Koh Samui, Thailand

The Diamond Princess navigated across the Gulf of Thailand and found anchorage off the port of Koh Samui (pronounced Ko Sam-moo-ee) in the gulf. This would be a tender port.

Around 6:45 a.m., the ship cleared customs and lifeboats began ferrying passengers ashore. The weather was gorgeous...blue skies, gentle breeze and temperatures hovering 82F (28C).

We were brought to Na Thon Pier, an approximately 3-5 minute walk from Na Thon Town and located on the west coast of Koh Samui island.

Thai long tail boats were docked along the pier full of colorful fishing gear and the morning catch.

  

Improvisation fascinates me and I saw loads of it in the Asian cultures. People displayed all types of ways to transport and tweak vehicles and engines to fit their needs and lifestyle. 

This was the beginning of many, many sightings of "spirit houses" or San Phra Phum. A spirit house sat prominently outside every business establishment, outside every home and Buddhist temple. They came in all sizes and ranged from a simple Thai-style mini-home to a mini palace. The spirit house construction depends on two factors: what kind of spirit is being invited and how much the owner is willing to spend. The purpose is to provide an appealing shelter for the spirits, or celestial beings, who would otherwise reside in heaven. According to folklore, the spirits can be finicky and mischievous and to disappoint one could be disastrous. We saw all types of adornment from incense burners, statues, flowers, scarves and offerings used to keep the spirits happy.

  

The only real town on the island is Na Thon Town so we took a walk to look around. Koh Samui (Koh means "island" in Thai) is a small island in the Gulf Of Thailand and is sometimes referred to without the "h" (Ko Samui). A drive around the entire island would take approximately one hour, barring any delays.  

  

Who has the better smile...I think Frank wins. 

There was a fresh food market and some back streets with old houses. It was still early in the morning so shops and cafes were still closed with just a few beginning to open. I loved the yellow and black dice chairs outside this little market.

Since the island was small, we decided to hire a driver for the day and found one near the pier with a mini van in good shape and roomy enough for us four tourists. It cost us total $80.00 US for the day, including tip.

But before we go on, some important facts about Koh Samui. For starters, the capital is Bangkok located on the mainland of Thailand. The currency is the Thai Baht, made up of 100 satang. The exchange rate at the time was 32.62 Thai Baht to $1 US dollar. The official language is Thai although Chinese, Malay and regional dialects are also spoken. We encountered very little English. The main religion throughout Thailand is Buddhism. A common Thai greeting normally said at any given time of the day is "Sawasdee" and it is very polite to put both palms together in the gesture of "wai" and place them close to your heart. 

Koh Samui is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. It is a haven of sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees. Actually, some have called it the biggest coconut plantation in the world. Until as recent as 1970, life around the island revolved around the coconut and the income it generated. In 1988, Bangkok Airways opened the island's airport and up-market bungalows and resorts began to spring up all along the island's beautiful beaches. The island remains accessible by sea with a large car ferry running continuously from Don Sak (mainland Thailand) to the west coast of Kho Samui and a passenger ferry running between Surat Thani (mainland Thailand) to Na Thon.

The major resort beaches on Koh Samui are Lamai and Chaweng on the east coast of the island. So our driver took us from Na Thon Town (circled in red on the left in the map below) to the Renaissance Koh Samui Resort and Spa (circled in red on the right in the map below), one of the luxury resorts located on Lamai. We wanted to see this famed beach coast and enjoy some of its splendor.

When we walked into the lobby of this Renaissance, we were greeted with smiles, bottles of cold water and little homemade coconut candies. The center of the lobby was a meditation pool with stepping stones across the water. It was so unpretentious, serene and luxurious all at the same time. It was instantly a place of cool, calm beauty.

  

We were given directions to the infinity pool and private beach. The resort sat on the top of a hill and the grounds sloped gently down towards the beach. Along the path outdoors were gardens and traditional, exotic embellishments. Then the scenery opened up before us from sandstone and neutral colors into a blue oasis. It was stunning.

  

  

  

The private lagoon wasn't crowded. The sand was hot from the blazing sun but so soft. The water was so clear and refreshing, both in the pool and in the bay. There was a Thai woman giving a foot massage to a gentlemen in a bathing suit who was laying on a lounge chair underneath a canopy of trees down by the lagoon. I quickly got the impression that this resort delivered an environment of complete relaxation.

  

Great seats near the pool under umbrellas where we ordered from the bar. A pool attendant came by and gave us ice cold towels to refresh with. 

I ordered lunch consisting of chicken, cabbage, fresh cucumbers and green beans with a bean sprout and peanut salad. Delicious. 

As we sat enjoying our afternoon, along came a resort employee carrying a shoulder pole (also known as a milkmaid yoke). The pole is evenly balanced on one shoulder with evenly distributed loads hanging from each end of the pole, in this case baskets. The inside of the baskets were covered in banana leaves and inside that were little glass jars of sweet sticky rice, mangoes and sesame seeds (Kao Neeo Mamuang). It was a treat compliments of the resort. Lyn and I each tried it - it was delicious. 

 

From the pool area, there were stone paths that led into manicured grounds and luscious, green foliage. The stone path was grey pebble rock with carved brick leaves. So I went exploring around the resort.

  

The path led to thatched open air nap huts built along the lagoon with fantastic views of the water. I have never seen such things. The whole resort oozed tranquility, rest and relaxation. They had floor to ceiling glass reading huts too that were air conditioned. All of the huts had floor beds with fresh linens and pillows. One hut had a canopy bed facing the water.   

    

  

  

  

We found our afternoon so calming, the resort so beautiful and the service so welcoming that we ended up staying all afternoon enjoying the amenities. Eventually, we had to get back to the ship so we hailed our driver who was dutifully waiting for us at the resort. He got us back in time for our sail away. We said "until later" to an island so full of charm and beauty in its simplicity. 

Be transported to our next destination (Laem Chabang, Thailand) by clicking on this link: Asia and Australia 2014