in the sun
Interact with the local and get lucky enough to taste their version of traditional Thai cuisine
You get everything on the island, if you forgot your flipflops or bathing suit there is no need for worries you will end up at Ao Cho, which is a peaceful beach. Further along is the island’s second longest beach, Wong Duan, which has everything to offer except peace and quiet, but you can still enjoy a nice dinner on the beach. If you are still on the lookout for a seaside accommodation, there is also Ao Thian, also known as the candlelight beach, which offers some sandy areas, separated by rocky stretches. Last up, is Ao Wai and Ao Pakarang, which is perfect for a peaceful stay plus easy access to food and drink. Every beach at Ko Samet offers you something different and the same goes for the resorts and bungalows. When I visit Ko Samet a couple of weeks ago, I stayed at Wong Duan. Though being the second largest beach, I found it to be quite peaceful and not at all overcrowded. There are several good restaurants in the area and surprisingly enough the chairs on the beach are free. You could easily grab a drink or a sandwich within minutes after a dip in the ocean or between your tanning sessions in the sun.
What to do Personally I like to engage the locals wherever I go, and, like in the rest of Thailand, the people of Koh Samet are very friendly and welcoming.
Giving them a bit of your time, they might return the favor with some pointers on what to see and where to go. They might even do as they did with me, cook up an enormous feast and welcome you into their family home - but prepare your taste buds because it could be a fiery culinary event. If you are not up to mingling with the locals, but want to spent some time with your family or friends there is really not much more to do than just chill out in the sun or the ocean while grabbing some food and a drink once in a while. There are no well-maintained hiking trails, but if you feel like it you can go on an adventure by yourself and see if you can find yourself a path to follow or rent yourself a bike and take a spin around the island. Traffic is lighter than in Bangkok, but you should of course stay alert. The island does of course also offer the opportunity of renting a waterscooter, para-gliding, diving and all of the other typical touristy stuff. There are also some sights to be seen, such as the Koh Samet Buddha and Mermaid, and if you still do not feel satisfied you can spend an evening on a squid boat, watch an evening fire show, take a Thai cooking class, or watch a Muay
Visiting Ko Samet is the quick fix when you need a bit of fresh air and time away from your everyday life.
Thai fight in Ao Phai as well. If you are enthusiastic about fishing you can do that without a license or permission and have the local restaurant or bar cook your catches for you. If you belong to the younger set who loves to party all night long this is also possible. It does not really matter which beach you are staying on, when you go outdoors you will always be able to hear music in the distant and that you just follow the sound until you suddenly find yourself in the middle of a big beach party.
The cost Ko Samet is affordable, but it does, like everything else, cost money. Depending on how touchy your tushie is, the price range of accommodation varies. I stayed one night in an aircon bungalow with a kingsize bed for 800 Baht and the other night in a bungalow with a fan for 500 Baht. They did not have ocean view nor were they especially fancy, but I like to spend my time outdoors when I finally have the opportunity to get a breath of fresh air. My four-day stay ended up costing just around 11.000 Baht with everything thrown in, but I also kept myself well fed and hydrated. April 2014 • ScandAsia.Thailand 53