Party in Haad Rin, out of Full Moon

Many first timers to Koh Phangan will only know Haad Rin as the site of the famous Full Moon parties every month and think maybe it’s not worth going there out of Full Moon time. Well the truth is the party never stops and no matter when you go you can be guaranteed a good night.

The beach bars and clubs still organise many different party nights with themes along the same lines like Half Moon and Black Moon parties. Okay, there are not 30,000 party animals on the beach, but it is still a great night, sometimes better.

Plenty of the bars and restaurants are still open 24hours and there is always some kind of entertainment available down at the beach. Fire jugglers, limbo fire performers and a host of other neat acts involving fire, just remember to hang back a little.

Full Moon parties are now more or less the same for me, so I tend to pop over for one of the other moon events. Less crowds, easier to get about without tripping over sleeping bodies, and if you want to get away from the music for a bit of a chill out, you can park your rear in one of the many movie bars and see the latest Hollywood blockbuster.

Getting about on Samui

When staying on Koh Samui you may need to think about how you are going to get about. Obviously if you stay in town there won’t be much need for transport, but if you stay away from the main resorts a little, you may want to consider transport.

Motorbikes or scooters are the most popular form of transport around the island, this is easy to see with just being here five minutes. Locals, expats and tourists all prefer this form of transport to get about and its fine during the day, but what about when you want a drink at night. Many accidents are caused by drunk people at night, Samui has one of the highest death rates due to drink driving.

Samui’s taxi service is renowned for charging a lot of money for short journeys, which unfortunately encourages visitors to drink and drive. With this in mind you may want to think about your transport options and as soon as you arrive try and befriend a local taxi driver. They are not all unreasonable and if you take his or her telephone number at promise to use them every time you need a taxi, a fair rate can usually be accomplished.

Getting about during the day is usually best done on songtaews (a red pick-up truck with two benches running length ways in the rear). They usually have a minimum fare and follow direct marked routes, much like a bus, but you can also charter these, often cheaper than taxis.

Eating cheaply on the island of Koh Samui

Over the years since the first holidaymaker stepped foot on Samui the cost of eating has been slowly going up. In the last five years the cost has been rising a little more rapidly due to expansion of hotels and visitors. There are still plenty of places where you can eat cheaply, you just have to know where to look.

If you are looking for Thai food and at a good price to suit your wallet there is one simple rule, stay away from the hotels and western orientated restaurants. These places tend do the same Thai food you can get down the road, but will charge at three time as much. Look for the little restaurants that are full of local Thais, these will be great value for money.

If your pallet has not yet accustomed to Thai food and you want to stick to western food of burgers and chips there are many places to suit short budgets. Again, avoid the hotels and some of the major restaurants toward the centre of the area you are staying. A short walk and you will be surprised how the cost of a burger can change.

Best excursions in and around Samui

The are many excursions you can take in and around the island of Koh Samui no matter your interests or tastes. Ang Thong National Marine Park is one of the most popular places to visit and it is where the film, The Beach, was set but not filmed, so you can guess what a tropical paradise it is.

Visiting the Big Buddha in Bang Rak is another amazing scene to see and no matter what the weather is like on the island it always appears to be in the sunlight, even on an overcast day. The various wild animal places attracts some naive people who think its fun to watch animals perform tricks, but each to there own.

For those that like snorkeling then there is no better place to head than Koh Tao. You can both opt to stay here for a few days or take a day trip for around 2,000 baht and see some brightly coloured fish in crystal clear waters. Food and refreshments are provided on the journeys, but don’t forget the sun block, you can easily get burnt.

Why the lack of crash helmets on Samui roads?

Now this is a broad subject and it could mean anything from drinking responsibly through to safety of your personal items, but these two can sometimes be linked up. For residents and long term visitors to Koh Samui the issue of wearing a crash helmet while on a motorbike is a hot topic that does stir a reaction.

It is the law in Thailand for any persons riding on a motorbike, driver or passenger, to wear a crash helmet for their own safety. It does make perfect commonsense so why do we see many people, Thai, ex-pat and holidaymakers flouting this law? Because they can! The police will not randomly stop motorists, like they do in the west, and issue them with a fine and say you cannot move that bike until you have a helmet. Instead the police here give random spot checks and issue all those with no helmets a fine, but then let them get back on their bike and ride away.

In my eyes this is crazy for two reasons; why would you want to endanger your life by not wearing a crash helmet? And, why do the police not enforce this simple law? Samui is notorious for motorbike accidents and many people have died, though the accident was not their fault, through not wearing a helmet. Isn’t it about time that there was a campaign to make people wear their helmets? If not for their own sake, then for that of their loved ones that get left behind!

The best beaches of Koh Samui

While being on this little island for the past five years I have gone to almost every single beach round, and for a small place there are so many to choose from. From the beginning the wife and I used to head for busy beaches of Chaweng or Lamai. It was perfect, we could have a little morning sun, and then nip away from that midday sun and have something to eat at one of the restaurants that adorn these two beaches. The only bad bit about them was the beach hawkers every two minutes.

As time has gone on we look for something more, or should I say less, in a beach these days. For the past year we have been looking for new locations with less infrastructure and people. Choeng Mon Beach was good, but with all the new developments around it is quickly becoming busier. The best beach today in my opinion is up past Bang Por and just before the steep hill that takes you up to the Four Seasons Hotel. It is very relaxing and peaceful with just a handful of small Thai restaurants and a cooling breeze. It may be a little bit farther from where I live, but makes for a more enjoyable time.

Six Nations rugby in Samui

For all those Rugby Union fans out there, this month has not come soon enough. It is February and that means the all important RBS 6 Nations rugby tournament played out with six Europeans teams, but where can we watch it? There is such a big choice of venues but you need something to suit your own needs and wants.

The relatively newly opened Bondi Aussie Bar & Grill in Chaweng Beach is got to be one of the hottest places to view the games as they happen. The lovely hosts, Kirk and Jono will surely make your stay a memorable one. If you are in Lamai the Outback Bar is the place to watch the games kick off. They have many screens around the bar so you won’t miss any of the action.

The Sportsman in Chaweng Beach has always been one of my favourite haunts to watch all the live sporting events. They have two huge projector screens that can show different games as well as six individual screens behind the bar so you can keep up with the footie as well as the rugby.

Al the places I have mentioned here all do fantastic British style pub grub of burgers, pies and the likes. Bondi does also have some of the best BBQ ribs on the island, so you might want to head there for a hearty snack.

Where to get a Sunday Roast now PFC has closed down

For those of you that have lived on Koh Samui for a while or are frequent visitors to the island, there is a good chance that you have came across Pompey Nick and the PFC Bar. The English football (Portsmouth FC to be precise) themed bar, on Soi Reggae in Chaweng, was one of my favourite places on a Sunday to have full blown roast dinner and then settle in to the evening’s Premiership with Nick as the host.

Unfortunately the bar has succumbed to the demon and was closed down at the end of last year, leaving many people stuck with somewhere to go for a Sunday Roast. Could there be another Nick on the island that can do a smashing home cooked meal like that and still be the joyous host that he was.

Now I have tried a few others in Chaweng and in the most part nothing is quite as good. Head down to the Beach Road and you will find The Wave, which does a smashing Sunday Roast, every day of the week, which kind of takes away the speciality of eating it. Others that I’ve heard of include the Elephant & Castle in Bangrak and Tropical Murphy’s in Chaweng. Could any of these be a possible substitute for Pompey Nick and his lovely wife Poom?

Nightlife on Samui 2010

If you are heading to Koh Samui you will want to know a little about some of the nightlife that is around the island. There is a right mix of venues you can choose from including some high-end places where the dress code is smart, down to partying the night away on the beach.

One of the most recognised names in party time on Samui is Ark Bar on Chaweng Beach. Apart from having great food from around the world and a menu designed by a top European chef, the night time parties attract only the serious ones among us. Wednesday night is the best time to go with a free buffet and the party starts at 2pm through until two in the morning with live DJs.

Head down to Lamai and the face of clubs has changed in recent years with the closure of the famous Bauhaus Club and its sometimes soapy foam parties. Now you can take in the chilled evening at Beach Republic with some top tunes or head out to Buddy’s on the ring road toward Chaweng and experience one of the most uplifting nights on the island.

There are so many great places to enjoy yourself on the island that you are really be spoilt for choice. If you are planning a trip to a neighbouring resort and want a drink, be sensible and use a taxi. Yes it is not cheap, especially at night, but it is cheaper than what your life is worth.

Samui’s own top ten Asian spa

Ko Samui has long been known for its fantastic and varied spas, and now one of its most prestigious has been named amongst the ten best in Asia.

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary, established by ex-yogi John Stewart and his wife Karina, offers a holistic approach to health and a growing number of celebrity clients are seeking out the resort searching for a spot of inner tranquility. There are nine wellness programs which include emotional balance, healthy lifestyle, wellness a la carte, Asian alchemy and longevity.

And as their retreat is based by a Buddhist monk’s cave it is easy to see why so many well-heeled stars take up this option when fleeing the bright lights of Hollywood. Lush gardens feature seascape views with the white sandy beaches and boulder-dotted ocean bestowing a calming effect. Plus a herbal steam cavern, landscaped plunge and swimming pools, tea lounge plus two dining areas mean every whim is catered for.

 The wellness spa sanctuary features daily classes in yoga, Tai chi and Pilates while the infrared sauna claims to burn 600 calories in half an hour. Weekly rejuvenation and detox program begin at $1940 and include transfers, meals, consultations, daily activities, herbal remedies, five Chi Nei Tsang massages, colonic therapy and five infrared sauna treatments. For more information about spas in Samui.