This is Thailand - Koh Samui. We spent just over 2 weeks lounging around on the beach here in a fantastic place called Samui Paradise on Chaweng Beach - http://www.samuiparadise.com/. They have fantastic beach bungalows with an infinity pool (see photo below). The food was excellent along with early morning runs along the beach before breakfast. A short scooter ride or taxi away from the shops and restaurants of the main drag in Chaweng, Samui Paradise is the ideal place to stay to chill out.
We were whisked away at the port – after arriving on the island – by a plush four wheel drive and a man in smart hotel uniform from Samui Paradise. Chaweng town was busy and a little bit tacky (in a nice way), but the resort was wonderfully isolated, beautiful and quiet. Our bungalow was just a few steps from the picture-postcard beach and we ate the first few nights with our feet in the soft sand with a white linen table cloth on the beach – pure bliss! After a few days of lounging we took a snorkelling trip to Koh Tao and the tiny Koh Nang Yuan – actually three small islands joined by a sand (or shell grit) bar. The snorkelling was some of the best with an amazing array of fish both large and small. One fish nipped my finger as I pointed to another and at Nang Yuan where the water was so shallow, if you stood for any length of time the nosey fish would swarm around your toes, looking for titbits!
One day – I can’t remember which as I lost track of time here – we hired a moped from our regular internet café and toured the island. It was a cool day, and good fun, although our backsides paid for it! We visited several other beaches and the waterfall at Namyuang and located Doug’s Sala Samui resort – very nice! It was interesting scooting through the “back streets” – quiet lanes, overgrown with grasses and coconut trees.
Our time here – just over two weeks – was blissful. We loved the happy hour cocktails, watching playful stray dogs while away their time playing in the sea and catching crabs, watching odd people walk for exercise to the end of the cove and back, listening to the unusual chirpy geckos at breakfast hidden in the woodwork and the amazing “starlings” – brown and white, chatting to sunbathers and taking up residence on their loungers. I miss this place – the beach, the breakfasts, the pool and the view!
