Koh Samui 2016

Day 1 Sat, 30.07.:

We arrived in Koh Samui in the late evening of 30 July, after waiting for hours in Bangkok due to technical issues with our plane. The airport information wasn't ... Our hotel Prana****, in Bo Phut was nice. Took a stroll down to Gold Sky Thai restaurant, a very simple place with amazing food and Isabelle enjoyed her first real Thai Pad Thai and Papaya Salad.

Day 2 Sund, 31.07.:

Busy day; firstly we trudged to Big unimpressive Buddha after a stern warning from the oh so holy monk that shoulders should be covered. His mouth should have been. 

Took tuktuk back to hotel to get Isabelle's and Allan's bikini. Then we headed to Chaweng by using the same so-called tuktuk (which is really a copy of the Philippines's jeepney). At Chaweng we discovered that we were a teensy bit hungry, so we went hunting down some food at Top market. Then off to Chaweng beach, Isabelle was pleased to discover her dream beach (of course Allan wrote this bit here). No, as a matter of fact, the beach was pretty, but not impressively so since the water was spoiled by Jetskies, leaving a yellow hue behind. We had a disappointing sad happy hour meal at a restaurant called Astors (or so) at Chaweng. Typical tourist trap.

Day 3 Mon, 01.08.: 

The hotel's breakfast buffet offers a splendid choice of things.

After stuffing our faces, we rented a bike in Bo Phut for 200 Baht a day and flew to Fisherman's Village and picked up a bit of sunburn then headed to Mae Nam but took a wrong turn and ended up going in exactly the opposite direction to Lamai instead. Luckily as it turned out because we found, going along a quiet road, the most delightful little restaurant where we discovered the joys of winning the lottery. A sweet, if somewhat chatty, owner of My Thai Food gave us free drinks and 2 free incredibly fine veggie (no Allan, actually pork) soups to celebrate her win. Then on the bikes again to Lamai town for a massage (me full body, Isa foot). Then, on our way back home, a short stop a little bit outside of Chaweng at a Thai night market where we bought new flip flops before making our way home to eat Thai sticky rice in our local. 

Day 4 Tue, 02.08.:

On our bikes again, we decided to try our luck again and this time we finally found our way to Mae Nam. A short stop to eat some yummy Tom Kha Gai in a "Pizzeria" in Mae Nam and after it we discovered a nice little patch at Mae Nams beach. The beach here is peacefully quiet, but again, very murky water and unlike in Chaweng, rather grainy sand. Nevertheless, we really enjoyed ourselves there, far from all trouble and noise. It got a little bit later than we thought it would and we could only make our way to Nathon (instead of going to the Hin-Lad waterfall which supposedly was nearby). We tried to find the Wat Chaeng temple and also failed to do this. Frustration was considerable when we turned around - but we were totally over the moon when we discovered a place called Happy Buffet (Nathon), a restaurant only frequented by Thai people. Here we enjoyed our first fondue chinoise Thai style.

Day 5 Wed, 03.08.:

Today Isabelle was really exhausted due to the onset of a cold. Allan went out to obtain some medis and let her sleep. At about 2, we left the hotel and set out for the Wat Plai Laem temple, located near Big Buddha. Wat (notice the pun) an impressive landmark! Shiny statue of a 18-armed being of enlightenment and a well-nutrioned Buddha. Jumped on the bike again and hit the road to Hin-Ta and Hin-Yai at the very end of Lamai. These are the stone formations that look like genitals. Felt a bit silly to come all the way to see a stone penis, but got compensated by the fact that the little town surrounding  the cock is picturesque . Got first souvenirs and wanted to feed some hungry looking cats there, bought some cat food in 7 11, but unfriendly hungry kittens had dissappared by the time we returned. Back home and ate some Papaya Salad and Pad Kra Pao (minced chicken with basil) as well as Tom Yum Gung soup at our favourite restaurant Gold Sky. 

 Day 6 Thur, 04.08.:

Another day on the road. We took the bike down to Wat Kiri Wongkaram to see the 'other' mummified monk, on the other side of the island. Then a quick satay before we were pointed in the wrong direction to the delicious Magic Alambic Rum Distillery. Wanted to see the butterfly farm so asked for directons. Then pointed once again in the false direction before we figured it out by ourselves and spent a little while admiring the 4 different types of butterfly. 

The home again after quickly nipping into Big C for supplies. In the evening we were on a mission to discover new food. Isabelle a Laam Gai and me some strange drab soup (Suki Yaki) and the ever present Papaya salad.