Monthly Archives: October 2011
Thailand is a splendid country filled with green and fertile lands, white sandy beaches, world heritage sites, Buddhist monasteries and warm reception from the people, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the land of smile. Every corner of the country has something to boast about. Ubon Ratchathani is one such end on…
I’ve been to Koh Samui several times. Normally, I’m just passing through on my way to the much cheaper and less developed island next door, Koh Phangan. Since Koh Samui has an airport it is hard to avoid the place if you want to get to the south of Thailand quickly. Koh Samui is Thailand’s…
I’ve been to Koh Samui several times. Normally, I’m just passing through on my way to the much cheaper and less developed island next door, Koh Phangan. Since Koh Samui has an airport it is hard to avoid the place if you want to get to the south of Thailand quickly.
Koh Samui is Thailand’s second biggest island. In the 1970s and early 1980s Koh Samui was a place that both hippies and package tourists shared. As the prices started going up and the cheap bungalows were pulled down the hirsute brigade largely moved on to pastures less developed.
In the early 2000s I noticed that Koh Samui had entered a new level of development. Once the big supermarkets, good hospitals and international schools were in place, the island sought to tap into the lucrative private residential market. Even big estate agents such CBR Ellis entered the race to sell million dollar villas to foreigners on very shaky legal foundations. The housing market pretty much collapsed after Wall Street imploded in 2008.
When I think about the money involved in Koh Samui I find it hard to reconcile the fact with my most enduring impressions of Koh Samui. The few nights I’ve stayed in Chaweng and Lamai I’ve been disconcerted by how much of a brothel the place is, like parts of Sukhimvit in Bangkok.
Yes, the amenities and facilities are present on Koh Samui. Yes, Koh Samui does have sailing, jazz, historic temples and even an annual marathon but the main tourist hubs are tacky and the taxi drivers infuriating to deal with.
The nicest part of Koh Samui is Bophut. It has a good beach with no road nearby. There are expensive boutique resorts as well as cheaper more ‘Thai’ places to stay. The small town called Fisherman’s Village has retained some of the old Chinese architecture and is gratefully devoid of ‘beer bars’. If you want to stay on Koh Samui I would recommend Bophut over Chaweng and Lamai.
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