The real inspiration for ‘The Beach’
These days, untouristed beaches are few and far between, so we can all see the appeal of a story like The Beach, which follows a utopian community on a remote Thai island untouched by tourism.
The hidden Emerald Lake on Ko Mae Ko in Ang Thong National Marine Park / Flickr photo by Starbuck Powersurge
The blockbuster movie – famously starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Danny Boyle – was shot off Phuket, a sun-drenched tropical playground with a well-developed tourism industry. The real-life inspiration for Alex Garland’s best-selling book, however, was the undeveloped paradise of Ang Thong National Marine Park, a stunning 42-island archipelago off the east coast of southern Thailand and most easily reached from the laidback island of Koh Samui.
It’s easy to understand the choice of the park as the setting for a novel. Ninety minutes offshore, Ang Thong is the ultimate secret backpacker’s paradise. Known as the Golden Basin, this protected nature area covers roughly 250 square kilometres and encompasses dramatic seaside cliffs, unusual limestone outcrops, secluded caves and hidden lagoons.
Continue reading this article @WHL Group Blog
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The real inspiration for ‘The Beach’
These days, untouristed beaches are few and far between, so we can all see the appeal of a story like The Beach, which follows a utopian community on a remote Thai island untouched by tourism.
The hidden Emerald Lake on Ko Mae Ko in Ang Thong National Marine Park / Flickr photo by Starbuck Powersurge
The blockbuster movie – famously starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Danny Boyle – was shot off Phuket, a sun-drenched tropical playground with a well-developed tourism industry. The real-life inspiration for Alex Garland’s best-selling book, however, was the undeveloped paradise of Ang Thong National Marine Park, a stunning 42-island archipelago off the east coast of southern Thailand and most easily reached from the laidback island of Koh Samui.
It’s easy to understand the choice of the park as the setting for a novel. Ninety minutes offshore, Ang Thong is the ultimate secret backpacker’s paradise. Known as the Golden Basin, this protected nature area covers roughly 250 square kilometres and encompasses dramatic seaside cliffs, unusual limestone outcrops, secluded caves and hidden lagoons.
Continue reading this article @WHL Group Blog
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