Arriving in the Koh Samui Airport, you immediatly see and feel the difference in culture and a warming friendliness that relaxes your soul.
Quick tip- The Wai , which is a Thai way to greet people ,is an important part of Thai culture. Simply put your hands together and place them on your forhead in a prayer style. This is the common way to say hello, good bye or thank you.
What kind of traveler are you? For about ten bucks you can make your way to the main district of Ko Samui, Chaweng. Its jumping with life ,colors ,smells and beautiful people. The closest thing it could be compared to is South Beach, Miami, but with an Asian twist. Some of Miami's Largest hotels are already there. Amazing food and smells surround you, Tiki torches on the beach at night. Names like Niki Beach Resort and a few other beautiful resorts that have based in Miami are now in the small Island of Koh Samui.
If you're into the comfort and not worried about spending, then you can have a great time in Chaweng or Lamai which are main distrticts in the island that are totally developed. There are pharmacies and 7-11s on every block . But keeping true to the Thai feel, the beaches speak for themselves. Sparkling , crystal blue waters and , especially in Chaweng, music on the beach and friendly expats and locals looking to meet new people. You'll make friends quickly and realize quickly the scene there. Lots of Alcohol , 24/7, musIc and beautiful people.The pursuit of pleasure! Night life spots recommended are Solo Bar on Chaweng Street, The Green Mango, also in Chaweng and the Jungle club in Lamai beach. A word of advice:to avoid problems with the locals, you should avoid the tourist beach dealers. If you come and lay on the beach in the area, you might be quickly hooked up with locals and just be forwarned, use your own judgement and common sense. Some people come into the area and think its anything goes. Not so simple.
Now if you're looking to get off the beaten path, look for the jetti in koh Samui. There are a few, Big Buddha pier is one that comes recommended by the locals. Time for some island hopping. get your ticket for koh Phangan, smaller but much more private and quiet than Samui has become, and take the ferry. About 5 bucks gets you an hour ride on a boat which pays for itself by the views and beauty you'll pass on your way to a new Island. Sometimes, during peak season ( Dec-May) the boat will be packed to the rim. Maybe 300 other travellers of all types, looking for there own small peice of paradise, or on there way to the now world famous " fullmoon festival."
The festival itself attracts about 50,000 people each month. It is simply put, controlled chaos, but regardless of your age or personality type , it's something you must see once in your life. Now you want to make your way either towards the party- which is in Haad Rin beach. Now not so clean but people dancing on the sand from a three day festival still trying to maintain at any given time!, Nice sunset and sunrise music playing 24/7 from local and worldwide known DJs also looking to get away for a bit and share there music with you! What everyone will always love about Haad Rin is there is always a party, whether its Fullmoon , half moon, blackmoon, shiva moon or any reason to get buckets of whiskey to you for about 10 bucks. Sometimes you need a bit of maddness to reset your mind or get into the Island culture.
If you want to move away from the "party" , its time to rent a bike. Go to one of the many bike rental spots next to the Haad rin Pier. Be Forwarned- you exchange your passport for the bikes. If the company seems shady, go online and read some blacklisted companies, you can see that they could extort a few hundred bucks out of you . There are many horror stories but if you respect the bikes and dont drive drunk, you should be OK. Just be careful. The Island is full of twists and turns. Just laying down the bike could cost you,so better be safe than sorry. Average price for a bike is about 6 bucks or 200THB a day.
Make your way to Bantai, a quiet beautiful stretch of beach that will take your breath away. The locals there and businesses are mostly family run in this area. Munchies Resort is one of the best if you want to stay on a budget but get the total experience. You may have to get used to no airconditioner, fan and sunset bugs but you get a cabin which is on the sand, made from bamboo. The beach is right at your feet. Most resorts also require your passport as a down payment. This helps you and the resort. When checking in, no worries about moneies being exchanged, simply order a drink and some food at the bar and it will be put on a tab with your passport. Just make sure to calculate and not overspend. You can settle anytime you feel comfortable, but this system gives you the feeling of family and trust that most people would love. If you want to save money, you can get your own whiskey or beer at a nearby 7-11 by yourself, but nothing beats an icecold Singha on a 95 degree day straight from the tap!
Bantai is known as sunset beach. There you get a beautiful vanilla sky every evening. The ocean breeze gives some refuse to the bustling heat that has acccumulated throughout the day and is a perfect spot for couples or meeting someone new. One thing You'll see very quickly in Ko Phangan is that other travellers and even locals there are very freindly and happy to meet most people. You'll quickly be making your own small group and doing things together. People you meet may be from Romania, Ireland, Bahrain, Canada, The USA or almost any place you can think of on th globe. The blending of cultures and new found friendships is in itself ,an experience. Now want to see some of the most beautiful places on the planet? Take a trip to sunrise beach. There the movie "The Beach" was written. You'll maybe get a chance to see some of the locals who have come from around the world and just never left. It is truely paradise. The posted pics are mostly this beach.
You may need to take a taxi boat ( old Thai fisherman boats) to get to some of the more hidden beaches. They cost about 5 bucks per ride. But just like the big boats, the experience is worth the trip. You'll boat pass beautiful scenic views worth a million words to describe, and maybe make some friends on the ride. As for the beaches, the coral is still there, with every shade of blue and crystal clear waters, and even a floating chill area to relax on about 50 meters out. The water is warm on the surface but cool if you dive down a few feet. Some people working in co-op style businesses and a small town feel . "The essential to budget travel is to approach in advance. When it happens to family trips, globetrotting, well-deserved vacations and/or going to see new places we have never been before, the truth of expense and budgeting is always in the back of our thoughts. Organizing and expending our travel budget correctly is a main concern for most families. Reducing expending and fees, while still savoring your vacation to its fullest, is the key to assured achievement and fiscal liability. Your pocketbook and family will thank you! The thinking regarding protecting money while touring is simple: Even if your personal funds is extremely small, you can still take a break and enjoy life! Simply put, life is just too short to never step out of the door or leaving the homestead! Also thinking about that while traveling, no matter whether on a resources or not, even the smallest of things can all add op to a huge vacation or travel expenses!..". A game of chess by the beach, some incredible Thai food and a professional massage for about 5 bucks an hour! Make sure to stay awake or get up early and dive i the ocean about 7 am for a true sunrise experience.If you spend your money carefully, you will have a great experience.
Let this be the end of the article but the chance and beggining of an adventure for you..there are many more unexplored and unwritten parts of Ko Phangan and Ko Samui.
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