The moment you enter the car park you know this is something different, the only slight tell tale is the palm tree in the front garden. The rest of the grounds have been furnished with wooden bench tables and umbrellas and the foliage has been chosen very carefully to look less tropical than you would normally find on Koh Phangan.
Moving inside you find a full bar along one wall, a pool table, proper seating in the restaurant area and the best toilets I have ever seen in a bar on Koh Phangan.

Currently only Singha is served on draught (in pint glasses of course) and a variety of English lager and ale is kept in cans in the fridge behind the bar……
I’m not sure if the owner, Shawn (or should we call him the landlord?) is planning to introduce more draught beers. I did ask him if he could spare me five minutes before I left to get some background and information but in true English pub style I was somewhat inebriated by the end of the evening and thought it best not to subject Shawn to my drunken condition.
It was fairly amusing watching some of the Thai ladies trying out John Smiths for the first time, they had only ever seen lager before, bitter was a completely new experience for them.

The food menu is also something quite different, for a start there is absolutely no Thai food on it. It looks and reads just like the menu in my local back in blighty, including things like a mixed grill, scampi and macaroni cheese. Although not cheap the portions were generous and the quality was top notch.
All in all I think The Masons Arms is a brave venture, certainly completely different to everything on Koh Phangan we have seen so far.
So cheers to Shawn, mines a pint of Singha next time you see me.

The food here is a complete bargain, usually less than 50 Baht for a meal including a coke. Song Youth speaks fairly good English, so he will be able to tell you what’s available. I recommend the kow moo daeng and the kow ka moo, both very tasty…..
When ordering anything with pork you can request that the fat be cut off, otherwise you will be served a portion of both meat and fat, but it’s very tasty fat!

Most meals are served with a small bowl of thin soup, tasting surprisingly better than it looks. Another favourite is soo ki, which is a noodle soup with egg, you can choose either chicken or pork, very filling!.
If you are after a bargain lunch, this place is probably the best on the island, indeed the amount of locals you will find eating here testifies to this.

Paradise waterfall is far from being the most beautiful on Koh Phangan but it is definitely one of the easiest to access.
The water course dries up in the summer months, so it’s best to ask a local if they think there will be water before you make the journey to visit it.

Water cascades down a series of rock walls, pooling at the bottom in two large pools. It is possible to climb the waterfall and also swim in the pools. There is a restaurant at the bottom of the waterfall selling decent food and cold drinks……
Be careful driving your scooter back down the path when you leave, it is very steep in places with large holes, very easy to ground out your scooter and take a spill.

The image above was taken on quite a stormy day at very low tide and does not do the area justice. On a fine day the waters are crystal blue and teaming with life. The beach itself is very clean and usually quiet……
Massage is available right on the beach under the shade of some large trees, very relaxing listening to the surf and enjoying the sea breeze whilst one of the girls works out your tired muscles after snorkeling.

Several companies offer snorkeling trips by boat to Koh Ma, usually including lunch. This can be a very good way to enjoy this lovely spot but in truth you can see everything you will see on the tour just by swimming off the beach. If you are on a budget just take your snorkel and mask along and off you go!

He explained that the optimal way to make use of the sauna was to spend 10-15 minutes inside and then come out for the same amount of time, repeat this 2 or 3 times……
The sauna itself helps your body in many ways, clearing the lungs, relieving tension, helping circulation and cleaning the sinuses and airways. It is also good for all types of muscle pain.
However, it must be pointed out that for some people it can be dangerous to use such a steam room. People with heart problems, angina, diarrhea, epilepsy or kidney problems should avoid it.

Not only is the sauna itself very healthy, the grounds are very peaceful and their is a massage room attached to the sauna. It really is quite a nice way to spend an afternoon, first a massage and then into the sauna afterward, spending some time sitting in the gardens and enjoying the tranquility.