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Article #42: Koh Samui, a Tropical Paradise

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






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