Kao Samui

Trip Start Apr 2004
1
8
Trip End Nov 2005


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Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Kao Samui is a beautiful resort island although it's more expensive than Puket and other Thai islands in terms of airfare and souvenir shopping. I had a bad start for this trip when I was told by the hotel that my name was not on the guest list (something like this had never happened to me before...) and it turned out to be a mistake by the Taiwanese tour agency handling my trip. This teaches me a lesson -- it's best to organize a trip by youself which not only gives you the full control of what you do but saves service charges. Luckily the sandy white beach, crystal blue water and beautiful landscape soon made me forget this lousy matter. I stayed in a hotel right on the beach and had candle-light dinners everyday in restaurants along the beach (the pineapple fried rice and green papaya salade were absolutely divine)!

The Angthong Marine National Park is a must-see: a short climb to see a saltwater lake and kayaking in the open sea (it got a bit windy on the return journey and I must give myself credit for trying this out given that I can barely swim.) I also had my very first coconut fresh from the trees in a small island there thanks to our sportive local guide (who climbed up the coconut tree in a few minutes!), and it's simply just tastier and jucier than the ones on the streets. Other highlights of my trip were an elephant ride through a small forest (I got to sit on its neck!) and massages in a serene tropical garden spa.
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