Beach Paradise

Ko Samui, an island in southern Thailand, on the east coast, has turned out to be our favourite beach paradise on this trip. We have spent 3 days on Lamai Beach which is located on the south-east coast. Our first bungalow was 100 metres from the beach with a lovely, quiet tropical garden to read and relax in but when their internet system conked out we switched over to an even better spot, a little further down the beach. Our last day and a half have been spent in a bamboo hut on the edge of the beach. It has been difficult to leave the deck with the nice ocean breeze and shade acting as cooling agents. When the mood changes it is a hop, skip and a jump to the ocean for a quick swim. It will be hard to leave this oasis but our beach time has come to an end and it is time to start exploring the local culture again.

The town of Lamai is a 10 minute walk away, either by beach or the road, and we ventured in for two evening meals. Our first trip was for the Night Market and we had a fabulous time. Beyond the hundreds of stalls selling items, there seemed to be an equal number offering up inexpensive and tasty food and drink. We helped support many of the vendors.......$3 rack of bbq pork ribs, $1 bbq squid on a stick, $1 chicken somosas, a large cup of fresh, sliced strawberries ($1) complemented by many $1.50 mojitos. There was also a stage with live music and street performers. It was a wonderful introduction to Ko Samui and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.

On our second evening trip into Lamai we had a wonderful seafood dinner (shark and tuna steaks) while taking a bit more time to notice the "interesting" night behaviours going on around us. Fortunately, we are staying further south down the beach where it is much quieter and the Thai massages are done in the shade on the beach. Rhonda had a 1 hour oil massage yesterday with one of the smiling Thai ladies on the beach a few metres from our bungalow. At $10 an hour she's back for another round today (while I'm stuck writing this blog, and drinking $1 beers).

Later this afternoon we are heading into Bangkok. We will take a sawngthaew (pick-up truck taxi with bench seats) to the pier, then a ferry over to the mainland before getting on an air-con luxury (?) bus which will include an overnight 10 hour trip northbound to Bangkok.