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Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Samui

My ears are still ringing from the stacks of speakers that exhilarated Haad Rin all night. The lack of sleep is making my eyes heavy, but the lurching of the ferry refuses to let my body sleep.
I'm departing Ko Pha Ngan and am en route to Ko Samui - the largest island in the Surat Thani province, and the third largest island in Thailand. It's a forty minute ride from the beaches of Haad Rin, and when we arrive, there is another entourage of taxi drivers and hotel workers with signs and suggestions for lodging.
The island was first inhabited by Malay and Chinese settlers, the name is thought to have come from a degeneracy of the Chinese word Saboey, which translates in English as "safe haven". A welcome thought for those looking to escape the aftermath of a full moon party.
With a population of 50,000 people over an area of 228 km2, Samui is considerably more developed than Pha Ngan, and lacks the quaint charm of the smaller island.
Riding on a scooter through the town of Baan Chaweng, it's easy to see that tourism is the island's main source of income - especially in this area, which is known for attracting rowdy backpackers.
The streets are an overwhelming barrage of polychromatic signs that advertise hostels, restaurants and luxury beach resorts. I dodge a few bikini and boardshort-clad tourists, weave past tuk tuks congesting the road, and inhale the sharp scent of thai food being grilled up near the street.
There are fancy swimming pools. Security guards. Valet attendants. Buffet lunches. There are families here. It's a vacation destination - a different vibe than the island across the channel.
But it wasn't always this way. Until the 1940's, there were no roads or cars on Samui. There was no outside influence. The inhabitants traveled everywhere by foot or by boat. Then, in the 1970's, backpackers began to access the island by way of coconut boats. A handful of bungalows were created and travelers on the island began to increase.

By the 1990's, ferries of passengers were arriving on the island, and investors began to build five-star resorts in order to compete with Phuket as a tourist destination. Once Bangkok Airways committed to fund and build the island's only airport, Samui's fate as a tourist destination was sealed.
It's a great tourist destination at that. Beautiful, large beaches. Several waterfalls. Plenty of day-hiking & trekking. Golfing. Kayaking. Boxing. ATV's. Elephant riding. Paintball. The list goes on - there is no shortage of things to do on the island. It's just not the low-key hippy haven that it once was.
Parts of the island reminds me of Phuket - pockets of upscale resorts are interspersed with areas containing cheap bars and a more rowdy atmosphere. But my general feeling is that Samui is cleaner, less tacky, and more family friendly than Phuket. The beaches are just as beautiful, and Samui will still be less developed in 5 years than Phuket is now.
If I were forced to choose between the two for a week long vacation, there is absolutely no doubt that I would head to Samui over Phuket.
After a little over 36 hours on the island, I have to catch a flight back to Bangkok. As much as I would like to stay, I'm also looking forward to one more night in Bangkok, and on the Khao San.

I step into the welcome area of the tiny tropical airport, and any last doubts that I have between Phuket and Samui are completely gone. The airport is a beautiful, well laid out, and very easy to access from almost anywhere on the island. The waiting lounges feature comfortable couches under large wooden ceiling fans. There is live news broadcast on brand new TV's. Free coffee, juice, chocolate rolls, and WIFI. After a long week of questionable toilets, ferries, buses, and train transit - it's heaven...or in the least, a safe haven.
If you've missed the previous articles in this series, be sure to check out the entire Dim Sum Dialogues column for more on the road from Bangkok to Ko Pha Ngan.
Filed under: Asia, Thailand, Airports, Dim Sum Dialogues







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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Joe Sep 29th 2009 2:41PM
It's been 3 years since I was in Ko Samui and I'm glad it hasn't changed too much. We drove all around the island and there were 5 star resorts and time shares going up everywhere. It did feel like a sleepy town when we arrived.
Between their and Phuket I would definitely choose samui
rita moreno Sep 29th 2009 5:47PM
I enjoyed samui as well, especially the scooter drive around the island and Chaweng beach is, despite all the infrastructures, still the most beautiful beach to spend the day. But , with no doubt, i would chose Ko Tao for a weeklong vacation - less tourism, fewer people around, best snorkelling ever and quiet enough to enjoy beach walks.
Good article ;)
Alexia Alline Sep 30th 2009 3:05AM
Thanks for this wonderful addition. Really enjoyed your blog. Appreciate people taking the time to write quality work..
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