for the alley now he could watch a few games and return to the pier by the time the ferry arrived. Feeling mounted his bike, an overgrown tricycle with a cart on the back, and rode through Thong Sala, the island's port town. The main street cut through brick and glass buildings until asphalt gave way to dirt, and you were in the open markets, the twine tied, thatch-roof huts hanging with T-shirts and necklaces, or dried carcasses of fish, brown and spiny, their eyes shriveled and cracked. As he rode past, two smells fought for dominance, the metallic sting of raw seafood and the earthy spice of curry, but hidden underneath, he caught the sweetness of fresh fruit: watermelon, lychee, and pineapple. Trip, Feeling's brother, introduced him to the marble games. After working the pier together, they'd share a sack of lychee. Trip peeled the furry, purple skin for Feeling while explaining the player's shots like a commentator at a Muay Thai fight or football game. His excitement was contagious, transmitted to Feeling from the start. At night, they'd recount the games, volleying their delight across the short space dividing their beds. In the alley, a dozen or so boys were gathered around two people on the ground. Feeling stretched over a shoulder to see his friend, Driver, sitting at a circle drawn in the dirt. To play, you had to have at least five mibs, the smaller marbles, and one shooter, the ones big as an eyeball. The boys only played five ringer or ten ringer. The object, of course, to use your shooter to knock your opponent's mibs out the circle to claim them as your own. Driver's opponent was the best player on the island who Feeling [End Page 3] called Lok, so named for his shooter, deep blue glass with green, smoky tendrils zigzagging through it, just like a globe of Earth. Driver, already losing by three, scuttled around the arena, the marbles scattered like a tiny, chaotic solar system. Fiery yellow and orange Jupiter, bright red Mars, and cool, blue-white Neptune. Colossal worlds shrunk into miniature globes in the dirt, hovering just out of Feeling's reach. One knee on the ground, the other folded against his chest, Driver positioned his fist on the ground ready to shoot. Feeling wedged himself through...

Sexual behaviour of backpackers who visit Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, Thailand: a cross-sectional study

ObjectivesTo measure the proportion of backpackers engaging in unprotected sex while travelling in Thailand and to identify predictors of unsafe sexual behaviour.MethodsA cross-sectional study using an anonymous questionnaire was performed....

The magnitude of severe box jellyfish cases on Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan in the Gulf of Thailand.

BackgroundDespite recent deaths caused by box jellyfish envenomation occurring on the islands of Samui and Pha-ngan in the Gulf of Thailand, many people do not believe box jellyfish can kill humans and many people dismiss the problem as insignificant. More evidence has been requested from the communities in order to evaluate the need for and the implementation of sustainable prevention measures. We aimed to determine the magnitude of cases of severe stinging by box jellyfish and describe the characteristics of these cases on the islands of Samui and Pha-ngan in Surat Thani Province from 1997 to 2015.MethodsVarious strategies were integrated prospectively. Toxic jellyfish networks and surveillance system were established. Outbreak investigations were conducted retrospectively and prospectively from 2008 to 2015.ResultsThere were 15 box jellyfish cases. A small majority of them were women (60.0) with a median age of 26.0 years (range 5.0–45.0 years). The highest incidence by month were August (33.3 %), September and October (20.0 %), and July (13.3 %). Eight cases occurred on Samui (53.3 %), 6 cases on Pha-ngan island (40.0 %), and one case on the boat. All cases developed symptoms and signs immediately after being stung. More than half of the cases were unconscious. There were six fatal cases (46.7 %). The wound characteristics had an appearance similar to caterpillar tracks or step ladder-like burn marks. Almost all cases involved Chirodropidae. One fatal case received fresh water and ice packs applied to the wounds (16.7 %). Among the cases with known first aid, only one out of six fatal cases had vinegar applied to the wounds (16.7 %), while haft of six surviving cases received the vinegar treatment.ConclusionsThe islands of Samui and Pha-ngan have the highest incidence of fatal and near fatal box jellyfish cases in Thailand. There is an urgent need for informed pre-clinical emergent care. Optimal pre-clinical care is an area of active research.

Analysis of Suitable Interconnection Points of Offshore Wind Farms in the Gulf of Thailand

The off coast of the Gulf of Thailand around Koh Tao and Koh Pha-Ngan has abundant wind resources, which can help for developing offshore wind farms with the maximum capacity of 720 MWs. In this paper, grid integration analysis of the offshore wind farms on the 115-kV transmission of Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) was performed. The power system analysis of power flow and voltage stability were simulated with the full-power conversion wind turbine generators by using the DIgSILENT PowerFactory program. The possible connected points were listed by the physical criteria, such as the amount of load, and a distance to an offshore wind farm. Finally, the suitable connected points were considered based on the performances of the system before and after offshore wind farm connections. The study results may be used as a reference to develop an offshore wind farm in the Gulf of Thailand in the future.

ประเพณีชักพระทางทะเล อำเภอเกาะพะงัน จังหวัดสุราษฎร์ธานี (Preservation of Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition, Koh Pha-ngan District, Suratthani Province)

Thai Abstract: การศกษาครง นม วตถประสงค (1) เพอศกษาประวตความเปนมาและพธกรรมในประเพณ ชกพระทางทะเล อาเภอเกาะ พะงน จงหวดสราษฎรธานและ (2) เพอศกษาแนวทางการอนรกษประเพณชกพระทางทะเลอาเภอเกาะพะงน จงหวด สราษฎรธาน โดยใชขอมลจากการสมภาษณเชงลกบคคลทเกยว วเคราะหขอมลเปนความเรยงในลกษณะการพรรณนาความผลการศกษาพบวา ความเปนมาของประเพณชกพระทางทะเล อา เภอเกาะพะงน จงหวดสร าษฎรธาน เรม ตนขนเมอใดไมปรากฏแนชด โดยราว พ.ศ.2475 ไดมประเพณชกพระทางทะเลเกดขนแลว โดยมการจดงานอยในบรเวณตาบลบานใต บรเวณอาวบานใต อาวบานวกตม และบรเวณอาวทองศาลา จากนนการจดงานไดเรม เปลยนแปลงเหลอสถานทจดงานบรเวณอาวทองศาลาเพยงทเดยวจนถงปจจบน ป พ.ศ.2538 องคกรปกครองสวนทองถน ไดใหการสนบสนนงบประมาณในการจดกจกรรมประเพณชกพระทางทะเลจนถงปจจบน มองคกรปกครองสวนทองถน ทมสวนเกยวของกบการจดงานประเพณชกพระทางทะเล 3 แหง ไดแก เทศบาลตาบลเกาะพะงน เทศบาลตาบลบานใต และเทศบาลตาบลเพชรพะงน โดยเทศบาลตาบลเกาะพะงนไดเปนหนวยงานหลกในการจดงาน สงเสรม และอนรกษประเพณชกพระทางทะเลโดยการสนบสนนงบประมาณ สนบสนนเงนรางวล รณรงคประชาสมพนธ ประสานขอความรวมมอในทกภาคสวน สวนการอนรกษประเพณชกพระทางทะเล ของหนวยงานภาครฐอนในอา เภอเกาะพะงน ไดแก การเขารวมทา กจกรรมในงานประเพณ การใหความรวมมอกบชาวบานในการจดงาน และเปนตวกลางในการตดตอประสานงาน เพอใหงานลลวงไปดวยด ภาคธรกจในอาเภอเกาะพะงนยงมบทบาทอนรกษประเพณชกพระทางทะเล โดยการ สนบสนนดานงบประมาณ และกาลงคนใหกบชมชนในพนทของตนเอง ขณะทบทบาทของชมชนในการอนรกษ ประเพณชกพระทางทะเลโดยปราชญในชมชนมการถายทอดภมความรเกยวกบประเพณชกพระทางทะเลรวมถงพธกรรมตางๆ ทใชในงานประเพณ ในสวนของผนาในชมชนกจะมบทบาทในการชกนาคนในชมชนใหเหนความสา คญของประเพณทองถน และเขามามสวนรวมในกจกรรมตางๆ ในสวนของชาวบานในพนทกจะมบทบาทในกจกรรมตางๆตง แตการเตรยมความพรอมในการเขารวมกจกรรมจนเสรจสนกจกรรม English Abstract: The objectives of this study are (1) to study the history and ritual in the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition, Koh Pha-ngan District, Suratthani Province and (2) to study the way to conserve the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition, Koh Pha-ngan District, Suratthani Province by using an information of related person interview 16 people, and having information analysis then summarize in a Descriptive form. The study result founding that it’s unsure when the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition, Koh Pha-ngan District, Suratthani Province occurred, by the year of 1932 there was the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition started, by having a ceremony in Bantai bay, Woktum bay and Thongsala bay, Then the organizers the ceremony have begun to change from the all place to be at Tongsala Bay till now. Since 1995 and actually there was an establishment of Local Administrative Organization supporting the budget in the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition. And nowadays there are three Local Administrative Organizations involved in this Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition which are Koh Pha-ngan Municipality, Bantai Municipality and Petch Pha-ngan Municipality, by Koh Pha-ngan Municipality is a core organization in ceremony organizing, promoting and conserving the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition. By means of supporting budget, pocket money, launching champagne and public relation, launching the project in giving knowledge and cooperate with all government sectors. The study result also found that preservation of Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition the other government agencies in Koh Pha-ngan District have to be responsible for ceremony participation, cooperate with the villagers in ceremony organizing and being an intermediary in coordination so that the ceremony can be finished successfully. The business sector in Koh Pha-ngan District having a role in the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition promotion and conservation by supporting the budget and manpower to the community in their area. While the role of the community in the promotion and preservation of the Buddha Dragging on the Sea Tradition by sages in the community has to convey knowledge about traditional maritime ceremony includes various rituals used in the tradition. The leaders in the community plays a role in the induction of the community to the importance of local traditions and took part in various activities. In most of the villages in the area, it will play a role in the activities from preparation of participants completing it.

Effects of simulated eutrophication and overfishing on algae and invertebrate settlement in a coral reef of Koh Phangan, Gulf of Thailand

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Thailand are highly under-investigated regarding responses to anthropogenic stressors. Thus, this study simulated overfishing and eutrophication using herbivore exclosure cages and slow-release fertilizer to study the in-situ effects on benthic algae and invertebrate settlement in a coral reef of Koh Phangan, Thailand. Settlement of organisms and the development of organic matter on light-exposed and shaded tiles were quantified weekly/biweekly over a study period of 12weeks. Simulated eutrophication did not significantly influence response parameters, while simulated overfishing positively affected dry mass, turf algae height and fleshy macroalgae occurrence on light-exposed tiles. On shaded tiles, settlement of crustose coralline algae decreased, while abundances of ascidians increased compared to controls. An interactive effect of both stressors was not observed. These results hint to herbivory as actual key controlling factor on the benthic community, and fleshy macroalgae together with ascidians as potential bioindicators for local overfishing.

Applying the Principles for Livable Communities

The Baan Haad Rin (BHR) is a coastal community at the Koh Phangan Island in the Suratthani Province, and is located in a peninsular beach area on the southern tip of this island. There are two beautiful beaches, Haad Rin Nai Beach (Sunset Beach) in the west and the Haad Rin Nok Beach (Sunrise Beach) in the east. The BHR is the main place in tourism destination choice due to the famous Full Moon Party which takes place on the Sunrise Beach each month. The beautiful beach and famous party have increased many visitors since the 1980s. The BHR has grown to accommodate the new visitors and the tourism development. The environmental characteristics of the BHR have rapidly changed due to the impacts of tourism developments and natural disasters. These environmental impacts have halted the growth of tourism industry and community development. Therefore, this study focuses on the application of the principles for livable communities (PLC) to propose the guidelines for solving the environmental impacts of the BHR. The result of study also presents the summary of concept and action plans for environmental management and sustainable development.

Impacts of Tourism Development in Ban had Rin Community at Koh Phangan Island, Thailand: A Sustainable Tourism Perspective

This paper documents the problems and impacts of the tourism development in Ban Had Rin Community at Koh Phangan Island. The study focuses on sustainable tourism including the environment, socio-culture and economic aspects. This study investigates the qualitative data from the second-hand materials as the Thailand government’s publication, research papers and website on tourism involved in the phase one, and the first-hand materials as the field survey to assess the impacts of tourism on the community in the phase two. In conclusion, the study suggests that if tourism development will be successful, Ban Had Rin Community should be planned and managed in a sustainable manner.

Spatialising Thai masculinities: negotiating dominance and subordination in Southern Thailand

This paper explores the entanglement of gender with class and national identities by investigating the politics of intra-national migration in Thailand. Focusing on the experiences of a group of young Thai men who have migrated from the Thai mainland to the island of Koh Pha-ngan in Southern Thailand, this research outlines the ways in which these young men are able to resist wider Thai discourses that seek to position them as marginal national subjects through their work in the tourism industry. I argue that the economic importance of the tourism industry opens up possibilities for the performance of masculine subjectivities which would otherwise be subject to surveillance and censure. This greater freedom enables experimentation with new gendered identities as well as access to sexual encounters with women that the men would not ordinarily meet: comparatively wealthy, educated, middle-class tourist women. Such encounters can open up possibilities which enable the men to re-negotiate their positioning in wider Thai society, and thereby challenge the marginalised identity labels that are ascribed to them.

Performing Masculinity on the Thai Beach Scene

This paper presents a new framework for researching the identities and power relationships between locals and tourists in developing countries. Moving away from conceptualizing identities as tied into binary frameworks, this paper conceptualizes identities as fluid, multiple and context-specific. Based on ethnographic fieldwork from 1999 to 2001, this research explores the everyday lived experiences of Thai men working in the bars and bungalows of Had Rin peninsula on Koh Phangan island in southern Thailand. In this paper I map the ways that the identities of these men shift and change as they move between the different social geographies that overlie their everyday lived spaces on Had Rin peninsula. In highlighting the ways that the men's identities shift as they move through space I argue for the importance of space and context in theorizing identities, demonstrating that dualistic representations of identity are inadequate attempts to capture identities which are actually very complex, multiple and subject to change.

Psychoactive mushroom use in Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan, Thailand

This paper presents the results of recent ethnomycological exploration in southern Thailand. Field observations, interviews and collection of fungi specimens were carried out primarily on two islands, Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan, situated in the western region of the Gulf of Siam. Some fieldwork was also conducted in the northern Thai province of Chiang Dao and in the southern Thai pro- vince of Surat Thani. During five separate excursions (1989–90), observations were made of occurrence, harvesting, use, and marketing of psychoactive fungi by local Thai natives (males and females, adults and children), foreign tourists, and German im- migrants. The first records of psychoactive Psilocybe subcubensis and Copelandia dung fungi in Thailand are presented in this paper. These fungi exhibited intense bluing reactions when handled, indicating the presence of psilocybin and/or psilocin. Seven collections of Psilocybe cubensis (Earle) Singer and/or Psilocybe subcubensis Guzman and four collections of Copelandia sp. were harvested and sun-dried for herbarium deposit. These fungi are cultivated or occur spontaneously, often appearing in the decomposed manure of domesticated water buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis) and at least three different species of cattle ( Bos indicus, B. guarus, and B. sundaicus). The psychoactive fungi are cultivated in clandestine plots, both indoors and outdoors, in the uplands and villages on Koh Samui by both Thai natives and some foreigners. The sale of psychoactive fungi directly to tourists and to resort restaurants for use in edible food items such as omelettes and soups is discussed in detail. The preparation and sale of mushroom omelettes adulterated with artificial hallucinogens in some restaurants is also discussed. In addition, the marketing of items such as hand painted T-shirts, post cards, and posters bearing mushroom related motifs in Thailand is described.