"Koh Samui" --- Another Island ---

Do you know that there's ridiculous amount of islands here in South East Asia? Just in Thailand itself, there's Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Coral Island, Krabi, Pattaya Beach, Koh Tao, Koh Samet, Koh Chang, Koh ... Koh... Koh......and more Koh! (Koh=island in Thai). And here, you're looking at the 3rd largest "Koh" called "Samui" in Thailand located at the Gulf of Thailand.

Can anyone understand why islands are always such a big hit as a tourism spot? Everyone, I mean EVERYONE just love being on the gritty beach, in the fishy sea, at the dirt-covered mountain trails, under a skinny coconut tree where a coconut might just fall and hit you flat on the nose... and more bizarrely, their facial expression normally indicates that they're in an oneiric paradise on earth.

Especially in Koh Samui, who would actually want to walk along barefoot/sun bathe/ build sand castle/ play volleyball on this fine white sand? I know the hot-blooded-below-25-year-olds would choose the 'happening' stretch of Chaweng beach to hang out. As for the peace-seekers, you'll catch them at Lamai Beach where they offer small bars and other pampering in a more comfortable style. It doesn't really matter, it's still the same quality of sand that will get stuck under your toe nails...

Then, there's these towering skinny malnourished coconut trees that barely offer any shade for the people who insanely love to bake themselves under the blazing tropical sun. (Someone told me that there's even more of these skinny trees in a plantation that mass produce them for fresh coconut juice. There are even monkeys trained to pick the coconuts too!)

Sunsets are always so much more awesome when one sees it by the water. I think it's because of the reflection from the water, people get blinded not only by the piercing light of the setting sun, but also the perfect symmetrical reflection in the water. Just watch out if you happened to stand by a bridge with a shaky hand rail, we don't want anyone getting too dazzled by the view and fall off.
When night falls, it gets even more romantic with the full moon illuminating a shiny path on the sandy beach. Your heart is quiet and at peace as the soothing sound of waves and soft breeze caresses your cheeks. If this sounds boring, there are always the other choices of clubs, discos, live music, cool bars, and restaurants, they can be easily found at the 'happening' stretch of beach. Just follow the noise.
So when one is done with the night and wakes in the morning, be not surprised to see some bald-headed men clad in orange-robe walking around town. People normally give them food. It's part of the Buddhism culture. It's also good karma for the people who give charity to them. You can give them food too. It's good karma for you.
In water that is crystal clear and turquoise blue at Koh Samui, many people choose to take up a PADI license course to scuba dive there. It's a world famous diving spot with a whole different world underneath for the goggled human to explore. I personally think it's a good choice to learn this sport here. I mean, you'll have better chance to see a shark coming your way in this pristine water condition rather than some murky dark water, right?

Being an island in Thailand, you wouldn't be able to escape seeing these Gods. They're not called Gods for no reasons. Gods are omnipresent and in Thailand, these golden shiny Buddhas are seated everywhere, even at Koh Samui. They even have some mummified bodies of revered monks located at the Buddhism Centre there too.
Koh Samui has been a secret place for only backpackers until now, where it has opened its doors to a wider range of visitors. Yet, how things were back then, fortunately are still the same. I believe it'll be a valuable experience to be culturally enlightened about the happy-laid-back-no-worries-easy-simple life that the smiley people lead over there. We grumpy people from the city could use some of that to lead our lives.

For the adventurous and energy-filled peeps, a good rowing on the canoe works great although it's a "No, thank you" for me as I do not want to yelp whenever I lift my arms after all the rowing. I rather jet ski, ride on the banana boat, para-ski, snorkel, dive, than risking the chance to a comfortable arm stretch in the morning.

If salt water from the sea gets too much into the eyes, there's always the fresh mountain water thundering down some waterfall somewhere in Koh Samui. It's easy to hike up to any of the several waterfalls and have a dip in it. It would definitely be more refreshing than the salty sticky sea water. Be careful of leeches though, unless you want to be kind and feed them your blood. No harm's done.

After the refreshing splashes at the waterfall, a hike further up will bring you to this. There, on the top of the hill, we sit and wait and catch our breath, to see the sun set again. (Be even more careful this time, there's no handrails)

Now I understand why EVERYONE wants to go to an island for a holiday. Especially an island like Koh Samui, there's just so much to do, so much to see. And most of them, if I change my way of seeing things a little, it'll become a wonderful time for me to be there at Koh Samui.

You think you'll like Koh Samui? Let me know when you get back from there!