Koh Samui, a Tropical Paradise

Picture an island nestling in the calm, azure blueastride the landmass and takes in the main resorts of
waters of the Gulf of Thailand fringed by coral reefsLamai and Chaweng. Lamai is the smaller of the two
with beaches of powder soft white sand framed byand offers a quieter and perhaps cleaner beach. The
a backdrop of coconut trees, their fronds dancing inlatter caters for, perhaps, a younger and more
the gentle breeze. The palms stretch upward to theenergetic visitor. Further on lies Bangrak is better
central uplands, thick with lush tropical vegetation.known as "Big Buddha Beach" as it takes its name
The coast and lower slopes are awash with coconutfrom the huge Buddha statue at the eastern end of
palms making Koh Samui the 'Coconut Capital ofthe bay. Borphut boasts a trendy fisherman's village,
Thailand'. It is said the island sends 2,000.000much favoured by French tourists and Maenam to
coconuts per month to Bangkok. This green vista isthe north offers spectacular views across to Koh
interspersed occasionally by black granite boulders.Phangan and the Ang Thong Natural Marine Park. This
Some of these rock formations appear to defyarea is much less crowded than the bustling Chaweng
gravity by hanging dramatically against the hillside.and the marginally quieter Lamai. It still retains its
This tropical paradise is called Koh Samui. A 250original Thai flavour. However, to get to grips with
square kilometre rounded island which is about theauthentic 'Samui' you need to rent a car or motorbike
same size as Penang.and take one of the many roads that lead up away
Koh Samui translates from Koh, the Thai word forfrom the coast and into the mountain. As you climb
island, and Samui, which is probably derived from thehigher you come to rubber plantations and hidden
Chinese "saboey" meaning safe harbour. The magicaway villages clustering around paddy fields, still
island first came to the attention of world travellershanging onto a traditional way of life that is far
when it started to crop up in conversation in manyremoved from the tourist dominated hotels, resorts,
of the cheap hotels that then clustered aroundrestaurants and bars that cluster around the coast.
Bangkok's Hualamphong Railway station some 45Samui has over the years developed a reputation as
years ago. It was difficult to get to, requiring specialcentre of complementary medicine offering spas
negotiation with fishermen in Suratthani lying 80designed to detox inhabitants of an overstressed
kilometres across the sea on the mainland. When youglobe. The Health Oasis Resort located adjacent to
reached the island, there was no road and so thosethe unspoiled Bang Po Beach to the west of Maenam
intrepid voyagers hopped from beach to beach byoffers stunning views across to Koh Phangan. Sit in
boat. In the past forty plus years things havethe authentic vegetarian restaurant after six p.m. and
changed hugely.turn your head to the west you will witness
The island is now served by an international airportspectacular sunsets over the islands that comprise
that looks more like a botanical garden than thethe Ang Thong National Park. Health Oasis is unique in
accepted tradition of functional 'air station'. Flightsthat the Thai Department of Health lists it as a
leave hourly for the new Suvarnbhumi Airport intraditional medicine hospital. It specialises in supervised
Bangkok and link the island to additional destinationsdetox and fasting treatments.
such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, PattayaBe sure of this, whatever your tastes Koh Samui will
and Phuket. A 52-kilometre road rings Samui and linksbe able to provide a venue for a holiday that will
all the major towns. Nathon the capital plays host tolinger long in your memory. So if you are planning a
government buildings and banks and serves as onetrip of a lifetime whether it be for tourism or health
of the ferry ports serving the Thai mainland. Thethis magical island is a venue well worth considering.
road skirts the 635-metre mountain that sits centrally