Koh Samui, Thailand (29/5/07 - 1/6/07)

Koh Samui had been a destination I'd wanted to visit for a few years. We stepped off the ferry feeling worse for wear but excited by a relaxing few days ahead. Before off-loading our gear at the Bungalow, we went for lunch at an elephant park. There was a baby elephant and 3 adults. All of them had steel shackles on one foot. The baby was particularly frustrated by the chain as it reached out for food from us. It could get to just within touching distance of the trunk.

After lunch, we found a waterfall were we could 'shower'. A great way to start the day.

The Shambala Bungalow's were fairly simple but all that was needed. The weather was almost too warm and humid but made the beach on our doorstep even more enticing. In the afternoon, we visited a few temples and more buddha's, one of which included a dead monk that had been preserved for many years. Apparently, the guy used to meditate for days on end and it is believed that is why his body has not deteriated too much.

On the way to another site, we passed an accident where the body of a motorcyclist was left in the middle of the road - blood and guts in full view. Without a doubt it would have to be the most graphic scene I've ever witnessed. We all agreed that would never be handled so poorly in Australia. Maybe they're used to high death rates on the road.

Next of the list was 'grandpa and grandma rocks'. So called for obvious reasons.

Squezzing a lot into the day, we went to a Muay Thai meet. There were 10 fights for the evening, ranging from kids that would have to be 12 years old to grown men. I was amazed at the raw violence but also discipline and respect amoungst the fighters. At the conclusion of one fight, a Japanese fighter that lost was crying. We're not sure if it was due to lost pride or pain. (As pycho as it was, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Canada is even more hardcore - only seen it on TV though).
The 30th was our relaxation day on Chawang Beach. This is where you'd typically see photos of Koh Samui. It was a nice beach but I was expecting just a little more. My standards must be getting fairly high.

I can never sit on my arse for too long so later in the day, I needed some adrenaline. I hired a 1600cc jetski. I'd been on a few jetski's before but this one is definitely the most powerful. I got the machine to 65 km/hr. It was impossible to make any turns at that speed, so I would have to let go of the accelorator to go into a turn. And in doing so, I almost went AOT from the craft slowing so much in the water. But if you don't fall off at least once, you're not going fast enough - and I did fall off once. Brilliant fun!

At night, we went for yet another swim at our 'own beach'. Another Australia bloke, Mike, was trying backflips on the sand. He could do them well and I'd always wanted to do them at a moments call. So with a bit of coaching, I tried a few and kinda landed one. My body was turning sideways a little as I was sh!tting myself midair. I know how to do it in theory, it's just a question of mind over matter for me. One day I hope to be able to do them on the street or anywhere else.

On the 31st, we were due to leave Koh Samui. However, a full moon party was being held on the 1st of June on Koh Phangnan - a 30 minute speed boat ride away. I wasn't quite finished with Koh Samui and heard so much about the full moons parties that I decided to stay and leave the group for a few days. Another girl, Bec, decided to stay aswell. The group had to get up early to catch the ferry back to the mainland and bus to a national park. After a sleep-in, Bec and I headed for a ride on an elephant. Later we returned to Chawang Beach for some dinner on the beach. By this time, Bec was starting to be a bit annoying and I was worried about my decision to party with her the next night.

I was extremely excited by the idea of catching a speedboat to a naturally beautiful place with heaps of fellow partiers. Just before leaving Australia, I watched 'The Beach' with Leonardo. I don't normally like Leonardo but the concept of the movie was fantastic. He finds a map for a secluded island with a community of people living seperate from the rest of the world. The island is said to be off Koh Phangnan, within swimming distance if you believe the movie. I looked around in the dark to see if I could find the island as the 3 times 225 horsepower engines propelled us along the water.

When we stepped off the boat, I could feel the excitment in the atmosphere as I grabbed my first 'bucket of booze'. Lots of stalls sold a little sand bucket with a hip flask of spirits, mixer and ice. I went for a red bull and vodka. What a great idea!

We got into the spirit of things by getting tattoos painted on our arms. I was becoming even more patriotic than normal and got the Australian flag on one arm and some crazy design on the other. Walking down the other end of the beach, we came across fire dancers.

It was a decent setup - clean beach, nice temperature, booze, thousands of people ready to party but I wasn't fully getting into the mood like I normally do. I thought to myself that it was mainly because of the company I was with at the time. If only a few good mates could be here to cut loose with me.

We caught the 2nd-to-last boat back to Koh Samui in the early hours and managed one hour sleep at the Bungalow before we had to begin our journey to meet the tour group again.


Return rating: 7