Some might describe you both as former party kids who were active in the fashion and nightlife circles (Choo was also a prominent face in Shanghai’s voguing scene). What led you both to this present, more spiritual stage in life?

Linda Hao (LH): “I see life as a river: It flows endlessly with twists and turns in between. That party kid version of me was an experience I was lucky to have been gifted with during my early 20s. However, as life has evolved with time, I’ve also learnt to grow with its changes. After many years of being in that scene, nothing seemed to satisfy me on a purposeful level. And my physical and mental health were a mess. I had to leave it to tend to my personal wellness and that formed the beginning of my search for a deeper meaning in life.”

Marcus Choo (MC): “I’ve always been drawn to esoteric stuff – from watching Charmed and wishing I had the magical powers of its main characters to going to Fu Lu Shou Complex to have my aura photo taken. I even had a hippie phase in my late teenage years, when I permed my hair into an afro and wore Rastafarian hats. Then I picked up Ashtanga yoga, initially with the intention of getting a nice body and to be more flexible, but slowly, it started to become a mental practice too. I went on a Vipassana meditation retreat in Nepal in 2017 and it changed my life. I moved to Shanghai after and worked as a fashion stylist, but throughout, I stuck by the yoga and meditation practices, so I’d say my spiritual side has always been there.”

Marcus, how did you land on Koh Phangan?

MC: “I was ready to get out of China last year after many rounds of lockdowns. My good friend and housemate Miyavi asked if I wanted to move to Koh Phangan with her. At that time, Linda was already living here. Linda and I know each other way back from our partying days and she was also one of my first teachers of spirituality. It felt like the universe was sending me a sign. I had enough of the rat race and city environment, and wanted to switch to a more primitive, island kind of life.”

Describe life on Koh Phangan.

LH: “It’s very different from that in Singapore. The first lesson I learnt was accepting how privileged we are living in a city like Singapore. On the island, we constantly have electrical and water supply shortages. Resources are limited, but we’ve learnt to appreciate everything around us with much more gratitude and self-contentment. The Thai culture here has taught me the simple happiness of living with what I have, not what I want.

Secondly, life here depends a lot on self-sufficiency. There’s not much advanced technology and everyone learns to take care of themselves. Most people are very down-to-earth and have good relations with the local village. Without many closed walls and doors, we’re free to connect closer with and take care of one another.”

MC: “In Singapore, people put too much focus on money, often at the expense of their physical and mental well-being. There’s a huge lack of awareness of the divine nature around and within us. When you’re so busy chasing material things, you tend to forget to live in the present. Being on Koh Phangan, I’ve learnt to be more mindful of my steps, my breathing, the food I take in and every word that comes out of me. We’re all beings made out of energy. When you maintain a good balance in all aspects of your life and have good energy, disease will never find you.”

What’s a normal day for you like here?

LH: “Every day is a new day on the island. Normally, I wake up around 7am or 8am and start my morning very slowly with some tea and meditation. Depending on the tasks of the day, I continue with a yoga practice or work in the garden, tending to plants and animals; clean the house; and prepare the kitchen for a new day of cooking. I like to spend the daytime visiting the morning market, connecting with the locals and getting fresh produce.

Sometimes, it’s just a fresh salad with fruits and greens, and other times, it’s a big lunch with creative recipes I’m testing out. Nothing is fixed. When I’m not working on Omm Home, I like to spend my time on pottery, which sees time slow down completely. That’s when I feel most creative and free. Other times, I’d hide out in a waterfall or at a private beach, where I like to read, journal, swim, play music with friends, explore new places and simply relax in nature.”

MC: “Unless I had a late night, I try to wake up by 8am and go for yoga sessions, meditation or occasionally, a private class in singing, flute making or whatever else strikes my fancy. After that, I start clearing the work that needs to be done for Omm Home. (Choo is in charge of curating and crafting artisanal apparel and accessories for the brand as part of its expansion since moving to Koh Phangan.) Being our own bosses means we get to decide on our working hours, and we try to not overwork ourselves. For leisure, I enjoy singing and playing instruments in kirtans (song circles), dancing, climbing waterfalls or just enjoying the sunsets on the beaches. It’s sublime.”

Do you miss anything about your former “city lives”?

LH: “No. The past has been long gone and it’s all a part of a greater transformation that I had to go through in order to move forward and change.”

MC: “I mainly miss my friends. They know me intimately and they’re so much fun to be around.”

Tell us more about what Omm Home offers now.

LH: “There are now three main pillars to Omm Home. The Kitchen is where we create nourishment through private dining experiences (led by Hao, using fresh produce from her garden or sourced from the market). Yoga is where we connect through retreats and workshops and where participants can meditate.

(For those interested in participating, Omm Home is collaborating with fellow mindful experience provider Wide Awake to co-host a retreat at nearby Koh Samui from June 25 – 29 – more details here.)

And then there’s Shop, a collective retail space where we support individual artists and craft makers in our community of networks locally and regionally, and offer a very limited selection of their handmade creations… Omm Home is where I first started my self-healing journey after relocating from Singapore to Johor Bahru in 2016. It has been simmering and cooking since. Our doors are always open to those who seek. The intention is simply to create and share a safe space for others to heal, connect and find refuge for peace.”

Share a bit more about who does what at Omm Home.

MC: “Linda is more the brains and I, the brawn. She’s in charge of the kitchen and I’m in charge of the shop, but we discuss everything together. Check out Human Design (a new age practice that combines various beliefs such as the chakra system, astrology, genetics and more to break down how a person is wired to make decisions in the workplace, in relationships and so on) if you haven’t already. It’s great for knowing what role you’d play best in a company. Linda’s a Projector (people said to be able to see and understand others on a deeper level) and I’m a Manifesting Generator (people thought to be good at multitasking). We meld really well together as a whole.”

What do you hope people take away from an Omm Home experience?

LH: “A greater sense of compassion and mindfulness; sustainable ways to live; inspiration for creativity; the courage to dream; and an awakening of new perspectives to life.”

The interview has been edited for clarity and brevity

A version of this article first appeared in the June 2023 Time, Labour, Love Edition of FEMALE