It is real winter in Sweden right now, and today we are dreaming away to sun and holidays on Koh Samui in Thailand. We previously told you about our journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing in the summer of 2006, and the continuation of that journey took us all the way to the holiday island of Koh Samui, where we spent two weeks with Peter's sons Robin and Billie.
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Koh Samui
Koh Samui is an island on the east coast of Thailand, near the town of Suratthani on the mainland. At 250 square kilometres, it is Thailand's second largest island and home to around 50,000 permanent residents. Today, of course, many tourists also come here. The island is mainly known for its beautiful beaches, but also for waterfalls and swimmable lagoons.
Holidays on Koh Samui
After our trip with Trans-Siberian railway to Beijing we flew to Bangkok, while Peter's sons (10 and 18 years old) flew from Sweden. After exploring Bangkok together, we flew to Koh Samui and the contrast from the big city was palpable! When we landed, we were greeted by an airport with no walls and a single minimal luggage conveyor belt rolling between the palm trees...
Cosy hotel
At a little profit and loss, we had booked a poolside bungalow on the Chaweng Cove Resotel. We had a great time here! Peter and I (Helena) could rest after our adventure trip through Siberia and Mongolia, and Billie was happy to jump and play in the pool. There was also a nice beach right next door. Now it was time for a holiday on Koh Samui!
Sun, swimming and kayaking
There was a lot of sun and swimming during the days, and quite a lot of bowling in the evenings. One day we also decided to rent a kayak. Great!
Moped ride on the island
Rest and pool baths in all honour, but how easy is it to just lie still and take it easy when you have just been on the biggest adventure trip of your life...???? We rented two mops and set off to explore the island! After some research, we focused on a famous Buddha statue and some rock formations that were known for their shape. Apparently they reminded us of something completely different ...
Of course, we needed lunch too, and it was just as well to take advantage of the restaurant "Little Swede" appeared? According to the sign, they served Swedish food, and if you live in Thailand, schnitzel and fries may feel Swedish, what do I know ...?
Djurshower
We also saw a whole bunch of animal shows, with everything from crocodiles to birds of prey. Today you read a lot about how animals are exploited and mistreated in the name of tourism and today we would think differently, but we didn't then. It's great to meet animals, but they probably feel better in the wild.
A few years ago, the major tour operators Ving, TUI and Apollo decided to stop offering elephant rides and animal shows at their destinations. One might wonder if things have changed since then? Do you know how it is with animal shows in Thailand today, and how do you think about this?
Have you experienced holidays on Koh Samui?
Have you also been to Koh Samui or elsewhere in Thailand? Tell us about your experiences!
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Ruth i Virginia says:
It's 1:02 AM in Virginia. Have stayed awake to watch the
gold medal match between OAR and Germany. A draw after
second period. Can't stay awake anymore. BUT -
As always, if I am awake after midnight, I check in on Freedomtravel.
What a great trip you and the guys had!
"Two statues or four?" Perfect start to a Sunday, which promises
only heavy rain clouds. Big smile (before brushing my teeth). Thank you very much!
25 February 2018 - 7:11
Helena says:
There are different times in the US of course ... Here at home our posts are published at 06:00 😉 Tough on you for staying up to watch the match by the way, I almost always fall asleep when I try to watch something late ... 😉
25 February 2018 - 18:09
Kenneth Risberg says:
Yes, in this cold it is easy to dream away to warmer countries more than preparing the motorhome for travelling. Thailand is not completely wrong where I have been a number of times and then mainly diving but also a little adventure on a motorbike from Ao Nang to Koh Lanta through villages where there were no tourists and the food was not suitable for tourists.
Koh Samui looks nice, maybe next time if it is Thailand again.
25 February 2018 - 8:53
Helena says:
Koh Samui was nice and we enjoyed the hotel by the beach. However, we must say that it was very touristy. If we were to go back, I would probably still try to find a slightly less touristy place. Then again, Koh Samui is a large island, so it can certainly be different in different parts of the island as well.
25 February 2018 - 18:10
Åke Hammarbäck says:
Yes, backpackers often found it but the island was not so developed with hotels in the early 90s, but it was cosy to stay in simple bungalows on the beach. We celebrated both Christmas and New Year there. Quiet and lovely but good food and fun people to socialise with. ☺️
25 February 2018 - 9:15
Helena says:
Interesting to have been here in the 90s! I can imagine that it was a bit different then... When we were here in 2006 it was very touristy, and I don't think it has become less touristy now. But the beaches were nice and the people friendly! 🙂
25 February 2018 - 18:11
Lena i Wales says:
Never been to Thailand, but there seems to be a lot to experience there.
I realise that many people in Sweden are tired of winter now, so a few summer weather pictures will cheer them up.
Wishing you a great Sunday from a cloudy Spain!
25 February 2018 - 9:34
Helena says:
Right now we have a really nice winter with sun and snow. But you start to get tired of the cold anyway and long for some warmth ... Have a nice time in Spain!
25 February 2018 - 18:12
Rolle o Carina says:
We have never been to Thailand, whether you like it or not!
Take care.....
25 February 2018 - 11:26
Helena says:
I imagine it is different in different parts of the country too... But of course there are many other interesting destinations too! 🙂
25 February 2018 - 18:13
Lena - gott för själen says:
Speaking of animals in Thailand... I'm reminded of the time I was walking on a pavement in the centre of Bangkok, looking down in concentration so as not to step sideways into all those holes. When I lifted my eyes, I looked straight into a pair of elephant eyes. I thought it was a bit funny and charming then, but now I would find it insanely boring. Poor elephant!
Hug Lena
25 February 2018 - 14:41
Helena says:
I think I've become a bit more conscious over time. I like animals and if I really saw an animal being hurt I thought it was terrible, but I didn't think of the industry as such in the same way as I do now. Animals are amazing and often charming, but you don't want to contribute to their mistreatment ...
25 February 2018 - 18:14
Husisblogg says:
Koh Samui, this special little airport. The owners remember it like yesterday when they were standing in that little "hut" waiting for their bags. They came to Koh Samui on a colourful domestic plane.
The owners thought it was really nice to see your photos, because many of them are in the owners' albums.
25 February 2018 - 15:24
Helena says:
The airport is really wonderful! It is probably the most charming airport we have ever seen! 🙂 Funny if we maybe brought back some nice memories! At least we did for ourselves 😉.
25 February 2018 - 18:16
BP says:
I probably laughed the most at a certain imaginative shape and the funny petrol station that I first thought was a beer bar. Unfortunately, animal shows have always existed even in Gran Canaria and Tenerife. I am against such shows, as the animals are drugged to the max. Saw a documentary on BBC about it and how English organisations try to save the animals by paying a good amount of money to the owners. I think this is a good initiative.
I have not been to Thailand and strangely enough, I do not want to go there either. However, I can't explain why.
25 February 2018 - 16:17
Helena says:
I must admit that I was not so aware of the possible treatment of animals for different shows. Now I would think differently. You don't want to contribute to them being treated badly in any way ...
25 February 2018 - 18:20
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
It's encouraging that more travel companies are rejecting animal exploitation. Unfortunately, there are still colourful brochures where organizers offer, among other things, elephant transport up to Amber Fort, but it is only to be hoped that we travellers become so aware that no one bites.
Thailand has a place in many people's hearts, but for some reason we haven't longed to go there, but who knows?
25 February 2018 - 17:08
Helena says:
It feels like awareness of the impact on animals has become quite high in Sweden. I have no idea if it is the same in other countries though.
25 February 2018 - 18:21
Marina says:
I went to Samui with my daughter and it was a very positive surprise. We stayed in a small hotel with small houses by the beach. And the airport was really special. Before we ended up in Singapore, I had never been to Thailand and thought it was absolutely not a country I needed to visit. Now, after having been there a number of times in different places, I have to say that I like the country very much and will definitely make further trips there.
25 February 2018 - 20:11
Helena says:
Glad that you were on Samui and that you found a cosy place! I can imagine that there are many nice places to discover in Thailand. At the same time, there are many other things that attract us as well 😉.
26 February 2018 - 12:32
Travelsis says:
We both have been to Thailand, both many and long stays. We have our favourites. Mine is Koh Mook (may be because it's an adorable island and I got married there). Koh Samui I was in 1994, a lovely island! / Pernilla
26 February 2018 - 0:06
Helena says:
How wonderful to get married on an island in Thailand! 🙂
26 February 2018 - 12:33
Kjell/Dessan says:
We have never been to Thailand. But of course we long for the warmth nu☺️
26 February 2018 - 7:05
Helena says:
I actually think it's nice now when it's white and cold, but after this cold snap, I'd like to have some warmth 🙂 🙂 .
26 February 2018 - 12:41
Ditte says:
We visited Koh Samui a couple of times while living in China. Smooth travel there and with reasonable travel time. We also got around a bit by both scooter and then some island hopping to Koh Pangan and other islands. The airport there is memorable.
Otherwise, we have been many times in Thailand from 1980 and until 2016, but have our paradise on the mainland and there is not really any tourist invasion. Koh Lanta in the early 80s and likewise Phuket were then rural areas with a few hotels. Many fine small islands still exist today where mass tourism has not reached. That's good!
We are fond of Thailand but avoid the major tourist centres.
Animal shows are not our thing... But I have seen an elephant show once and I could have done without it.
I imagine you had great days on Koh Samui after travelling on the Trans-Siberian and then two big cities on top of that.
26 February 2018 - 10:33
Helena says:
Nice that you have been to Samui! I can imagine that there are many other, less touristy places as well. May see if we come somewhere else in Thailand at some point. There are so many countries that attract 😉.
26 February 2018 - 12:43
Christine - 29° says:
But what a charming airport! Hi, hi! Reminiscent of one of the domestic airports in Costa Rica, but there is not even a conveyor belt. You land, walk off the propeller plant (and when you are also weighed WITH your luggage before takeoff, and if you are lucky, the luggage will also be more) then you walk past a fence and you are there. 🙂
27 February 2018 - 15:42
Anonymous says:
What did I write to you before
How dangerous it is to go to Asia
You have to learn something!
Have a good holiday in Asia if you are going there ! For some of you come home.
03 February 2020 - 8:40