Saturday, February 9, 2008

Visiting Koh Samui - Tropical Island in Thailand

by George Van Eyk

Koh Samui Introduction
Koh Samui lies roughly eighty kilometers of the east coast of Thailand. Samui is situated surrounded by other Islands of the Ang Tong group. From the second a traveler arrives on Samui they will fall in love with Samui. Many travelers visiting Samui adore the wonderful atmosphere that can be found on Samui.

Beauty of Samui
From nearly every position on Koh Samui, tourists are granted astonishing views of surrounding sea. The Samui airport will definitely be one of the most astonishing airports found any where on the globe. For those tourists arriving by boat to the wonderful Thai holiday Island, the ferry dock will steer them ahead instantly onto the white Samui beaches and its coconut trees.

Koh Samui Bungalows and Hotels
Koh Samui offers a remarkable selection and assortment of beachfront bungalows and resorts and is obtainable for virtually every tourist accommodation budget. Travelers will find on Samui a large offering of accommodation that ranges from standard beach bungalows on one of the beaches all the way up till incredible and luxurious Samui hotels and beach resorts.

The great thing about Koh Samui is that almost every voyager can find lodging right on one of the Samui beaches and at the budget available to the visitor.

Inhabitants of Samui

The inhabitants of Koh Samui are made up for the major piece of Thai Buddhists. Previous to the arrival of tourism dollars and the hefty number of tourists, Koh Samui has been living off coconut farming and fishing. Fishing and coconut farming are still an vital part of Samui however the vast mainstream of local residents are at present employed in the Samui hospitality and travel industry.

Chaweng Beach
The leading and most trendy Samui beach is of course Chaweng beach. Close runner ups are the Samui beaches at Lamai and the one at Maenam. Many of the beaches on Koh Samui have a huge number of bungalows and resorts however the Samui beaches by no means suffer from busy crows or noise as Koh Samui beaches are normally relatively stretched and spacious.

Entertainment on Koh Samui
Koh Samui offers tourists a lot of amusement and entertainment which ranges from the infamous Chaweng nightlife to relaxing trips by boat to deserted and fabulous beaches. Tourists visiting Koh Samui can also get pleasure from a wide choice of watersport options on Koh Samui. Visitors can also go one of the great trips to one of the beautiful waterfalls found all over Samui or go on an elephant ride through the natural rain forest.

Samui Climate

The ideal time of the year to visit Koh Samui is definitively during the dry season. The dry season on Samui starts in February and ends in June. If you stay on Koh Samui from March until October, you will experience temperatures in Samui which can get up to 35 Celsius. The Samui rainy season lasts from early November until late February.

About the Author
Read more about the great Thai tourist destination in the Samui Guide or about Phuket Island inside the Phuket Guide.

What's so great About Koh Samui in Thailand?

by Rhiannon Williamson

You've probably heard of Koh Samui, it's the third largest of Thailand's islands and many people seem to rave about it - but what's so great about Koh Samui and is it really worth a visit?
Well, not only is Koh Samui worth a visit - it is one of those places on earth that's once seen and never forgotten. In fact, many of those who visit Koh Samui once are hooked for life and some never leave. There are also an increasing number of Western expatriate retirees moving to live in Thailand and Koh Samui is a favourite destination because not only is it highly affordable but it offers up an excellent standard of living.

Basically what's so great about Koh Samui is that it has the perfect blend of stunning climate, inimitable views, pristine sandy beaches, lush dense and incredible foliage, rare flora and fauna, excellent cuisine, plenty to see and do and experience and the people are among the friendliest on the planet - oh and healthcare is world class yet affordable and there are even international schools available on the island for those who wish to move there before their retirement years.

If you want to experience the best of Thailand in a safe environment and only moments away from all the amenities and facilities you could possibly want then Koh Samui is the place to go.

You can learn to dive in the crystal clean waters, you can learn to sunbathe (!) on the pure white sandy beaches which are fringed with beautiful palm trees, you can visit coconut plantations, witness incredible waterfalls, take boat trips to outer lying islands such as Koh Tao, Koh Wua Talap or Koh Mae Koh, you can snorkel in the National Marine Park or if all that sounds too energetic why not spend a day or even a week at one of Koh Samui's spas?

Spa resorts are in abundance on the island and they offer peace, tranquillity and a whole host of luxurious treatments that will leave you feeling purified and whole again after the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And as soon as you're feeling refreshed and energised it'll be time to hit the abundance of excellent shops and boutiques or to go for a night out on the town where you can watch cabaret, go bar hopping, dine exquisitely or just while away an evening on the beach star gazing.

If all this sounds like your idea of heaven on earth you're not alone - Koh Samui is great, it is well worth a visit but don't blame me if you're hooked and want to stay for life! There are new residential developments springing up in areas zoned and protected specifically for low rise residential construction and these developments all offer a taste of Thailand combined with contemporary architecture. One of the latest is Infinity Samui which consists of condos, penthouses and villas with infinity pools and infinity sea views. On site there is a spa and all residents will be treated to five star hotel like service - so you can actually live a life of affordable luxury in one of the most desirable places on earth - which is why we truly believe Koh Samui is just so great!

About the Author
Rhiannon Williamson writes about buying property abroad and showcases new property developments in Thailand and around the world on her site www.PropertyDevelopmentWorld.com

Koh Phangan - accommodation accessible to anyone!

by Clint Jhonson

What do words like "Koh Phangan" and "accommodation" tell you? I'm sure they bring to your mind images of you on an exotic island, sitting on the beach with a cocktail and having the time of your life. You can almost feel the breeze.
The only problem concerning having such an "adventure" these days (besides never having the time...) is the serious lack of money, and you're not the only one facing this issue. Unfortunately, most trips to exotic locations (and trips abroad in general) are really expensive and offer you few accommodation alternatives to multi-star hotels or fancy villas rented at excessive prices. I'm sure that no one (besides superstars who can afford bathing in champagne or other extravaganzas) is at peace with the idea of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a simple vacation especially these days, with stuff on your mind like a mortgage or perhaps a car leasing rate, children's school taxes and many more.

Luckily for you, I found an alternative to a head-aching vacation a few days ago. And one must admit that no one has fun spending half of the day thinking about how "thin" the wallet is... Well that can stop now. Koh Phangan is "the name of the game". It's a small tropical island in the gulf of Thailand, next to Samui. They have a small company there, founded in January 2003 by Malee Thangtira and Simon Beisl. The whole deal went online in October 2003. They offer accommodation services for prices accessible to more people than through traveling agencies or who knows what other intermediates. There are houses, as well as bungalows available for rent along with many services. The island's landscape is various: you can rent a bungalow on the beach, a house in an inner garden or maybe one in the mountainous area.

The best thing about these houses rented out by the locals (besides the low-price accommodation) is that they offer you intimacy, as you are able to spend you vacation unbothered. Koh Phangan is also a wonderful place with stunning views. Just think about how it would be, renting a house in the mountain side, facing the ocean and waking up in the morning in the glow of the sun rising above the sea, watching a stunning landscape.

Besides the beauty of the places, there is a practical financial side of things. Choosing Koh Phangan as your next vacation spot does not only offer you a great experience, but also saves you a significant amount of money, with prices usually ranging between 90 - 150 dollars/month in case of cheaper accommodation and 250 - 500 for medium-priced houses and bungalows. Of course, for those of you who can afford a bit of luxury, there are houses rented out for prices up to 600-1000 dollars per month.

In any case, it's still a lot cheaper than checking into a 3-5 star hotel, paying everyone around, having to give fat tips in order no to be misspoken of by the personnel and so on. Not to mention that "great" rule that most hotels have, and that is the prohibition of bringing in water bought from outside the hotel, thus forcing you to buy 1-litter bottles of water for five bucks and so on - "great" accommodation indeed. In Koh Phangan, there's none of that hypocritical nonsense, because they care first of all about you having a good time. I think it wouldn't hurt checking out the free resource below for more information. You won't be sorry!

About the Author
To find out more about Koh Phangan and the great accommodation spots there, you can always log on their website, phanganisland.com, and see for yourself what a great experience you could have.

Fasting and Cleansing in Koh Samui

by alisterbredee

His name is Pete; he is thirty something and comes from Middlesex, which is really that part of West London that lies out towards Heathrow Airport. In the past couple of years he has made four visits and has completed 2 de-tox fasts at "The Health Oasis Resort" on the Thai tropical island of Koh Samui.
Originally he finished what the "Resort" describes as a Nurture Fast. This is a comprehensive de-toxification programme. In essence you forgo food for nine days. This is not as austere as it sounds as participants like Pete are allowed fruit juices, unlimited fluids and enjoy two bowls of vegetable broth on a daily basis. Once the digestive system shuts down in this manner it is in a position to eliminate the toxins that have accrued due to a less than ideal diet, poor lifestyle habits and of course the pollutants that are found in the environment and in food itself. To assist in the elimination process guests at 'spas' like Health Oasis Resort cleanse with the help of colonic irrigation, magnesium oxide and experience a liver flush at the end of the treatment. To many this sounds like a harsh regime. Pete, however, disagreed. He found the experience easy. Although he did not eat solid food for nine days, he says he was not in the least hungry. He did admit, however, that he did miss the varied flavours of food during his fast. As for the colonics he said,"they were just OK".

Over the nine days he lost an amazing 7 kilos in weight. At the end of his stay he said that he looked better; he felt relaxed and rested and above all felt clean both inside and out. Pete is a single guy and he is certain his de-tox made him much more attractive to women.

Moreover he admits that his major achievement was going without food for nine days for which he feels proud of himself. The programme recommends a morning yoga class on a daily basis. Pete attended the class on his first day but discovered "yoga was not really for him", so instead swam regularly in the pool and worked out in the gym which is attached to the Resort.

After it was all over he says he had learned a lot about health and fitness. He saw the advantages of exercise and grasped the importance of healthy eating. Before he was quite content to eat fast convenience foods but after his visit to Koh Samui he saw how important it is to include at least five portions of fruit and vegetables in the daily diet.

Overall he was so impressed with the results of the fasting and cleansing programme at the Health Oasis Resort he has returned three more times in the intervening two years. He feels the place keeps him on track for good health. The fasting and cleansing programme reminds him to eat healthily and exercise regularly when he leaves the lush paradise of Koh Samui and returns to the real world. Pete is not alone in this experience, talking to other guests at the Resort it quickly became clear that they all returned each year for what they described as a health promoting inner and outer cleanse.

About the Author
Alister Bredee is a freelance author specialising in articles on health related topics. He is also a health care practitioner and trainer. He is the "Behaviour Change Therapist" at www.healthoasisresort.org He currently lives in Koh Samui and can be contacted via his website: www.healthambit.com

Learning Thai Massage in Koh Samui

by alisterbredee

Marloas is nineteen years old and she comes from Rotterdam in Holland. She is in gap year from school and has taken the time to travel in Asia. She has been on the road for four months and as the trip winds to a close she has come to the Health Oasis Resort in Koh Samui to learn Thai massage.
"This is one of the best things I did on my trip,' she enthuses. "While I was travelling I had massages. It felt so nice that I decided I would like to learn how to do it!" "It's just for fun. I have learned it for myself and to help my friends and family." No, she does not want to become a massage therapist. Her goal is to train as a medical doctor, and this preparation in massage could well help her in her aspiration to study western medicine.

Her twenty-hour course stretched over a leisurely five and a half days. So she has plenty of time for rest and relaxation in the swimming pool and on the beach beside. She laughs when she says, "I enjoyed the rest!" "I also really liked the Course with Thai instructor Nan." Nan, by the way started her studies at the prestigious Wat Pho in Bangkok which serves as the premier massage teaching facility in Thailand. "She really gets the students to practice a lot. She's very kind and supportive, too and that helped a whole lot!" Says the young Dutch student. "She taught me to apply my whole body in making the massage strokes." Marloas explains she was always afraid that her hands would become tired whilst massaging, but she was surprised to find that instead she felt energised. "I now know the pressure points and understand how to make people relax."

The course that Marloas attended is not designed to turn out professional therapists. It is certificated but is designed for self-development and general interest. For those eager to learn Thai massage for professional use, Health Oasis Resort offers a more intensive fifty hour period of instruction, and this too comes with a certificate.

Massage is one of several subjects that visitors can learn at the Bang Po beachside resort. Other topics include Thai Cookery, Reiki, Meditation and EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique. The Thai cooking is interesting because it is geared very much to the visitor to the Kingdom. Many people have enjoyed eating Thai food in restaurants worldwide and on coming to Thailand have taken the experience to another dimension. What Health Oasis encourages is to teach visitors how to cook their favourite dishes. Naturally this requires a little notice because the instructors have to go to the market and buy the freshest ingredients possible so the 'trainee chef' can prepare that favourite meal. Once you have cooked it, all you then have is the pleasure of sitting down and eating your creation and hopefully you have invited some friends or loved ones to share this unique experience with you.

Like the Massage training that Marloas underwent you can also take the recipe and knowledge of your newly acquired Thai culinary art back home with you as a very practical souvenir of your visit to Thailand. Surely that will add to the overall enjoyment of your holiday in "the land of smiles"


About the Author
Alister Bredee is a freelance author specialising in articles on health related topics. He is also a health care practitioner and trainer. He is the "Behaviour Change Therapist" at www.healthoasisresort.org He currently lives in Koh Samui and can be contacted via his website: www.healthambit.com