A Tropical Holiday to Koh Samui

I already had made a long journey with Thai Airways flying from Amsterdam to Paris and from there to Bangkok, and then I had to wait again for my final flight with Bangkok Airways to the tropical island Koh Samui, in the southern part of Thailand. The private airport of Bangkok Airways is one of the most beautiful and picturesque that I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of airports. Arriving at this airport is almost like arriving at someone’s private home. As I was very tired I was very glad to see the happy face of Powith a sign with my name on it.
In a luxury limousine my host, The Tong Sai Bay Hotel, picked me up from the airport. In an easy 10-min. drive from the airport we drove through a dark Koh Samui. Along the coast I could see little fishing boats on the sea, but the most beautiful experience was when we entered The Tong Sai Bay. From the main road I saw a big Spanish looking gate, illumined by little lights. As the resort is built upon a hill we drove down to the lobby, from where you overlook a beautiful garden full of palm trees, and, just like the gate, illumined by lights all over the garden. While the soft summer breeze from the sea tinkles my hair, I walk into the lobby where the two most beautiful and gracious Thai lady’s greeted me welcome at The Tong Sai Bay; “Sawadee ka, welcome to The Tong Sai bay Hotel".
After a refreshing welcome drink I was escorted trough the tropical hillside garden to my private Grand Tong Sai Villa. Entering what would be my home for the next 7 days I could not believe what I saw; a beautiful teak wooden house, with a giant living room and adjoining air-conditioned bedroom, both facing the unbelievable big teak wooden terrace, on which is a bathtub and a gazebo. I even had my own private bar, filled up with enough drinks to kill me!

Home sweet home

As I was too tired from traveling I ordered a simple dish to eat at my private terrace. Well, the word simple is something that does not qualify the dinner I was served. A dish with sautéed King Prawns with carrots, mushrooms, onions, celery, and red wine sauce was served together with brown rice and vegetables. After my dinner, when I ordered them to remove the remains of my dinner, they walked in with plate of choice of 5 sweet Thai desserts. On recommendation of the fact that it was mango season I chose mango with sticky rice and coconut cream. Yes, now I know why is also called the land of the tropical fruits.
At the end of this evening I fell asleep on the gazebo while I was watching the moon and stars. But the real breathtaking moment I experienced was when the first light of the rising sun and the sound of birds gave me a wake up call to tell me that the beautiful creation of Mother Nature was waiting for me. So after a bath in morning light I walked to the restaurant to have breakfast. As I was one of the first guests I had a nice talk with one of the waiters, who invited me to watch the offering to the spirit house before I had breakfast.
By good Thai tradition every piece of land with a house has a spirit house to invite the spirits in there instead of into the real house. With a little walk and climbing on top of a little hill on the other side of the bay there is platform with three wooden spirits houses. And every morning you can see Thai people offering food, drinks and flowers to the spirits. Besides this beautiful event to watch the offering, from this point I had a beautiful view over the Gulf of Siam, and could even overlook the next bay behind the Tong Sai bay.
Now it was time to enjoy my breakfast. With all the choices at the buffet breakfast I chose the continental breakfast, with freshly baked bread, marmalade and a real British cup of tea, and this all was completed with a mixture of fresh mango, pineapple, watermelon and papaya. This was a great start for my first day at Koh Samui, better than I could ever imagine. After I refreshed myself I had the time to walk around the resort. From my villa I walked down to the beach where there is Floyd’s Beach Bistro and even a bar right on the beach. When I was walking on this private beach I realized for the first time the peace and quiet of the surroundings. No jet ski’s or any people trying to sell you all kind of things, no shouting or yelling people. I finally found mysef a place to relax and become one with nature; no pollution in the air, a beautiful blue sea before me, and a fruit cocktail in my hand. Does paradise really exists on earth?

Around on the island

After some leisure at the beach, and swimming in the fresh seawater filled swimming pool, I decided to have a look around on the island. As the hotel provides cars and motorbikes for rent, it’s quite easy to get around the island. I took a small motorbike, a brand new Honda Dream. Leaving the gate of the hotel I luckily did not forget to drive on the right side of the road: Left!
As the hotel is situated between Chaweng beach and Bo Phut I had the choice of both, but as I did not know my way around I ended up going to Chaweng beach. This is a long white sand beach, with a long stretch of road behind it full of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, banks, supermarkets and all kind of little shops. As I’m not the kind of person to like crowded places I drove on to Lamai beach, which is a bit similar to Chaweng but not yet that developed. From Lamai I took the “highway” back to Chaweng and after that to Bo Phut. This is partly still a real Thai village with a few hotels and guesthouses.
At The Lodge, an 8-room hotel, I had a nice but simple Thai lunch. Being tired of driving all day I took my way back to The Tong Sai Bay Hotel. That evening I was invited by the owner Khun Akorn to have dinner with him at one of the three restaurants; he chose "The Butler’s".
It’s a small restaurant with only 20 seats, but serves great fusion dishes. As usual for Khun Akorn he also invited some of the staff and a cook to have dinner with us. So for the first time in my life I had the opportunity to dine the Thai way. As it is not normal for Thais to eat appetizers and main-dishes, all kind of dishes are served at the same time, and everyone joins in eating all the food together. In this way everyone gets a bite of everything.
When I woke up the next day, this time not in the gazebo but in a super king-sized bed, I experienced that my muscles were not fit for a day motor biking. When I told this to my host they brought me to one of the hotel’s masseuses, to give me a refining and refreshing traditional Thai massage. After a massage of one hour I felt reborn again. Continual living like this gave me the energy and opportunity to explore the full culture and nightlife of Koh Samui.
In the following day’s I made a jungle trek, an elephant ride, watched a traditional Thai dance and went to the nightlife of Chaweng beach. After seven days in heaven at The Tong Sai Bay Hotel I had started to love all the people who took care of me in the past days, but not only the people, also the beautiful place, The Tong Sai bay, and the tropical island Koh Samui, where everybody seems to be happy. Where white beaches are waiting to be found, where having dinner is a joyful experience, and a smile always awaits you. And even not having left yet I was almost missing my tropical hideaway The Tong Sai Bay Hotel and all the friendly and loving Thai people.
With sweet dreams in my mind I left the airport of Koh Samui, looking through the window of the airplane, as we were to take off. To see the last glimpse of my beloved island Koh Samui and knowing some of those little lights down under me should be the lights of The Tong Sai Bay Hotel.

Epilog: Khun Akorn died of cancer in the spring following, but his dream of The Tong Sai Bay is kept alive and shaped for a golden future by his wife and his son Khun Kob. Chokdee Khun Kob!

Chang Noi