Paradise Park Farm began life as an aviary but has now extended its wildlife collections so that it now includes donkeys, deer, monkeys and rabbits. The donkeys and deer roam freely. Among the centre’s avian inmates are peacocks and ostriches as well as colourful parrots and macaws. Bi-lingual parrots Mommem and Molly surprise visitors with Thai and English phrases.

The wildlife areas at Paradise Park are separate, but are linked by a network of paths. The paths have lots of rest areas which have been chosen for the views they offer over the translucent waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Neighbouring Koh Phangan is a sight for sore eyes from here.

Paradise Park Farm also has a swimming pool which is a great spot for cooling off after walking around the animal areas. Outdoor tables at the facility’s onsite restaurant have been placed under shade trees. The restaurant is an idyllic place to enjoy Thai or international dishes and refreshing beverages. Paradise Park Farm’s website provides full details of the attractions in this tropical haven.

The magnificent Chinese temple dedicated to the goddess Zhao Mei Kuan Im is a must-visit site for culture buffs. The temple walls feature intricate paintings which depict the life and times of the esteemed goddess. As the festival marking the advent of the Year of the Dragon takes place this weekend, the temple is likely to be busy with ethnic Chinese and visiting Chinese tourists.

Zhao Mei Kuan Im Temple and other Chinese places of worship such as the much older Hainan Temple are the places to observe ancient traditions and dragon dances. Due to the fact Zhao Mei Kuan Im is located on the southwest corner of Samui it is the ideal place to take in vistas of the setting sun and offshore islets.

Some of the magnificent beasts are herded into cages at times, where the more adventurous souls among us can enter and get keepsake photographs taken. On a recent visit, prices were 100 Baht if you used your own camera and 250 Baht if the zoo’s Polaroid was utilised.

The Tiger Zoo is a part of the same complex at the Samui Orchid Resort which contains a tunnel aquarium and has bird shows. The aquarium houses eclectic marine species including turtles, sharks, rays and colourful tropical fish that enthral old and young alike.

There is a souvenir shop at the wildlife facility where holidaymakers can purchase a tiger cuddly toy or the obligatory T-shirt. Samui Tiger Zoo and the aquarium feature prominently among the island’s must visit sights. The big cat attraction is at Maret, on the southeast coast, and is open from 09:00 to 18:00 every day of the year.

The partial eclipse will start at 19:45 when the Moon enters the Earth’s shadow. The total eclipse will be reached at 21:06 when the Earth will completely shadow the Moon. The eclipse will attain its zenith over Samui at 21:32 and 25 minutes later at 21:57 will exit the full eclipse. The ensuing partial eclipse will end at 00:30 on Sunday morning.

The eclipse also coincides with Thailand’s Constitution Day holiday, which marks the country’s change from an absolute monarchy in 1932. Although public holidays in Thailand often forbid alcohol sales, Constitution Day is a politically based holiday and alcohol consumption on Samui and Phangan will continue as normal.

On Phuket, on the opposite Andaman Sea shoreline, the Sky Club says it will set up telescopes at Rajaphat University for people to view the rare phenomenon. Professor Sakchai Phetchuai said that while the eclipse is taking place speakers would describe it and, if the weather is good enough, project images of it on a giant screen set up for the purpose.

The most famous of the temples for Thai nationals is Wat Maduea Wan. This hilltop shrine has a duplication of the footprint of the Lord Buddha and is a must visit holy spot. There are local songthaew shared taxis to the temple which were 20 Baht per passenger in each direction on my last trip.

Wat Khao Tham is not strictly a temple but a hilltop compound and cave shrine. It is one of Koh Phangan’s most visited spots as during the months outside the rainy season it offers 10-day meditation retreats. High on a mountain above the village of Chaloklum a shrine dedicated to Chinese goddess Kuan Yin is a colourful sight.

Wat Pho is near enough to Hat Rin to allow people who have over-indulged at one of its parties to sweat out the after-effects in a traditional steam sauna. The log-fired herbal sauna treatments are also said to be beneficial for cholesterol levels and various skin ailments.

Most people arrive in the district at Hua Thanon Village which still retains old timber houses. Some of the structures have been converted into shops and sell ethnic clothes and jewellery items as well as island souvenirs and snacks. There are several seafood eateries in town which serve up appetising dishes concocted from freshly caught fish, crabs, prawns and squid with Thai flavours.

The port at Hua Thanon is one of the few in the region which still has a fishing fleet that regularly goes out. The gaily painted kor lae fishing boats gently bobbing on the aquamarine waters make a fine snapshot. Additional seafood restaurants, a fish market and some backpacker style resorts dot the coast of this southeast corner of Samui. Beaches such as Nahai, Natien and Bang Kao are within easy reach of Hua Thanon and are uncrowded and, on hot summer days, havens of tranquillity.

Hin Lad is off Highway 4172, on the south side of Nathon. From the road a meandering two-kilometre jungle path leads to the waterfall. The cascade has several tiers, a bathing pool at the bottom and is shaded by verdant foliage. The last time I went there I forgot to take any drinking water, not a good idea with temperatures often hitting 35°C in the daytime.

Wang Saotong is a fairly high cataract and also requires visitors to trek in. The walk is shorter than to Hin Lad, a good option for those not in peak physical condition. Wang Saotong is very peaceful and the only sounds here are rushing water and birds singing.

The first Namuang waterfall is situated at Ban Thurian. This majestic 20m high fall can be reached by road and has a large bathing pool. The second Namuang cascade is much higher, but requires a 10-minute walk to reach it.

Thai Buddhists, especially the elderly, attend religious services at their temples at least once a month on the occasion of the full moon day. Festivals such as Songkran, Makha Bucha, Khao Pansa and Och Pansa attract larger amounts of templegoers and the grounds and adjacent areas resemble something between an amusement park and a car-boot sale.

Festivals and the rare occasions when a temple dedicates a new structure on its premises are a great excuse for a temple party. Foreign visitors wandering through the crowds at one of the parties will see processions carrying money trees, accompanied by musicians and dancers heading to the temple.

Indications that a temple party is in progress are traffic jams and strings of gaily coloured lights lining the sides of access roads. Stalls around the party venue sell snacks such as fried meatballs and barbecued squid, beverages, toys and souvenirs. For the bigger parties there might be a live band or Thai boxing (Muay Thai) bouts.

One item of folklore has it that a local island couple were on their way to the mainland to find a bride for their son. En route, their boat got caught in a storm and sank. Yai Riem and Da Kreng were drowned in the mishap and legend has it that the rocks were the unfortunate couple, immortalised in their good intentions.

The rock site is a pleasant location and must visit site on the itinerary of Thai visitors, especially young married couples. The view from the rocks over the Gulf of Thailand is arguably one of Samui’s finest. There is also a small stretch of sands here where visitors can relax and enjoy one of the tasty snacks and refreshing beverages sold by several vendors with stalls at the back of the beach.

If you really want to have an endurance test, you can circular the route around the island, allow four to five hours and always make sure you are back before dark as the island’s rounds are hair-raising and terrifying if you are on a bike. The most arduous part of the journey is heading south from Chaweng as they are steep hills between Chaweng and Lamai, then the road will be relatively flat until you get to the north of Nathon and then longer hills lay in wait.

The four hour Thailand bicycle bikes tours for 2000baht is best way to go as the red Bicycle mountain bike adventures of Koh Samui provides the best mountain tours through local villages and thick jungle trails, variable terrain heading inland the island.

But if you just hired a mountain bike on your own, you can simply head down the road next to Angela’s bakery where you find some challenging technical downhills and up through the coconut groves and farmland, you will come to Mae Nam valley area which is one of the best spot and don’t forget a compass.

The road leading up Wanoen waterfall, south of Nathon, is the best real suspension- testing for the exceptionary fit as the the road deteriorates at a rapid rate as you climb to the 205m high point and by the end, you will be dodging boulders, negotiating slippery mud and cycling up the age of ravine, the views from the top and chance to swim will be worth it as a break of sweat is guaranteed.