March 29th, 2007
This morning we took a ‘sawngthaew’ aka the ‘Red pick-up truck taxi’ to the airport for 80 baht. If you are able to flag one down and the driver can understand where you want to go, it’s actually one of the cheapest ways to get around town.
Of course at Chiang Mai International Airport we relaxed and enjoyed the complimentary drinks & snacks at the Bangkok Airways Boutique Lounge! (this is becoming a habit!). Shortly after a 2 hour flight, we arrived in Koh Samui, Thailand’s 3rd largest tropical island. Located in the province of Surat Thani along with 6 other habitated islands (Pha-Ngan, Ta-Loy, Tao, Taen, Ma-Ko and Ta-Pao), Samui seems to have something for everyone; cheap fan bungalows, backpackers ‘districts’ (bars, clubs, ‘girlie-bars’/lady-boy stuff), busy and secluded beaches along with and a handful of fancier high end resorts.
We soon landed at the Baan Taling Naam Spa & Resort (formerly the Le Meridien Baan Taling Ngam), about a 40-minute ride towards the south western part of Samui in Taling Ngam. You could tell you were in some place special the moment you stepped out of the cab. From the lush manicured lanes to the beach shuttle services via golf cart, we knew this was going to be a treat!…and an upgrade to an oceanview was an added bonus too!
Even though there wasn't much else around the resort for about 15kms, seclusion from all the action of the island was quite peaceful and calming. With 7 pools, awesome cliffside ocean views and our own beach with 'lawn chair hut', it was worth hanging out here!...(for those paying the RAC rates ranging from 350 - 1000US, it better have all the bells and whistles)
Tonite we hopped on our hotel shuttle towards Nathon, just 15 minutes north of us. Nathon is the main port town for passenger ferries and cargo boats arriving from and leaving for the mainland. We made a quick stop at Lesco Lotus aka Safeway of Thailand, then had a quick dinner at Coffee Creek Canyon….as we walked a few blocks towards the water, somehow we stumbled across a tour-operator office where we booked a diving excursion with Easy Divers. After an extended conversation with some dude named 'Andy', we committed to the booking and the 6000 Baht that came along with it!
This morning we took a ‘sawngthaew’ aka the ‘Red pick-up truck taxi’ to the airport for 80 baht. If you are able to flag one down and the driver can understand where you want to go, it’s actually one of the cheapest ways to get around town.
Of course at Chiang Mai International Airport we relaxed and enjoyed the complimentary drinks & snacks at the Bangkok Airways Boutique Lounge! (this is becoming a habit!). Shortly after a 2 hour flight, we arrived in Koh Samui, Thailand’s 3rd largest tropical island. Located in the province of Surat Thani along with 6 other habitated islands (Pha-Ngan, Ta-Loy, Tao, Taen, Ma-Ko and Ta-Pao), Samui seems to have something for everyone; cheap fan bungalows, backpackers ‘districts’ (bars, clubs, ‘girlie-bars’/lady-boy stuff), busy and secluded beaches along with and a handful of fancier high end resorts.
We soon landed at the Baan Taling Naam Spa & Resort (formerly the Le Meridien Baan Taling Ngam), about a 40-minute ride towards the south western part of Samui in Taling Ngam. You could tell you were in some place special the moment you stepped out of the cab. From the lush manicured lanes to the beach shuttle services via golf cart, we knew this was going to be a treat!…and an upgrade to an oceanview was an added bonus too!
Even though there wasn't much else around the resort for about 15kms, seclusion from all the action of the island was quite peaceful and calming. With 7 pools, awesome cliffside ocean views and our own beach with 'lawn chair hut', it was worth hanging out here!...(for those paying the RAC rates ranging from 350 - 1000US, it better have all the bells and whistles)
Tonite we hopped on our hotel shuttle towards Nathon, just 15 minutes north of us. Nathon is the main port town for passenger ferries and cargo boats arriving from and leaving for the mainland. We made a quick stop at Lesco Lotus aka Safeway of Thailand, then had a quick dinner at Coffee Creek Canyon….as we walked a few blocks towards the water, somehow we stumbled across a tour-operator office where we booked a diving excursion with Easy Divers. After an extended conversation with some dude named 'Andy', we committed to the booking and the 6000 Baht that came along with it!
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