The Elephant & Castle and the Admiral Lord Nelson are both decorated in that traditional English public house style and serve up draught beers and British culinary gems such as steak and kidney pie. The Admiral Lord Nelson is a bit of an overkill on its name, but is noted for its ambient atmosphere and tasty fish and chips. The pub has a good selection of Thai and British dishes on its menu. It shows Premiership football, features a pool table and plays British music.

As its name implies the Elephant & Castle exemplifies a London pub and patrons walking through its portal almost feel as if they have taken a wrong turning somewhere. The Elephant opens up just before lunch, yet is rarely busy until the evening. A diverse Brit-food menu boasts bangers and mash, homemade pies and Sunday roasts to die for.

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.

The port at Donsak is around 50kms from the town of Surat Thani and the closest point on the mainland to Samui. As it is the nearest, it is also the busiest and the best place to find a ferry for those who have not bought a ticket in advance. During the peak tourist season from November to April there are departures at least every hour, with some of the ferries sailing on to Koh Phan Ngan and Koh Tao.

When the weather is fine and the sun is shining, standing on the ferry’s deck in a cooling breeze is definitely the way to go. Travellers are provided with a wonderful sight as the golden beaches and iconic Samui palm trees slowly come into view. The crossing from Don Sak to Nathon Port takes around 2.5 hours on a good day. There are alternate ports at Tha Thong and Ban Don, both nearer to Surat Thani.

Night ferry services depart from Ban Don. Boats leave at around 23:00 and get to Samui at 05:00 the next morning. This is a good option for people arriving late in Surat Thani and also saves on a night’s accommodation for people on a budget. There are basic bunks on the boat where voyagers can rest and wake up feeling reasonably fresh.

The heritage Fisherman’s Village is the focal point of establishments that offer unhurried gourmand’s meals and relaxing drinks. The dining choice is eclectic with the finest Thai seafood dishes as well as Italian, Indian and Mexican offerings available for delectation. Alla Baia’s pizzas and unique creations such as Fifty-Six Fusion’s mango burgers are highly recommended. My Friend is a little out of town, but serves up excellent seafood at prices only leaving a tiny dent in the wallet.

In keeping with the local council’s desire to keep Bophut low-key, there are few rowdy or late-night drinking venues here. Visitors are encouraged to head over to nearby Chaweng for disco and club entertainment. One Bophut bar, the Frog & Gecko, epitomises Bophut’s drinking establishments with a soothing place to sit down and a terrace cooled by gentle breezes. The bar is only really busy on Wednesdays when the weekly pub quiz is held.

The beach at Phoput is rarely crowded and even the ubiquitous Thai jet-skis have been banished to one part of it. Sunbathers and swimmers are rarely disturbed by the whine of a jet-ski engine.

The party starts as the sun sets and the tropical paradise comes alive to the sounds of 12 different sound systems. Talented DJs pump out the best techno, drum ‘n’ bass and reggae tunes. Dancers mill about the beach and artistes including fire eaters provide a certain bizarre air to the evening’s proceedings. Stalls and bars offer a full range of beers and liquors with the ubiquitous Thai whisky and vodka and Red Bull, or Krating Deng as it is known here, the staples of many partygoers.

Snacks of all kinds are sold by passing vendors. There are lots of candle-lit tables on the beach for revellers to relax at and soak up the exhilarating ambience. The sea is never too cold for a paddle through the surf, but it is better not to venture out too far at night. Most of Koh Phangan’s accommodation is booked out months in advance for the New Year countdown. People staying on Samui can catch the last ferries over or board one of the speedboats that will be going backwards and forwards between the two islands throughout the evening. It is better not to board a boat that looks overloaded, as the chances are it probably is.

Western themed bars and restaurants mostly post up their entertainment offerings and Christmas menus on boards outside their premises. A walk around Lamai or Chaweng will soon provide ideas of where to go. The BBC, or Big Buddha Café, is serving an all-day Christmas buffet which gives visitors the opportunity of enjoying a fusion of Thai and Western delicacies. The menu includes the ubiquitous tom yam gung spicy soup, samosas, roast turkey, stuffing and apple pie.

On Lamai Beach, entertainment at the Beach Republic begins at 13:00 on Christmas Eve when DJ Simon cranks up the decks and there are special offers on beer and wine. In the evening, the eclectic dinner menu’s offerings include a lamb and turkey carvery, with live music played by the Rock Island Band. Christmas Day lunch gives diners the chance of sampling culinary gems, among which are Alaskan king crabs, oysters and roast turkey dinners.

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 north shore’s W Retreat Koh Samui is set in an ambient location and offers full facilities and amenities to ensure guests receive a holiday experience to remember. The Conrad group recently opened a new Koh Samui resort at Ao Thai Beach on the southwest coast of the island. Again, this resort offers great amenities as well as a choice of dining outlets serving Thai and Mediterranean specialities.

The Zazen Boutique Resort at Bophut comes highly recommended. Apart from wonderful views over the pristine waters of the Gulf of Thailand, other attractions are iPods featuring the resort’s own music collection and wireless internet access. There are numerous budget bungalow resorts still to be found on Samui. At Nid’s Bungalows, in the heart of the tourist precinct near Chaweng Lake, tastefully furnished rooms go for as little as 300 Baht per night.