Afternoon stroll at Bang Po beach , Koh Samui
From the depths of hungry despair at the health camp to the heady heights of delicious sunsets up on the hill at Code Samui, my time on the beautiful island of Koh Samul has been a roller coaster. I didn’t expect to fall in love with it the way that i have, it took me by surprise in winning over my heart. I hadn’t done all that much research into the island as my primary reason for coming was to detox and then chill out and then retreat for a few days somewhere luxurious and beautiful. I hadn’t factored anything else in, and you don’t really need to in all honesty. There is not a lot to do here, what they do have sights wise you can pretty much get round in a day or maybe two with a scooter or car. Unless you want to participate in some of the more synthetic things that have been created to keep backpackers busy like the gun range and spy games etc. then the world is your oyster!
I am happy to admit that my perception of Koh Samui before i arrived was that the synthetic things were all that is here. But i was so wrong, there are some very built up areas like Lamai and Chaweng. Which unless you really need to shop for something in particular or fancy a night out on the buckets of cocktails are best avoided. But there are some absolute treasures of locations as well. Mae Nam is just up the road from Chaweng (everything is just up the road from everywhere really here to be fair!) and is the first in a series of smaller more grown up villages and small towns that you can really retreat into.
Simple pleasures at Code Samui, Bang Po, Koh Samui
Code Samui is in the midst of this stretch, and had everything that i could possibly have needed to stay in a happy little sun bubble forever to be honest! Sharp and simple design, immaculately kept and surprisingly complimentary to it’s surroundings. It doesn’t seem like it would work at first glance, a big white box in the luscious green hillside. But a lot of care and attention has been put into the details in this place and it shows. The building works with what nature throws at it, the rains wash off it, and down into the hillside. The sunrise and sunset…I can’t even start to describe. The pictures will do that for me. Even when the weather was bad in my first couple of days, the vista is such that i could see it curling and moving and tackling the surrounding islands from the comfort of my own private balcony. Or from behind the panoramic sliding doors when the rain started coming in sideways!
Sunset at Haad Bang Po, with the ubiquitous stray dog on the beach!
The details flow through other areas as well, and i have been thoroughly spoilt this week. From the beach bags and brollies to keep me motoring through all weather. The free shuttle to and from the hotel down to the beach or local area if you wanted to go further afield for a small fee. To the assistance with transport, tours, trips to the pharmacy and advice on where to eat. I even got a couple of free spa treatments for booking direct, which was much needed after my day trip to Anthong marine park. I was getting too comfortable, as much as i loved it there i needed to leave. It’s beautiful, but it’s too easy i need to explore somewhere new and keep going on my journey.
This begs the question where next? I was going to do some island hoping in Thailand, as that’s what people do right? Well it’s not for me. I love a beautiful beach, i need other things to do as well and i am sure the benefits would be more bountiful if i was travelling with a partner. However i’m not and i like take in more that just scenery when i am exploring which is why i am going to head back up north to Kanchanaburi to experience The Bridge on the River Kwai and Hellfire Pass. As well as spend a night in a floating hotel. There is some very rich local and British history to be learnt and the food… it’ve heard it’s good!
For now a couple of last meals in Koh Samui… My office view today has been rather more inspiring than my back garden or
My office at Bang Po beach, Sweet and sour snacks with an aromatic Thai tea
even Pangers dare i say it! I have been supping on what is apparently the best coffee on the island (I haven’t tried them all so can’t verify this, but what i have had is good!) and some snacks from the very accommodating lady that runs it. The most delicious sweet and sour chicken, with big crunchy chunks of celery, carrot, spring onion, cucumber and onion only very lightly cooked (Nanny would hate it!) wrapped up in a very delicate sweet and sour sauce that has the lightest kick of chilli to it and is dotted with the odd touch of Thai basil. The “holy basil” as i have reliably been told that it’s called that seals the deal for so many Thai dishes. Is used in abundance here and is part of the fresh, local touches that make these dishes so delightful and enjoyable.
I could easily sit and eat endlessly in any Thai restaurant, sampling the local and national dishes. Which vary in a way which is very similar to Italian cuisine. There are some core ingredients that proliferate throughout, ginger, garlic, lemongrass, holy basil and of course chilli! But the way in which they are used and what they accompany changes throughout the regions of the country. Seafood is king here for obvious reasons, and pork seems very popular too (yay!) but i am looking forward to trying some of the meats from further north. Spicy sausage is famous in the northern territories so time to work on my innuendoes again me thinks!
Ciao from a very content Cake Lady x x x
