The wet season usually hits Samui and the other Gulf of Thailand islands off the coast of Surat Thani around the middle of October and continues through until mid-December. This time of year is the low season and there are some real bargains to be had on hotels and guest houses. Visiting Samui at this time of year is not a complete washout as it rarely rains for the whole day, just an hour or so of heavy rain which clears the air and leaves greenery smelling wonderfully fresh. Light rain is expected to fall later on today.

Train and bus links have been severely disrupted on southbound routes from Bangkok, yet Bangkok Airways’ flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Samui are running to schedule. There are also no problems with trains up from Hat Yai and the southern Thai border with Malaysia.

The Buffalo Fighting Festival is in fact a very special event, and is held at important times throughout the year to mark significant occasions such as Songkran in mid-April, and New Years Day in January.

At the Koh Samui Buffalo Fighting Festival 2 male water buffalo fight against each other, but it is nothing close to a fight to the death. Buffalos are highly valued in Samui, and so the fight is kept very tame. The fight is hugely popular with locals and the festival always involves a lot of ancient traditions and customs, making this a great opportunity to see local traditions and culture being played out.

The fights take place at various venues throughout Koh Samui, and there will always be banners displaying the location and times of fights well in advance of each fight. Some of the more famous venues include stadiums at Ban Saket and Ban Makham. On the day of the fight, the buffalo will be covered in beautiful colourful ribbons and gold leaves on their horns. You will also be able to watch the tradition of sprinkling holy water on the buffalos before the fight. The fight takes place after these ceremonies take place, and the first buffalo to turn and run away is considered to have lost the fight. This is an absolutely thrilling event to watch, so visitors considering a trip to Koh Samui should definitely try to time their trip around Songkran or New Year to see this event.

Whilst most visitors are enticed by Koh Samui’s pristine white sandy beaches (and let’s face it, who wouldn’t be!), taking some time to see Wat Phra Yai should be high on everyone’s list. Not only can you check out the amazing golden Big Buddha, Wat Phra Yai provides spectacular views of Koh Phangan, as well as some pretty superb panoramas of Bophut and Bangkok beaches in northern Koh Samui.

At the base of the temple are numerous food and drink stalls to keep you well nourished and hydrated during your visit. Admission is free, and the temple is open on a daily basis. I would recommend to try and time your visit for the late afternoon or evening the golden Big Buddha is particularly stunning when it is all lit up. The views at sunset over the surrounding beaches are also particularly beautiful, and there really is nothing better than taking in the sunset on a warm evening at Wat Phra Yai.

Buddhism is the most prevelant religion in Thailand and Bhuddist philosophies play a role in many of the local’s daily lives. Visiting a temple is a must do during your trip and your visit will offer you insight into the local culture.

Laem Sor Bagoda is located near Ban Laem Sor which is a fishing village on the south coast.  You will be able to see the peak of the temple from a distance and the road is well sign posted. Laem Sor Pagoda is a picturesque structure and it is adorned with yellow tiles, which are illuminated by sunlight.

From a distance the pagoda has a golden glow. To the left of the pagoda is the beach and infront of the pagoda are rocks and trees. The temple is built near water, which contributes to the tranquil atmosphere of this region.

The surrounding area has beautiful scenery and has not been developed providing the ideal setting for meditation. Around the pagoda are chairs where you can sit in the forest and relax.

If you visit the temple during the festival season you can see ceremonies where the local Buddhists congregate at this temple. Another nearby tourist attraction is a man made lagoon. Alternatively enjoy one of the other highlights of Koh Samui include nightlife, water sports and beaches.

There are a number of different beaches located around the island, all with distinctly different characters set to appeal to different desires, entertainment needs and paces of life.

The vibrant district of Chaweng is by far the most popular resort on Samui, not least because it contains the longest beach on the entire island. Most of the largest bars and clubs can also be found in Chaweng, while the restaurants here cater to every taste.

The district of Lamai is also popular with those who are looking for vibrant nightlife options, while the fisherman’s village of Bophut is famed for its chilled out vibe and chic French-owned cafes and restaurants.

Just a short drive away, the quiet bay of Ao Bang Po is the perfect place for snorkeling, swimming and meditation, whilst Ao Tong Takian is a small cove north of Lamai beach. Also known as Silver Beach, this is a good place for people who crave tranquillity.

Bang Rak, is situated just two kilometers east of Bophut. The big attraction in this area is the 19-metre gold tinted statue of Lord Buddha, which overlooks the entire bay. Climb the steps to the top for an excellent view over the island.

According to a report filed with police, no-one has heard from Hall for nearly two months. The 35-year old has disappeared, leaving most of his belongings except for his passport in a bungalow at Laem Son, Haad Yao, on Koh Pha Ngan. It has also been established that no funds have been withdrawn from his bank account since February. And the last withdrawal wasn’t substantial – “just enough to last a couple of days”, the report said.

Missing Danny Hall

The British embassy had also learnt that he has not been admitted in any local hospital, the report said. Hall is about 180 centimetres tall and average build. He had a shaved head, and occasionally wears glasses. A vegetarian, he came to Thailand for a holiday for a couple of months, but his family are now concerned about his welfare.

Anyone with info on Hall’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Immigration Tourist Police at: alistair-why@gmail.com

Phuket Gazette

The article was full of heart-felt testimonies from tourists who had come to Samui on holiday, and befriended a stray dog during their stay, providing a name, food and no doubt a whole personality for the poor pub, only to find the creature one morning swaying from a palm tree. These outrageous accounts naturally incite the question of what the hell people are thinking, flying around the world to a tropical and sociable holiday island, only to make friends with dogs. Surely there are better things to do while on a Koh Samui holiday than hanging out with stray dogs?

The human relations which many people invest in their animals is always a little strange, but in the context of what could be a fleeting and fun friendly holiday, they appear to be even more misplaced. Picture the scene: Chaweng Beach, frequently touted as one of the finest in the world, infested with filthy and aggressive dogs of all sizes, roaming the sands for food, barking, shitting and fighting, while the equally bothersome local sales people scream over the din to try to flaunt their worthless trinkets to tourists, the roar of the jet-skis in the background a comparatively normal and unobtrusive racket…

George Orwell once observed that the concept of civilization was incompatible with the ownership of dogs: that the necessity to dart around dollops of turd when walking the streets was degrading to man-kind. Dogs have been effectively banned from public areas in many parts of the world. Koh Samui is still struggling with the concept of “public areas”.

The whole thing reminds me of the Canadian anthropology professor who experimented with raising a baby chimpanzee alongside his newborn son. The idea was that the chimp would be speaking by the age of two, walking off to school when he was four and so on. Soon enough, staff from the University had to break down he professor’s front door. The found the old man stuffed to the face with bananas and his son swinging from the lamp shade.
 
PS: The newspaper article said that hanging dogs is not the most effective way to solve the stray problem. However, a follow up article said that the strays have been strangely absent this week. The people at the charitable Samui Dog Rescue Centre offer their suggestions on how to deal with problem. Visit their web-site to make a donation: www.samuidog.org