Mike who is one of the main founders of ‘Phangan Family’ a community that is spreading the good energy of Koh Phangan to other places, starting in Moscow, came in for a chat with Phanganist. He now spends six months here and six months in Europe after first visiting two years ago. He has been working online and does not like the winter or snow so for him, Phangan is a good place to be!
Explain how ‘Phangan Family’ started...
When I had come to Phangan previously I had met some people from Moscow who I became friends with. In March 2015 I started to meet these friends when we were all back in Moscow. We would just spend time together going to clubs etc and decided to organise a community of people who met at this magic island of Koh Phangan.
The idea is to give the atmosphere of the island to Moscow as our city doesn’t have this. People in Moscow can forget what is important, they just think of money.
People really liked the idea and we started with four hundred in the group, where about twenty to thirty of us would travel around together.
That summer Peter G came to Moscow to play, and I asked people in the group if they wanted to invite him to the after party. At this after party everything was for free, you just paid twenty dollars on the door then everything inside was included. The event was not for profit, just for friends. Then the next day we had one thousand five hundred people in the group!!!
What is the concept?
It is a collective responsibility. We have even started a bar and called it Guys Bar in Moscow.
All the people in the group help each other, it is not just a party but to help in all other situations. For example someone lost their job and wrote to me asking to post in the group about finding new work, and the next day he got a job at Disney!
We help orphans in care homes in Russia. In the west people forget to communicate with each other they don’t care if someone may be in trouble. But here on Koh Phangan we see situations where people help each other. Here it is a big family, a lot of people to help in difficult periods, not just when you are having fun. People have a feeling of responsibility for others who are part of ‘Phangan Family’, just don’t make any shit in life. It is a very private membership and it’s a sign you are a good person with an open mind.
What events have you done here or in Moscow so far?
One of our last was with David Chong. It was just outside of Moscow in the forest by the river, open air and all day and night. At 10pm a boat came with four hundred people and we partied on the boat as well with David Chong as headliner alongside local Dj’s. David Chong was enjoying it so much he said ‘Can I stay and play one more set as this is so good!’.
David Chong - “The last party I played in Moscow was organized by Mike and I must say that I was pretty amazed by the quality of it, almost every detail was taken care of, it was the best party I played outside of Phangan for at least a decade. I truly think that only love can achieve such a good result, and I am grateful to have met him and his amazing crew”.
We are getting the Djs from Phangan to come to Moscow.
We also like to help the orphanages but not with money as we don’t know how they spend it. Instead we ask what they want or need, maybe computers for example, go and buy it and also spend time and play with the children, it’s really heart warming.
It is amazing when people, after three or four hours of partying hug each other, it is not just two people but fifty to eighty people hugging at once, touching, smiling and communicating.
I myself have spent the last year, 24/7, organising this community, it is great to meet people and make events. We have already had three weddings in ‘Phangan Family’, one was even held in Guys Bar, Love is in the Air!
What are you planning for Koh Phangan?
I want to make a ‘Phangan Family’ festival, invite all the local people and Djs who play here. But with new music, so it will be at the beginning of next year so a new music for a new year.
We also want to make a film, we have cooperators and a cameracrew and will make a big promo film for Phangan, so more good people come here.
Where do you see ‘Phangan Family’ in five years?
I would like to help create such communities in Israel, Germany, Spain and other countries concerned. Contact me if you are interested. It is difficult to say now what will Phangan family and be confident in this. This project is alive and it develops gradually. We have a rule that we are constantly perfecting and appends the desires of the majority. Important for us, our inner freedom. We ask people and communicate to see what they want and like and also what is disturbing them and try to make life better.
It will be how we want it, if the ‘Phangan Family’ want something we will help, we care.
Mike, when you have free time what do you like to do here?
I like to go swimming at secret beach in Haad Yao because I can jump there!
What is your life philosophy?
I like Buddhism as I have traveled a lot in Asian countries and visited a lot of temples. I asked an old buddhist monk, ‘what am I learning, what can I do here?’ the monk said ‘You have inside energy and you should do what you want to do, and feel you need. You should follow your heart, everything will be good’.
If you are a good person, want to dance and meet good people on the island please come to the ‘Phangan Family’ festival, people who live here can dance for free at the first festival and we will make special loyalty cards for locals also!
First lessons are free of charge.
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