Thailand. Review on Thailand, General

Koh Samui known as “Coconut Island” is one of those romantic places which cater to couples whether they’ve been married 24 hours or 24 years. This beautiful exotic island in the Gulf of Thailand remains relatively untouched compared to other Thai islands such as Phuket and Pattaya.

Koh Samui is only 21 kilometers wide at its widest point and 25 at its longest. Its hinterland consists of forested hills of limestone and granite and the shoreline is made up of countless palm-fringed beaches and bays.

The best beaches are at Chaweng and Lamai on the East Coast where you can find a wide choice of accommodation, ranging from 5 Star Hotels to budget bungalows that were there years ago when Koh Samui was a backpacker’s refuge. For more privacy, head to the Baan Taling Nigam beach, where you will bask alone on a private beach. The newly opened Royal Meridien, the most luxurious hotel on the island, is here.

If you don’t want to spend all your holiday lounging on the beach, then Samui is remarkably easy to get around. A round trip by car can be done in about an hour.

Bophut is easily the most charming village on Samui and is made of a single strip of old Chinese shophouses, many converted into restaurants, shops and guest houses. Hua Thanon is a Muslim fishing village, famous for the intricately painted boats docked just offshore from the thriving market. Lipa Noi is a good place to catch the sunset. It is known for its shallow water. You can wade for 200 meters and the water is still not above your waist.

The island’s natural environment is its biggest attraction. If you want to get a bird’s eye view of the jungle, you can take a ‘canopy tour’ which will allow you to travel between treehouses in a harness attached to a high tensile cable. If you prefer to enjoy the scenery without the noise of an engin, then why not travel by elephant? Despite their huge size, elephants are incredibly sure-footed, even on steep and narrow trails and the view is great from their backs, three meters up!

Koh Samui is also famous for its waterfalls. Na Muang I is 18 meters tall while Na Muang II is 80 meters and offers a breathtaking view of the Island.

Beyond Samui lies Ang Thong National Marine Park, a compact archipelago of mostly deserted islands that provided the setting for the film ‘The Beach.’ Kayaking is a great way to explore the caves of this area. It also offers the best diving and clearest waters

With Koh Samui now established as an international spa destination, the island’s health spas offer a wide range of treatments including the famous Thai Herbal Compress Massage. When practiced effectively, a Thai massage relieves aches and pains, relaxes joints and reduces muscle tension. The herbs used in a traditional Thai compress vary and can be mixed in specific ways to deal with certain types of ailments. Special poultices have been created to soothe women’s abdomens both during pregnancy and after childbirth, and a wide range of herbs have now been identified as having their own special beneficial properties.

Getting There

Bangkok Airlines is the only Thai domestic airline flying into Koh Samui. Flying time from Bangkok is 80 minutes. There are, however, direct flights to Koh Samui from both Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. When leaving Samui Airport, be prepared to pay 400b tax for domestic, and 500B for international, flights.

How to Get Around

Covered red pick-up trucks called songthaews serve as local buses during the day. Destinations are clearly marked in English on the fronts of vehicles.

Yellow-metered taxis can be found but it’s virtually impossible to get drivers to turn on their meters and prices can be high so you must negotiate a reasonable fare before departing.

Motorbike rentals are enormously popular with visitors but don’t forget that motorcyclists are much more vulnerable than other road users and motorbikes do not come insured so you will be held responsible for anything that happens in an accident.

Where to Stay

Baan Haad Ngam, a superb boutique resort, combines the finest traditions of Thai architecture with an unspoiled beachfront setting.

Where to Eat

Poppies on Beach Road, south Chaweng. One of the best restaurants on the island offering delicious, imaginative cuisine in a regal romantic ambience.

The Cliff located on 4169 between Chaweng and Lamai. It offers a stunning sea view with such specialties as the Portuguese piri piri chicken and Goan curried prawns.

Chez Andy specializes in Swiss food and offers the best steak on the Island.

Olivio at the Baan Haad Ngam Resort offers its customers modern Italian cuisine such as angel hair pasta with lobster, cream and zucchini, lamb shanks with saffron risotto and an incredible lemon and thyme mousse with honey sauce.

Zico, the newest restaurant in town, offers a churrasqueria gaucho-style barbecue of every variety of meat imaginable.

What to Buy

Designer frames and contact lenses are excellent value on Samui.

CD’s at market stalls are obviously pirated but the quality is often good. DVD’s are more hit-and-miss so ask for a demo if possible. Games and software should also be treated with caution.

For the latest fashion wear, head for Siddharta boutique in South Chaweng.

Coconut-wood carvings unique to Samui can be found at stalls at Hin Ta and Hin Yai

And of course, Thailand’s famous silk remains a perennial favorite — but don’t be tempted by incredible bargains, especially at market stalls, even if the label does claim 100 percent silk.