KO SAMUI - lives up to itself.

Ko Samui, the very vowels & sound of Samui exudes exotic. Ko Samui conjures up images of palm trees, coconut cocktails & soft-sanded beaches. And Ko Samui lives up to itself. It is the ultimate holiday, Ko Samui caters for everyone. Gratifying those who demand 5 star studded luxury with hot & cold running servants, to those in search of bare-arsed hippy hammock style accomodation. Ko Samui also offers the opportunity to escape & retreat away from the intensity of the every-day, into the peace of a Buddhist meditation retreat. Or rest & recover in a health retreat, idulging in treatments to beautify the skin or cleanse the colon.

Flights directly on to the island of Samui are possible with Bangkok Air or most people travel by ferry from Surat Thani on the mainland of Thailand.  Ko Phangnan is another famous island further north in the Gulf of Thailand & Ko Tao is further north again. All beautiful in their own unique way & all easily accessible by ferry.

 Nathon Town is the main jumping off point on Ko Samui, from there it's by taxi or sangtheow to all beaches & hill-side retreats. Chaweng Beach is the main beach where all the action is. Crystal clear water & swaying palms offer quiet respite after a noisy night of music & buckets of your choice of beverage. A vast variety of water sports lure those lying on their 'pay by the day' beach-side banana lounges. Sizzling restaurants & Muay Thai boxing combined, create unique entertainment. The tiki torches light up at sunset & $3 happy-hour cocktails kick off the night again.
 

Day spas are extremely affordable. I treated my self to a half-day splurge around the corner in laid-back Lamai Beach. It cost 1000 baht (about $30) and I was treated to a half hour steam, then mud-packed, scrubbed & washed off then wrapped with soothing aloe vera, rinsed again & then a warm oil massge. Finished with a lovely cup of herbal tea & tropical fruits.
 Lamai Beach has lovely streets for walking & shopping and a quiet drink.

Ko Samui is about 25km wide so it's easy to tuk tuk to other beaches. Ko Samui is next to the Ang Thong Marine Park which was popularised in the book 'The Beach'. Though ironically it was filmed on the other side of the Thai Peninsula near Koh Phi Phi.

Fresh seafood & Asian delicacies such as Birds Nest Soup are served from the hundreds of restaurants, there is no such thing as a bad Thai restaurant. Cooking classes are also available, cost around $30 for the day & a banquet of more dishes than you can possibly eat.

The island also rises to a height of 600m so there are picturesque waterfalls inland amongst the dense jungle. Ko Samui is rarely affected by the monsoons and is considered dry compared to other Thai islands.
 Ko Samui can be crowded or quiet, it's whatever you are looking for. Never disappointing & always an unforgettable & holiday.

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