The Las Vegas of the East Why a trip to Chaweng should be on your itinerary
Delving the Depths
RockPool is more than just a restaurant – it’s become a genre all by itself!
SAMUI’S LUXURY VILLA BEACHFRONT HIDEAWAY
THE SEA BEACH WEDDING On the secluded Bang Po beach, The Sea Koh Samui – Samui’s luxury beachfront villa hideaway offers an unrivaled combination of relaxation and sophistication. Enchanting pristine beaches and seductive intimate spaces create just the right atmosphere for a romantic wedding or honeymoon. Whether you picture an intimate drinks party in a contemporary space streaming with daylight or a traditional dinner and dance for 50 of your closest friends, our Executive Chef and Sommelier provide a bespoke service to ensure your day is as perfect as you imagined.
For more details call our wedding planner on T 077 960 567 l E book@TheSeaSamui.com l W TheSeaSamui.com
A Warm Welcome
Editor
Graeme Malley graeme@siammap.com
Graphic Designer Wunvilai Punnern - Meow
Photographer Ugrit Komlue - Grit
Feature Writer Rob De Wet
Feature Writer Rosanne Turner
Feature Writer Colleen Setchell
Webmaster
Seksak Kerdkanno - Klauy
Sales & Marketing Director Nipawan Chuaysagul - Ning 0 898 783 891
ning@siammap.com
Financial Director Kasper Bjørk kasper@siammap.com
Managing Director Henrik Bjørk henrik@siammap.com
Siam Map Company Ltd. 52/6 Samui Ring Road, Moo 3 Bo Phut, Koh Samui, 84320, Thailand Tel: 0 7742 2201 Fax: 0 7741 3523 E-mail: info@siammap.com www.siammap.com
All Rights Reserved
Samui’s normally all about long lazy days spent on soft sandy beaches being drenched in the hot tropical sun, followed by balmy nights of gastronomic indulgence in world-class restaurants with perhaps some shopping and a spot of dancing with a drink or two before retiring. And during November and December things aren’t much different – you’ll be doing all that with maybe the occasional drop of rain to cool things down a bit. But there will be three huge events also taking place during this period to shake things up a bit. And they’re Loy Krathong, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Loy Krathong is one of Thailand’s most beautiful festivals and it’s celebrated this year on November 17th. It’s a true spectacle and one that everyone can take part in. Christmas and New Year’s Eve need no explanation, other than to say that all the major resorts, restaurants, clubs and bars really go to town and a great time is had by all. Although this is a Buddhist country, the Thai people are happy folk more than willing to join in when it comes to having fun, and hosting a celebration is just that!
Reproduction or use of editorial or pictorial content in any manner is prohibited without written permision from Siam Map Company Ltd. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publication, Siam Map Company Ltd. assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Neither is any liability for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein. Siam Map Company Ltd. 2013
Distribution at Bangkok Airport courtesy of Bangkok Airways. Reservation Center: 1771 Samui Chaweng Office: 0 7760 1300 www.bangkokair.com
Please recycle or pass on to a friend.
CONTENTS
102 20 The Las Vegas of the East Why a trip to Chaweng should be on your itinerary.
28 Yule Tidings What to expect at Christmas-time on Samui.
34 Something for the Boys Breeze Spa has created some unique spa treatments specially for men.
40 Delving the Depths RockPool is more than just a restaurant – it’s become a genre all by itself!
46
Ready for Something Different? Combining the weird and the wonderful at Drink Gallery
54 Nature in all her Splendour Nature Art Gallery offers bespoke jewellery using only natural materials.
60
Value for Money at SCL International School Hotels aren’t the only ones offering ‘all inclusive’ deals.
64 Ready, Steady…Fun! Samui’s first ‘Soap Box Derby, Music & Beer Festival is coming this December.
118 68 The Fun Club Splash out with the pool parties at Chaweng’s KC Beach Club!
72 Give it Your Best Shot Samui Shooting Sports offers a whole range of explosive fun!
78 Absolutely! Absolute Sanctuary offers a new yoga class that not only tones and strengthens, but keeps you fit too.
84 Not Passing By Why The Cliff makes people want to stop and go inside!
90 To the Max Max Murphy’s Irish diner elevates pub grub to a whole new level!
96 Anantara is Back! This popular resort has been closed for renovations, but it’s open again and looking better than ever.
102 A Man on a Mission There’s no stopping Khun Virach Pongchababnapa when it comes to new projects on Samui.
108 Well-hidden Gem 9Gems Lounge Restaurant may be a little off the proverbial beaten track, but it’s well worth the effort to find it.
96 114 A Bit of Rain Never Hurt Anyone A few tips to survive the rainy season on Samui.
118 Beach Bliss The Sea tailor-makes beach weddings to suit every bride’s whim.
124 Prana Gets Meaty Nadimos Lebanese restaurant has arrived on Samui.
130 Woo-Hoo! There’s plenty to cheer about at W Retreat this festive season.
136 The People’s King His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
140 Three into Three When it comes to dining, then Muang Samui has everything from fun to 5-star!
148 Monkeys, Ladyboys and Screaming People Thai temples and their festivals might be more exciting than you think
Natural Elegant Boutique Resort Koh Samui, Thailand
Royal Thai Taste Former Royal Family private chef, Ajarn Amintra Dinakara takes you to a world of Ancient Royal Thai Cuisine.
Ciccio Pizza Chef Marco’s magic hands blend the finest Italian ingredients with his own signature dough, using a wood fired oven to cook to perfection.
Portofino Ristorante The only true Italian fine dining restaurant on Koh Samui, in the talented hands of Chef Pasquale Procida.
Imperial Boat House
Sala Samui < To Big Buddha
Choengmon Beach, Koh Samui
Choengmon Road
+66 7742 8700
rsvn_msv@muangsamui.com
To Chaweng Beach >
www.muangsamui.com
Mediterranean Mediterranean Cuisine Cuisine Amidst Amidst aa panoramic panoramic dreamscape dreamscape that that overlooks overlooks the the pristine pristine Crystal Crystal Bay, Bay, The The Cliff Cliff warmly warmly invites invites you you to to aa truly truly unforgettable unforgettable dining dining experience experience on on Koh Koh Samui. Samui.
www.thecliffsamui.com www.thecliffsamui.com
Choeng ChoengMon Mon
For For reservations reservations call call 077 077 448 448 508 508 Kitchen Kitchen open open 12:00 12:00 pm pm 10:00 10:00 pm pm -- Bar Bar open open 12:00 12:00 pm pm -- 2:00 2:00 am am
Tapas Tapas Bar Bar open open from from 12:00 12:00 pm pm -- 7:00 7:00 pm pm
Island Insight An overall guide to Samui’s towns, villages, beaches and hotspots.
Samui is an idyllic tropical paradise. A blend of traditional Thai hospitality and remote island life has joined hands with modern traveller expectations. But the towns, villages and interior are home to much more than just luxury resorts, restaurants, bars and retail shops. And whilst the main beaches are recognised as some of the best in the world, there are also secluded coves and magical hideaways around many corners – if you know where to look. And this quick guide will point you in the right direction.
Chaweng
Chaweng’s main beach is five kilometres in length and is lined with 5-star luxury resorts, boutique hotels, budget accommodation and great oceanfront restaurants. Behind the resorts, the Chaweng Beach Road is filled with restaurants, bars, spas, shops, street stalls and mobile food vendors. The lake sits to the rear of them and is a wonderful place for an early morning walk or jog. Near the southern end of the lake is the Soi Reggae entertainment area which also has two Muay Thai boxing stadiums, a temple guarded by carved monkeys and the huge Laem Din market complex. All manner of fresh produce is delivered here every day and the adjoining Dow Seafood market is a hive of activity from the early hours.
Lamai
Samui’s second most popular beach is around four kilometres long and the waters are perfect for swimming. There’s plenty of choice in accommodation, restaurants, bars, spas and health resorts. It also has a free Muay Thai event every Saturday and just off the Beach Road there’s a children’s water park. Wat Lamai is home to a cultural centre and museum that houses artifacts of Samui life before the advent of tourism. On Sundays there’s a ‘Walking Street’ along part of the Beach Road. And just outside of Lamai town on the ring-road is the famous Hin Ta-Hin Yai rock formations that has dozens of small local Thai restaurants around it. 14 l www.samuiholiday.com
Mae Nam
Nestled on the northern shores of the island, Mae Nam Beach stretches for several kilometres and overlooks the neighbouring island of Koh Pha-Ngan. High-end resorts and beach bungalows are dotted along the coast and many visitors love it for its peacefulness, soft golden sands and wonderful views. It has seven side streets that meander into the mountains: from Soi 1 you can follow the road over the mountains all the way to Lamai; Soi 4 has a ‘Walking Street’ every Thursday from mid-afternoon and also houses an ornate Chinese temple overlooking the beach and a large Buddhist temple set a few hundred metres back from the ringroad; Soi 5 has a tree-top canopy adventure theme park a few kilometres into the hills; there’s a buffalo fighting stadium a couple of hundred metres off the main road between Soi 5 and Soi 6; an early morning market is also in Soi 6; an evening market near to Soi 7; and the world-class Santiburi Golf Course in the hills above Soi 7. There’re dozens of bars and restaurants in Mae Nam, many of which are on side roads that lead down to the ocean. And at the western end of the beach the Lomprayah ferry takes passengers to the neighbouring islands several times a day.
NathoN
This is the island’s main administrative centre and the major ferry port for boats to and from the mainland. There’re some hotels but it’s more a town you would visit for an afternoon rather than stay in. Beside the terminal, there’s a local food market every day from mid-afternoon until late in the evening. Along what is known as the ‘middle road’ there’re old teak shop-houses and small businesses and a ‘Walking Street’ on Saturdays. And on the one-way road that goes through the town there’re dozens of shops and restaurants. Just off the main road there’s an ornate Chinese temple and garden in Soi 4. And near the far end there’s a renowned open-air duck restaurant – just follow the crowds around lunchtime.
Bo Phut
Bo Phut is best known for Fisherman’s Village. It’s a single narrow street that still has authentic wooden houses that Samui folk have lived in for generations. Parts of it have been modernized but it’s still awash with local foods, international restaurants, bars, shops and market stalls. It becomes one huge ‘Walking Street’ every Friday and you’ll find lots of local delicacies that few other restaurants have. Along with small hotels, there’re several 5-star luxury resorts at the far end and the beach curves around a large bay that also overlooks Koh Pha-Ngan. And small speedboats leave from the village pier heading for the Full Moon parties that take place there every month.
Big Buddha and Plai Laem
The magnificent golden Big Buddha statue that watches over the island from the north-east corner of Samui is one of the first things you see as you fly into Samui Airport. Built on a tiny island (Koh Farn) with a connecting causeway, it’s the most iconic image of the island. Many Thais pray at the temple so dressing and acting appropriately is expected when you enter the site. There’re some very good Thai restaurants and small stores around the temple. It also affords some beautiful views and along the road from it you’ll see another large Buddha image at Wat Plai Laem. Half-way along the road between the temples is a side road that cuts through to Choeng Mon. Down this road there’s access to some quiet secluded beaches, although some of them are through resorts.
Choeng Mon
Choeng Mon lies just 15 minutes or so from the middle of Chaweng but it seems like worlds away. There’s a small town that the road runs through with a couple of dozen restaurants and bars. The beach is a favourite for many locals as it’s quiet, picturesque and safe for swimming most of the year round. There’s every class of accommodation with some old-style beach bungalows at one end. And they all overlook the tiny deserted island of Koh Farn Noi which you can walk out to if the tide is low. www.samuiholiday.com l 15
Bang Rak
In between Fisherman’s Village and Big Buddha is where you’ll find Bang Rak. There’s a few very good resorts and some private villas for rent along the beachfront that stretches around for several kilometres and has stunning views. Bars and restaurants line the main street and there’re two piers. The one nearest to Big Buddha has daily ferries to Koh Pha-Ngan, Koh Tao and on to the mainland port of Chumpon, from which a VIP bus takes passengers to Hua Hin and on to Bangkok. Start to finish, it’s a 12-hour journey with about half of it on the boat. Just beside the ferry terminal in Bang Rak is one of the busiest fish markets on the island. Local fishermen drop their catches here and the place is bustling with people all day long. At the other end of town there’s a short-cut into Chaweng on a road called Soi Bond Kai (which the locals refer to as the ‘Ghost Road’).
Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi
The south-west part of the island is known as the ‘Virgin Coast’. It’s largely unspoiled with lots of secluded bays, although most of the shoreline tends to be rocky. The west coast overlooks the famous ‘five islands’ and some of the closer islands of the Angthong National Marine Park (which is a perfect getaway for a day’s boat trip excursion). In this part of the island there’re some hotels, private villas for rent, up-market and local restaurants and several temples of note, including two that house a mummified monk. A second car ferry terminal is located in Lipa Noi and, like the one in Nathon, boats to and from Donsak on the mainland arrive and depart every hour from 5:00 am until 6:00 pm (check for details). And inland on the island’s main ring-road there’re several large waterfall sites and a safari park with elephant trekking, animal shows and adventure tours. Further along, next to the Ford and Mazda dealers is a new Butterfly and Insect Kingdom Park. 16 l www.samuiholiday.com
Hua Thanon
This predominately muslim village is home to the descendants of some of the island’s earliest settlers. There’s still a thriving fishing fleet and fish market and a natural coastline that’s survived the ravages of time. Just after the village (coming from Lamai) you can turn off the ring-road to the left and signs will direct you to the nearby Tiger Zoo, Aquarium and Sea-life Show, the Butterfly Farm, the Snake Farm and the local Rum Distillery. There’re also dozens of little side roads that lead down to quiet beaches and out of the way local restaurants.
The Interior
Samui predominately consists of hills, mountains and coconut plantations. And few visitors make the time to appreciate its hidden beauty. One way to do so is to take the turning into Mae Nam Soi 1. A new road has recently been constructed that goes over the mountains all the way to Lamai. The drive is only about 20-25 minutes over 15 kilometres with a couple of stopping off areas that offer fabulous views. Another way to really get the full picture of Samui is from Tar Nim’s Magic Garden at the top of one of the island’s highest peaks. Built during a 25-year period by a local farmer the stone statues in the garden were sculpted by hand and sit over 2,000 feet above the beaches below. It’s a part of Samui that shouldn’t be missed.
Iconic Beachfront Restaurant Daily Modern European Asian Cuisine. Oyster Sunday Brunch from noon - 4 pm. With breathtaking views and an unrivalled ambiance, RockPool is an unmissable Samui dining attraction. Resting on the rocks just a few metres above the ocean, the RockPool terrace offers an exquisite beach-side dining experience. Chef Christopher's menu is an a la carte journey embracing an exotic tapestry of the freshest ingredients, delicately prepared to enhance each individual flavour. RockPool is the perfect location for all celebrations, and is equally delightful for a casual, gourmet lunch or a romantic dinner. Sunday Brunch is a long, lazy affair. RockPool is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Samui Royal Holdings Project
RESERVATIONS: 077 234 500 LOCATED BETWEEN CHAWENG AND CHOENG MON. COMPLIMENTARY ONE WAY TRANSFER TO OR FROM YOUR RESORT. Email: info@kandaresidences.com www.kandaresidences.com
THE LAS VEGAS OF THE EAST Why a trip to Chaweng should be on your itinerary. If you’ve been to Las Vegas, you’ve probably spent time on the famous (or infamous) ‘strip’. Out of nowhere, it appears and suddenly blinds you with bright lights, neon signs, loud pumping music, grand hotels, strange people dressed in costumes enticing you into clubs, stands selling everything from fake gambling cards to clothes, people on hen and stag nights drunkenly stumbling from one bar to the next, and even fairground rides whizzing over people entering the hotels. It’s completely overwhelming and a total sensory overload. Except for the fairground rides (that we know of), Chaweng, on the north east side of the island, is Thailand’s answer to the Las Vegas’s Strip. Before reaching it, the pretty countryside is dotted with palm trees, the sea ebbs and flows quietly along the coast, and all appears normal. Until, that is, you hit the top (or bottom) of the road through Chaweng Beach. The atmosphere itself is a living, breathing thing, a heady mix of colours, smells, sounds, luxury resorts, upmarket restaurants, tailors, cabarets, street food stands, unusual jewellery, clothing shops and rickety market stands selling everything from lamp shades carved out of coconuts, kids clothing, carved wooden statues and even cosmetics.
20 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 21
So let’s take a tour and start with our absolute favourite thing - food! You’ll never, ever go hungry in Chaweng. No matter what kind of food you’re after, there’s bound to be something to suit your taste. There are restaurants on the side of the street, some that flow out onto the beach and others that are tucked away in side alleys which just call out to be explored. You can find everything here - Thai, Swiss, American, Australian, German, Irish, French, Japanese and much more.
and try not to drool as you pass huge displays overflowing with ice and a fresh seafood selection that would make your local supermarket back home green with envy. However, if you prefer something more simple and traditional, head out into the side streets and try some noodles, fried rice with seafood, barbecued chicken, dried squid, smoothies, sweet tea and coffee, all from the street vendors.
At the top end of the scale, you can indulge in cuisine created by world class chefs. Enjoy peanut butter martinis, pork belly, lamb wellington, rock lobster, champagne soup, beef tenderloin, salmon and tiramisu. Walk along the streets
Once you’ve got a full stomach, you’ll have the energy to explore the rest of Chaweng and all it has to offer. Take a walk through Laem Din Market, a traditional Thai outdoor market that sells fresh produce, seafood, meat and cheap
22 l www.samuiholiday.com
clothes and even household products. You can find it at southern end of Chaweng Lake. It’s open daily from early in the morning until, well, early in the morning. How about some water sports? You’ve got a whole array of adrenalin-pumping activities to choose from. Jets skis, windsurfing, canoes, banana boats, sailing boats, catamarans and water-skis, are all available for rent. Spend your time whizzing around the calm seas feeling the warmth of the sun on your face and the wind blowing through your hair. This is the stuff holidays are made of. Ready for another adrenalin boost? How about a bungee jump? Apparently it’s the cheapest bungee jump in Thailand and if you’re one for collecting
achievements, it also dunks you into the deepest pool in Southern Thailand. Tempted? Imagine the incredible view of Chaweng! The operator has been on the island for more than a decade and can boast a 100% safety record. Running, backwards or reverse bungee jumps are also available. Not everyone can say they’ve done that on a tropical island. If you need to settle your nerves after all that, most of the hotels and resorts along the beachfront offer spa treatments. A variety of massages are available to ensure you and your body forget about the stresses of life back home (or your adrenalin packed morning). www.samuiholiday.com l 23
Maybe there’s just enough time for an afternoon nap before checking out the nightlife in Chaweng, as it’s a place that really comes alive at night. As you walk along, hearing music from the various establishments, you notice a group of women wearing nothing but skimpy leotards and high heels. Their legs would be the envy of most top models today. Massive feather head dresses sway gently as they parade around offering leaflets about a cabaret show nearby. Yes, these beautiful people standing in front of you with their stunning eye makeup, full lips and gorgeous bodies (and did I mention incredible legs) are in fact, ladyboys. Thai society is more open to ladyboys than many other cultures, and they play a prominent role in the nation’s entertainment industry. They are world famous and are sometimes not very easily spotted as many an unsuspecting tourist has discovered. The shows you’ll see here are all up beat with vibrant costumes and perfectly applied make-up. They’ll treat you to some great covers of popular songs while you enjoy a drink (or three). A fun, happy evening is almost guaranteed. Really, there’s not much you can’t do or find in Chaweng. Excellent shopping, unbelievable entertainment, delicious foods, friendly locals, cheap souvenirs, a bustling atmosphere, Thai boxing and much, much more. The question here isn’t why should you go to Chaweng, the question is why wouldn’t you?
Colleen Setchell
24 l www.samuiholiday.com
Romantic views, soothing sounds and classic Italian fare with a modern approach combine to please the most discerning diner. Olivio - a must for visitors and locals alike. Olivio ~ beachfront at Baan Haad Ngam Boutique Resort Chaweng Beach.
Free round trip transfer from Chaweng, Bophut and Choeng Mon. For reservation please call 0 7723 1500
Baan Haad Ngam Boutique Resort & Spa 154 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Tel: +66 77 231 500 Mob: +66 81 751 6073 Fax: +66 77 231 520 Email: info@baanhaadngam.com, booking@baanhaadngam.com www.baanhaadngam.com
The Place! The People! The Party! …amazing place for extraordinary people…
KC Beach Club & Pool Villas – new stylish & modern hotel with 42 luxury rooms & pool villas. Great entertainment program in the Beach Club. Open bar & à la carte dining.
Follow us on
: KC Beach Club & Pool Villas Koh Samui
KC Beach Club & Pool Villas Koh Samui on Chaweng Beach Every Saturday & Sunday Pool Party from 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 pm Weekend Lunch Buffet from 1-5 pm In House DJ Club Music
www.kcbeachclub.com rsvn@kcbeachclubsamui.com Tel: +66 (0) 77 915 155
YULE TIDINGS What to expect at Christmas-time on Samui.
28 l www.samuiholiday.com
There are few places livelier than Samui at Christmas. Well, actually, there are probably quite a lot! But how many of them can also offer the sheer relaxation of a lovely tropical island? It’s Christmas away from home – and that means no hassles, no stress, no need for all that shopping, and then a whole day spent in the kitchen. If you’ve been here before you’ll know what to expect. But if you haven’t then you’re probably in for a few surprises. On quite a few occasions, visitors in June or August have smiled in amusement and commented about the Christmas lights and decorations that are still up around the island. Well, of course! For the Thai nation, it’s probably the best bit of the whole business. They don’t celebrate Christmas, you see. Not officially. But this is a land with no general annual holidays, and where most people regularly work six, if not seven, days a week. So they will let
their hair down when it’s the New Year (and they’ll enthusiastically embrace three of those, one each for Thailand, Europe and China!). But are you expecting Christmas Day to be on the 25th? It all depends where you come from. Our visitors have changed of late – the demographics have shifted. A decade ago, Samui was mainly visited by the British, Australians and Western Europeans (plus a few Americans and Canadians). And, for all but the German contingent, the big event was a blowout festive meal in the afternoon of the 25th. But German tradition does this at Heiligabend, in the evening of the 24th. However, on Samui today, there are now huge numbers of Chinese and Korean visitors. Not to mention an ever-increasing contingent of semi-residents from Russia, just to stir the ethnic mixture!
www.samuiholiday.com l 29
The Russians appear to have had a rough deal when it comes to having fun at Christmas. (By the way, ‘Russian’ seems to have become a generic term for anyone that’s Russian speaking, whether they’re from Moscow or Moldova.) It was forbidden to publicly celebrate Christmas in Russia for most of the 20th century, although now there appears to have been something of a swing back to the Russian Orthodox Church. This is where things get interesting. It’s a 50/50 chance that seasonal carousing will be heard either on the 25th December (thanks to the Roman Emperor Constantine who rearranged all the Christian festival dates in 324 AD) or alternatively on the 7th January, if you’re a Russian Orthodox and thus bound to the old ‘Julian Calendar’. Or, if you’re Russian and you’re here on Samui, probably on both of these dates, and good luck to you! (I wonder how long it will take for the Thais to catch on and adopt 7th January, too . . .) But if you’re staying in a resort then it’ll be pretty straight forward; many resorts seem to have standardised their Christmas meals to be on the 24th, but you’ll obviously need to check this. Also, (and seeing that you’re reading this on Samui, it’s a bit late now!), a Christmas booking at most resorts usually includes the festive meal in the (somewhat higher) price. But for those of you who aren’t tied to a resort, you’re utterly spoiled for choice when it comes to deciding what to do. And that invariably means where to go and eat. Oh yes – and maybe drink a bit too! It’s difficult to know quite where and how to pitch this next part, as it naturally divides itself into two distinct areas. You need to bear in mind that many of Samui’s top restaurants are located within resorts. There’s nothing private about them: these ‘signature restaurants’ provide superb cuisine and are, to all intents 30 l www.samuiholiday.com
and purposes, self-standing. But they don’t do ‘pub grub’. A 5-star restaurant will be understandably pricier than even a ‘gourmet pub’. Thus, if this year’s Christmas is a special occasion, you’ve got names like Conrad, Four Seasons, Renaissance, Banyan Tree, Six Senses, Intercontinental or W Retreat (to name but a few) to pick from. But you’d better make a booking, like . . . yesterday! It’s worth mentioning here that Samui now offers an alternative to the traditional sit-down meal. There are several ‘beach clubs’ which will not only offer festive fare but will present this in a much livelier and young-at-heart environment, including live instrumentalists, visiting Ibiza-style DJs and daytime pool parties. Names that leap to mind are Nikki Beach over on the west coast, Beach Republic in Lamai and Chaweng’s KC Beach Club. For details of what’s on over the Christmas period, have a dig round on the internet – they all keep up-to-theminute info on their Facebook pages. Then we come to the nitty-gritty of holidays everywhere – top quality food at every-day prices from restaurants and pubs that are easy to find. Wandering around Fisherman’s Village also reveals several sports pubs that are running traditional British/Irish Christmas lunches and dinners. Then in Chaweng you’ll find, amongst others, the Islander and Tropical Murphy’s. Needless to say, your meal at every one of the places mentioned will need to be reserved in advance. Hopefully you’re not too late. But, at least with the info above, you’ll be up to date with the latest tidings on what to do here over Christmas and the Yuletide season.
Rob De Wet
AN EXQUISITE BEACHFRONT SETTING FOR AN INCOMPARABLE CULINARY EXPERIENCE Panali is the ideal backdrop for a sumptuous gastronomic journey into the aromas and flavours of Chef Dario Congera’s cuisine; a heartfelt translation of the Italian tradition. Alfresco dining takes on a whole new meaning at Panali, with breathatking views of the evening lights over the sparkling sea combined with backlit palm trees and the soft sounds of the Gulf of Thailand for a most unique ambience. Operating Hours: 11:00 hrs. - 23:00 hrs. For reservations, please call 077-915-555. VANA BELLE A Luxury Collection Resort 9/99 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi Beach Surat Thani, Koh Samui 84320, Thailand
AN AUTHENTIC EPICUREAN JOURNEY TO DISTINGUISHED FLAVOURS AWAITS. Kiree, Vana Belle's signature restaurant, extends the warmest Thai hospitality complemented with service that exceeds every expectation. Soak in the essence of the destination during the sunset hours over a choice of Southern Thai delicacies served the traditional way. Against a show kitchen backdrop of black marble, Vana Belle’s culinary team pay homage to local dishes through their rendition of marinades and aromatic flavours. Operating Hours: 18.00 hrs.-23.00 hrs. For reservations, please call 077-915-555. VANA BELLE A Luxury Collection Resort 9/99 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi Beach Surat Thani, Koh Samui 84320, Thailand
34 l www.samuiholiday.com
SOMETHING
FOR THE BOYS Breeze Spa has created some unique spa treatments specially for men.
Tucked between hundreds of shady palm trees and located on both sides of Chaweng Beach Road, Amari Palm Reef is a peaceful oasis where you can escape the stresses and strains of modern day life. Even though the resort is only a short walk from the centre of Chaweng, it’s far enough away to enjoy the peace and quiet that most people come to Samui to enjoy. Nestled in their beautiful tropical gardens, you’ll find Amari’s own Breeze Spa. Open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm every day, their selection of luxurious spa treatments will realign both your body and mind, and leave you feeling like a whole new person. The combination of centuries-old traditions with modern training allows the therapists to tap into a variety of different skills to tailor the treatment to suit you. Breeze Spa offers oil massages, body polishes, body wraps, facials, water treatments and a whole manner of beauty therapies. But if you’re a man, don’t stop reading there. They have a great selection of treatments specifically geared for men … and they’re proving very popular. Did you know that according to a recent survey, the number of men visiting spas is on the increase? Spas nowadays have become much more ‘manfriendly’, changing the fragrance of essential oils used to more ‘manly’ smells such as bitter orange, sandalwood, cedar wood and even rosemary; using non-floral ingredients for skin treatments such as green tea and algae; changing which magazines are placed in the men’s relaxation areas and providing neutral coloured robes and decor. Some spas even offer organic ale at the end of treatments!
www.samuiholiday.com l 35
Spa Finder, the world’s largest spa and wellness media and marketing company, reported that “the male spa-goer increased nearly 900% in the past 4 years. Over 30% of their enquiries come from men who want to lose weight and improve diet and fitness. Up to 60% of men are seeking a retreat to keep their minds off of work and there is a significant increase of men booking spa vacations alone.” Men now make up 29% of all spa-goers and many will treat themselves on a weekly basis. Breeze Spa has tapped into this emerging market. Their spa is full of warm, earthy colours; wood and stone, and will certainly appeal to both sexes. They have created a set of treatments specifically for men with distinctly ‘non-girly’ names such as Workaholics Reprieve, Alpha Male, and As Good as New. If you’re a man, you most certainly won’t find yourself wrapped in a pink fluffy towel, listening to the soundtrack of the latest ‘chick-flick’ while being massaged with rose-scented body lotion. Do not fear! Each treatment has been specifically geared towards men and their associated lifestyles. Let’s take a closer look …
36 l www.samuiholiday.com
Known for pushing themselves too hard, stressed-out men can enjoy the ‘Workaholics Reprieve’. Focusing primarily on the back, head, neck and shoulders, the high-pressure techniques will work out all those kinks created from too much hunching over keyboards late at night. ‘As Good as New’ will leave you feeling … well, as good as new. A combination of powerful techniques from both Thailand and China will ensure that every last bit of tension is removed from your body, from head to toe. ‘Work it Out’ is designed for those who have perhaps gone a little too mad in the gym (what are you doing in the gym on holiday, anyway?), and is a hot stone massage designed to alleviate even the deepest muscle tension. Once relaxed, your muscles are kneaded and stretched to remove any trace of lactic acids. The treatment finishes with a scalp massage. We challenge you not to fall asleep… Breeze Spa offers two facial treatments for men. While they acknowledge that men are ‘big and strong’, they know that they can also suffer from acne or dry
skin, and both of these treatments will give way to clearer, more supple skin. The ‘Alpha Male’ is designed to treat specific skin conditions such as pimples, blackheads or oil build ups, and the ‘Hydro Male’ is designed to rehydrate skin which has lost its glow due to long exposure to the elements, whether hot or cold. Lastly, there is a manicure and a pedicure. Don’t laugh - your nails won’t be painted pink or encrusted with small gem stones ready for a night out in Chaweng. These treatments include a cleansing, a nail trim, a buff and a deep moisturising session and are great for men with physical hands-on jobs who have developed rough skin and nails - nothing girly about that! If you’d like to have a spa treatment as a couple, that’s also possible. Breeze Spa offers a spa package called ‘Love at First Sight’. It includes a body scrub, oil massage then a milky bath with red rose petals in either the spa or the privacy of your own room. A truly special experience and perfect as a gift for a loved one (and yourself!). www.samuiholiday.com l 37
Breeze Spa offers a whole range of products which are available for purchase. One particular product which caught our eye was the ‘Mango and Sticky Rice Body Scrub’. Smelling truly edible, this product is used with coconut milk to gently exfoliate and moisturise your skin. What better way to experience Thailand than with a mango, sticky rice and coconut milk body treatment. Spas are the ideal way to relax and unwind from the stresses and strains of every-day life. Whether you have a fast-paced life, a tough personal 38 l www.samuiholiday.com
life, a hard work-out regime and are male or female, make sure you plan a visit to Breeze Spa while you’re on the island.
Colleen Setchell
________________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 2015-19. www.breeze-spa.com
HAND-MADE JEWELRY MADE TO ORDER. GOLD, SILVER, LEATHER, PRECIOUS AND SEMI PRECIOUS STONES. LEARN TO MAKE SILVER JEWELRY WITH US IN 1, 2 OR 3 DAYS
LOCATED AT CHAWENG BEACH ROAD PHONE: +(66)0 7742 2594, +(66)08 1370 1791 WWW.THAILAND-JEWELRY.COM CHAWENG BEACH ROAD
Supermarket
40 l www.samuiholiday.com
DELVING
THE DEPTHS RockPool is more than just a restaurant – it’s become a genre all by itself!
Do you realise you’ve got a problem? Probably not! If you’re fortunate enough to be visiting our lovely little island then you’re most likely content. There’s plenty to do and see, and even just strolling around is an adventure. There are shops, stalls and restaurants aplenty. And when it comes to dining out, there are so many places to choose from, just on the main streets alone. And there you have it. That’s the problem. You’re spoiled for choice. Because, although there are many good ones right out on the road, many of the best restaurants are hidden away. And that’s particularly true of RockPool. Although, it has to be said right away, it’s not at all hard to find. Nor is it a long haul to get there, particularly if you’re close to Chaweng. RockPool is the boutique signature restaurant of Kanda Residences Samui, which is situated just a little way north of Chaweng on the coast road leading to Choeng Mon. Kanda is one of the island’s more refined boutique resorts, but even the generous dimensions of the reception area don’t hint at the size of the spread of walled villas that wend their way down the hillside below. But, picking up a golf-cart from reception and whirring through what seems to be a maze of tiny lanes dripping with blooms, it won’t be long before you alight at the small archway outside the restaurant. Be prepared for a surprise. At first glance, as you enter, the restaurant appears to be of modest dimensions, open and airy, with a lounge at one side, a bar at the other and with a tranquil seascape as a backdrop. Then you’ll realise that you can’t see the rest of it from here, and this top deck is only a part of it. There’s a very laid-back lower platform perched above the rocks, pavilioned and canopied, with huge daybeds, a boundary bar-top for perching and a massive spreading fruit tree dappling it all with shade.
www.samuiholiday.com l 41
RockPool is a fine-dining restaurant. But any venue with a layout and design such as this also lends itself to something more. However, quite how all this works out depends on the outlook of the owners. In this case, it adds up to outgoing and forward thinking. And in real terms that means anything from parties on the upper deck, with music ranging from international DJs, to some very smooth live jazz, afternoon family brunches, plus, over the years, a whole catalogue of one-off appearances from internationally renowned entertainers and performers. Like I said, there’s no set formula, and thus nowhere else quite like this on Samui. But all these things, seductive though they are, are what have to be called occasional events. First and foremost, RockPool is a very good restaurant. Right from the start, the intention here was to install a world-class chef to mould a marvellous menu. And today, the man wearing the toque is Chris Pierre. Like all committed and creative chefs, he’s a food fanatic. Here is a man who has taken himself off the beaten track in Africa, Asia and India in search of traditional and ethnic cooking techniques. He’ll cook fish sealed inside bamboo or make a charcoal oven in the sand – though it has to be said that at RockPool he’s mostly in a real kitchen!
42 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 43
You also need to understand that the menu here at RockPool isn’t quite as simple as the headings of ‘breakfast’, ‘lunch’ and ‘dinner’. For a start, there’s an outstanding tapas menu, which runs throughout the day, and this really gives the gist of Chris’s approach. ‘Scallops with spicy mayo, flying fish roe and whisky flambé’. Or ‘char-grilled aubergine with sesame, soy and crispy onions’. You’ll find that there are six fish, six meat and six veggie movements in the tapas symphony here. And then to the à la carte menu. The sectioning is what you’d expect, with essentially headings of starters, soups, mains and desserts. Thus, the symphony’s second act continues with arias such as ‘sweet wasabi pearl with teriyaki caviar, fresh watermelon and yuzu tapioca’. The oysters are a speciality and flown in from all over the world. Following this, you can select your own live imported lobster from the tank and enjoy it prepared in any one of six different ways. And the desserts are just so out of the ordinary that they warrant a whole article just by themselves. But, in line with their reputation as an innovative venue, it’s hard to separate the food from the (very laid-back) fun at RockPool. Thus on the last Sunday of this month it’s worth keeping an eye out for the Salsa Brunch – which is more or less an all-day affair. Smooth jazz then Latin jazz with a salsa show and DJ afterwards, free-flow margaritas, a happy hour at 4:30 pm (with one free jug of sangria per couple ordering brunch) and entertainment throughout. More details of this, and other events, can be found on their Facebook page.
And the style of the cuisine? Well, like other aspects of RockPool it, too, defies a nice neat label. “I’m fascinated with everything to do with food,” Chris told me. “I believe in ‘real’ food; authentic cuisine that’s cooked in exactly the right way to not only keep the flavour but enhance it. I’m constantly drawing from Indian, Asian or South American ingredients and techniques to highlight what would often be just a straightforward dish in many other restaurants.”
44 l www.samuiholiday.com
I could have approached this story as if it were a restaurant review. But RockPool isn’t just a restaurant, nor can it be deemed some sort of a ‘beach club’! It’s a great daytime snack-off spot, it’s brilliant for sunset cocktails, and it has a life of its own that runs alongside all of this too. RockPool is unique – and truly in a genre all by itself!
Rob De Wet
________________________________________________________ For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7723 4500. www.kandaresidences.com.
BAR & RESTAURANT
Open from 10:00 am - 01:00 am (main kitchen), with pizzas being served until 1:00 am. For reservations and further information, telephone 077 961 648 www.spagosamui.com
Grill & BBQ Fish and Seafood Open from 12:00 am - 01:00 am For reservations and further information, telephone 077 963 213 www.galangasamui.com
READY FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT? Combining the weird and the wonderful at Drink Gallery. Cocktails. Where would our tropical island be without cocktails? The first recorded use of the word cocktail is found in ‘The Morning Post and Gazetteer’ on March 20, 1798 in London, England, but according to the Oxford English dictionary, the word ‘cocktail’ actually originated in America. In 1806, in an edition of ‘The Balance and Columbian Repository’, a publication in Hudson, New York, the definition of a cocktail appeared as follows; “Cock-tail is a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water, and bitters - it is vulgarly called bittered sling, and is supposed to be an excellent electioneering potion, inasmuch as it renders the heart stout and bold, at the same time that it fuddles the head. It is said, also to be of great use to
46 l www.samuiholiday.com
a democratic candidate: because a person, having swallowed a glass of it, is ready to swallow anything else.” If you’ve ever enjoyed a cocktail or three, you’ll understand that this is indeed very true! There are many interesting stories as to where the actual word itself comes from. One story which sounds remotely believable is as follows: old taverns kept their spirits in casks and, as the level of liquid in the casks lowered, the spirits would lose both their flavour and potency. This liquid would be combined and sold at a reduced price and was referred to as the ‘cock tailings’ or tailings from the stop cock of the cask.
But cocktails have come a long way since 1806, and now most bars and restaurants will offer some form of cocktail, from the old classics to some that are both weird and wonderful. But in this day and age, how do you get your cocktails to stand out? Well, what if I told you that you can head to a bar in a modern, contemporary resort which has its own cocktail mixologist, Dhasan Prabhananda, who visits every few months to tweak their already incredible cocktail menu. His work has been described as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;liquid poetryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and, using the sales as a good judge of popularity, all his cocktails are regularly changed or tweaked as necessary. The resort is The Library, and the bar is
www.samuiholiday.com l 47
48 l www.samuiholiday.com
Drink Gallery. Located on the beach road in Chaweng, it has been described as ‘eclectic, artistic, unique, alternative and upmarket’, however its decor, atmosphere and selection of drinks and snacks ensure it is welcoming and accessible to everyone. With these things in mind, you can only begin to imagine what types of cocktails are on offer. Here, listening to music (either live or by the resident DJ) every day of the week, you can sit back and sample the Alpha Queen, The Parch, Focus of Chi, Breaking Dawn and Privateer’s Dessert Jar. Any guesses about the ingredients in any of those? The truth is Drink Gallery has a cocktail menu that will both confuse and delight you. ‘Confuse you’ because you might have thought cocktails were merely spirits with mixers along with a sprig of fruit for decoration. ‘Delight you’ because here you will be completely blown away. With over 20 signature cocktails and 1,000 bottles on display, the four cocktail bar staff mix, crush, shake, ignite, decorate and pour their way through each evening enthralling customers left, right and centre.
www.samuiholiday.com l 49
Get swept away with the sweet smell of crystallising sugar as the senior cocktail mixer, known affectionately as Jimmy, gently browns some sugar on top of some pineapple chunks, then throws it into a glass and crushes everything together with fresh lime juice, mint leaves, pineapple juice, a healthy dash of spirit and, and this part might surprise you, hazelnut syrup! Be careful with ‘The Parch’, it tastes so much like a fresh, sweet pineapple drink that you might enjoy it just a little too quickly... Perhaps the ‘Breaking Dawn’ is more to your liking, with mixed berry tea, fresh lime, raspberry purée, mint, maple syrup and of course, a shot of spirit. This is no ordinary cocktail; here you will have herb-infused wood smoke softly pumped onto the top of your cocktail served in a huge square jar. Stunningly attractive at night, where else can you get something that looks and tastes so magical? If you cannot decide between a dessert and a cocktail why not go for both with the Tooth Fairy’s Dream? Vanilla ice-cream, Baileys, rum and hot espresso all served in individual containers designed to make a cocktail after passing your tastebuds. Or the delicious Apple Crumble Martini made with vodka, Grand Marnier, apple juice, fresh lime and
cinnamon syrup. The Privateer’s Dessert Jar has rum, five-spice syrup, coffee liquor, rum and raisin ice cream and Coca-Cola - a total taste explosion. The Hazelnut Espresso Martini, with its Espresso vodka, hazelnut syrup and a shot of espresso, whisked to a froth and served in a martini glass, might fool you into thinking you can have it to start your day or perhaps something to guarantee you stay awake for your night out on the town? If you find it hard to make a decision, this isn’t the place for you! If you don’t drink alcohol, there is no reason for you to miss out on the fun. Amongst their various ‘mocktails’, you can find a pear and cucumber cooler which, besides apple juice and pear purée, contains elderflower syrup and cucumber. The Alpha Queen can be enjoyed completely guilt-free - mangosteen juice, lychee juice, lavender, citrus and ginger. Their mocktails are all really healthy and can surely be enjoyed while on the strictest of detoxes! If you’d like to experience a whole new world of cocktails, head down to Drink Gallery where, with ingredients such as lavender, ginger, ice cream, mixed berry tea, cinnamon syrup and cucumber, you’re absolutely certain to find something that appeals to you.
Colleen Setchell
____________________________________________________ For reservations or further information,telephone 0 7742 2299. www.thelibrary.co.th
50 l www.samuiholiday.com
EMS
Lounge Restaurant K o h
S a m u i
Koh Samui's Premier Restaurant and Lounge Indulge in the succulent cocktails and provocative global fusion cuisine of the lavish and luxurious 9Gems Restaurant & Lounge as you experience a 360 degree view of Koh Samui.
“Miami Vice meets Buddha Bar.” CNNgo.com “Gastronomic delights were served with great panache, and it's no surprise that the cuisine was absolutely divine.” Betty Page, Mutiboko.co.uk “Without a doubt, it is Koh Samui's most precious gem.” Nicole Christine Valdes, Samui Lifestyle Featured in ELLE Decoration, the innovative design and incredibly chic ambience makes for an experience unlike any other.
Dress code: trendy or smart casual. Minimum age: 12+ (Screaming children will not be tolerated.) Opening Hours: Tuesday – Thursday: 16:00 – 24:00, Friday – Sunday: 16:00 – 02:00 (Kitchen Closes 23:00) Closed 1-27 November Tel: 0 7725 6125 Mobile: 0 806 920 520
Be Sweet
Be Wild
Be 9Gems
www.9GEMSsamui.com
NATURE IN ALL HER SPLENDOUR Nature Art Gallery offers bespoke jewellery using only natural materials.
Nature Art Gallery, on Chaweng Beach Road, is just the place to go should you be looking for something a little different. Co-owner, Michael Trav, describes their style as ‘ethnic’, and believes in using only natural materials when creating the pieces. A variety of materials are used to create an interesting array of pieces – leather, precious and semi-precious stones, shells, fossils, silver and gold. Their range includes rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants, belly chains, anklets, earrings and buckles, as well as larger accessories such as handbags and belts.
The Rasaili family, led by Hari, hail from Nepal, and are now based on Samui as Nature Art’s four onsite goldsmiths. The team makes the majority of the jewellery on display and the rest is sourced from talented designers around the world. The family has been crafting jewellery for generations, and can proudly say that Hari, his father, and his grandfather before that, were all ‘Goldsmith to the King of Nepal’ – quite a feather in their cap. So Nature Art are quite lucky to have this family based at the studio upstairs. Taking a look through the workshop, you’ll see them tinkering away old-school style, heating and hammering the metal. Jewellery is designed as a team, with input from owners Michael and Shai, and also from customers requiring personalised pieces.
A chat to Michael revealed what’s new and exciting in the gallery-style shop, all a result of their dedicated searching far and wide for worldclass crafters to supply their customers. An Israeli crafter produces a range of leather and electroformed silver bracelets and other jewellery. The electroforming process makes it possible to create thin, hollow items in complex, three-dimensional shapes. The combination of this silver added to the natural tones of leather creates an interesting look that’s easy to wear. Another display cabinet shows off a new range of chunky silver bracelets by an Italian designer, while a colourful display of stingray skin bracelets occupies another shelf. Stingray skin sparkles like tiny diamonds and takes on dye easily, meaning that the colour options are endless. It’s also lightweight, so easy to string a few up your arm, colour-coded to your outfit. Although the stingray bracelets are made in Thailand, they are mostly for export and are only sold at Nature Art within the country. Some are plain and others have bling, embedded with metal and jewels. Aside from the bracelets, customers can also select from an equally colourful range of stingray wallets and purses too.
56 l www.samuiholiday.com
SAREERAYA CHAWENG BEACH
SAMUI
And sticking with wallets, if you’re into exotic leathers, ranges in python, crocodile and ostrich hide are available too. If you’re after something a little bigger than a wallet, Nature Art also stock a range of handcrafted leather handbags. The owners have had a store on Koh Pha-Ngan for 15 years, and in Chaweng for nearly five years, where they enjoy sharing their love of stones with customers. There’s a large selection of gems, as well as polished and cut shells and fossils to choose from should you not find exactly what you want ready-made in the store. Another way that they share their love of unique jewellery is by offering one-, two-, or threeday jewellery-making workshops under the guidance of the Rasaili gold and silversmiths in the little upstairs studio. Whether you have a design in mind, or need some inspiration, they will help you from the conceptualising stage through to the finished masterpiece.
Every Monday
Thai Buffet & Seafood Beach BBQ Spice up your evening with our superb Thai Buffet using only the freshest ingredients available to create a real Thai taste. Includes a large selection of Thai appetizers, Main Courses, Salads, Desserts, Beach BBQ, Beef, Steaks, Seafood. From 07.00 - 10.00 pm 1,200 THB adults 600 THB kids (6-12 years) Children below 6 years old free of charge
Every Thursday
Asian Buffet & Seafood Beach BBQ Come enjoy all of your tasty Asian favorites! We offer a varied menu to suit all tastes including Asian & Western food, Sushi, Sashimi, BBQ with Australian Beef, Steaks, Seafood caught fresh from the Sea, Dessert Buffet and other delicacies, over 40 dishes of delight. From 07.00 - 10.00 pm 1,400 THB adults 700 THB kids (6-12 years) Children below 6 years old free of charge Day and location of Buffet subject to change, please double check with us for a guaranteed booking
at Sareeraya Villas & Suites, Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui. Tel: 0 7791 4333, Email: info@sareeraya.com www.sareeraya.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 57
There’s a vast selection of precious and semi-precious stones to choose from, but a couple of lesser-known ones stand out if you’re thinking of having a piece made. One that is particularly beautiful is moldavite, which resembles a dark green moss. It looks equally as exquisite in its rough as well as polished state. The stone is the result of a meteor collision with the Earth about 15 million years ago, which occurred in an area which is now known as the Moldau River Valley in the Czech Republic. The stones are amongst the rarest minerals on Earth, and are often given as gifts between royal families. Legend has it that moldavite was the green stone in the Holy Grail and has the power to quicken the wearer’s spiritual evolution. Many people feel the energy of moldavite, often
58 l www.samuiholiday.com
sensing a heat or tingling sensation in the hand when it’s held, and others feel a rush of energy through their body. Also beautiful is larimar, known too as pectolite, a blue stone from the Caribbean. Its colour resembles the same intense turquoise as the water from where it originates, and it compliments a breezy, tropical outfit perfectly. Larimar represents peace and clarity and emits a healing energy, as well as facilitating inner wisdom – apparently it’s been used to bring financial fortune to its wearers.
Nature Art Gallery is not a store that you’ll just pop into for a minute. There’s always something else that will catch your eye and draw you closer, and tempt you to open your wallet. As the name suggests, all pieces are displayed beautifully as if in a gallery, so you’ll need time to browse and admire accordingly.
Rosanne Turner
___________________________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7742 2594 or 0 813 701 791. www.thailand-jewelry.com.
www.samuiholiday.com l 59
VALUE FOR MONEY AT
SCL INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL Hotels aren’t the only ones offering ‘all inclusive’ deals.
60 l www.samuiholiday.com
Let’s face it - school fees aren’t cheap. But when you think about what is being provided for your children at school, it’s hardly surprising. But what is surprising is finding out that a whole host of things are in fact included in the tuition fees, and then it all becomes worth it. SCL International School are already a well-established and respected school on the island. They are proud of their family-oriented atmosphere, their caring environment and their excellent British and Thai curriculum. And along with their dedicated team of teaching staff, the school is a wonderful place for your children to be educated. The school offers a varied ‘After School Activities Program’ for both their Primary and Secondary students, and they also have specialist teachers who teach various languages. On the subject of languages, let’s talk first about the advantages of children learning a second (or even a third) language. Children have flexible ear and speech muscles that are able to differentiate between the sounds of another language, and therefore are able to reproduce them easily. In the first six years of life, a child’s brain is learning more during language acquisition than any other cognitive ability. They learn naturally, taking in the
sounds, structures, tones and patterns of the language. Research has shown that children who study foreign languages show higher cognitive performance in basic skills such as problem-solving, spatial relations and creativity. It also shows that multi-linguals use more of their brains than mono-linguals. So learning a second language actually encourages flexible thinking and allows your child to optimise their learning potential. At SCL, language studies are readily available, with French, Russian, English, Chinese (Mandarin) and Thai all offered. Lessons are taught by specialist teachers as part of the normal school day, but in addition to this they offer ‘After School Language Clubs’ which are … get this … included in the tuition fees! Yes, you read that right. This does not cost extra. All language support and the extra clubs are included. The clubs are an extension of what was taught during the day and involve games and activities to help cement what the children have learnt during the day. The emphasis is on fun rather than the serious side of learning grammar. I wish I was at school again - a club full of fun which will make me cleverer - where can I sign up? (However, if do you do require further private tuition outside of school hours, this can be arranged directly with the teacher.) www.samuiholiday.com l 61
Something else which, according to a recent American research report, improves problem-solving and critical thinking skills is art education. Things like drawing and sculpting with clay help develop visual-spatial skills. SCL has a fine-arts teacher who as well as teaching art, is also a commissioned artist and has even produced pieces of work for a large UK corporation. As well as the ‘usual’ study of art history and appreciation, his students also get to recreate items from the art world, and soon sculpture will be introduced into the curriculum (and we all know how much children love to get their hands dirty). In fact, in the last week of last term, the school put together a huge fair called the ‘International Food and Arts Fair’, and part of it was an art exhibition called ‘Images of Thailand’. Each year group was given a different theme and the students were given free reign as to what materials they could use to showcase their theme. The themes spanned many of the wonderful things that Thailand has to offer such as ‘Beaches’, ‘Coconut Palms’, ‘Under the Sea’, ‘Orchids’ and ‘The Karen Hill Tribe’. The students threw themselves wholeheartedly into this exhibition and their creativity bubbled over in all projects. For example, they took photos of palm trees then tore up the photos and used them to make pictures of palm trees for the ‘Coconut Palms’ project, and even used real orchid petals to make collages of orchids for the ‘Orchid’ project. There was an ‘SCL’s got Talent’ show at the fair. The teachers were the judges and after voting took place, a winner was crowned. Different dances of the world were celebrated in the ‘Grooving around the Globe’ performance, where people 62 l www.samuiholiday.com
Dream Holiday under Palms Only a 35 minutes drive from Koh Samui’s small scenic airport, close to the island´s picturesque little town Nathon and near the Public hospital this prestigious address is one of the best known secrets of the island. Located on Santi Beach the Siam Residence Deluxe is nestled in tropical gardens. Created to provide the very best of Thai hospitality, this small luxury retreat incorporates luxurious accommodations, attentive service and excellent cuisine in an atmosphere of calm and seclusion. The perfect destination for an unforgettable holiday ‐ a place to return to …
1 or 2 bedroom luxury villas, separate living room, marble bath, two toilets, party second open air bath, familiy villas (130 m2!). Tropical garden, designer‐pool, german‐speaking management, Restaurant, Sala directly at the beach!
got to watch salsa dancing from Cuba, a form of kung fu dancing, ballet from Russia, geisha girls showing traditional Japanese dancing and even a highland fling from Scotland. If this isn’t enough to convince you that this is a ‘cool school’, then take a look at the ‘After School Activities Program’. There’s a story-telling club, a craft club, a cooking club, a music club, an art club, various sports clubs (football, badminton, netball and basketball), a musical theatre club, a film club, student newspaper and a computing club. I suspect your child will never be bored here, and judging from all the research about art and languages, they can only benefit from this incredible selection of activities. And, it’s good for you too - do you know why? Yes, you guessed it - the cost is all included in the tuition fees. So no hidden costs, barrels of fun for the children, possible intelligence improvements and no dents in Mum and Dad’s bank account.
Enjoy your lunch or spectacular sunset dinner at the open air Pavilion restaurant directly at the beach overlooking the sea and the intimate atmosphere of a small luxury villa resort. Authentic Thai and international cuisine and wines. Join us for a relaxed and unforgetable dining experience! Open daily from 7.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. (ask for free pick‐up service)
Sounds like a winning deal if you ask me...
Colleen Setchell
__________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7741 8789. www.sclinternationalschool.com
Santi Beach – Lipanoi Tel: 077‐420008 – Fax: 077‐420009 e‐mail: samui@siamresidence.com www.siamresidence.com www.samuiholiday.com l 63
READY, STEADY…
FUN! Samui’s first ‘Soap Box Derby, Music & Beer Festival is coming this December.
Singapore has the Formula One Grand Prix. Hua Hin has elephant polo. And Samui now has the first annual ‘Soap Box Derby, Music & Beer Festival’, to be held on 14th December 2013. OK, so it might not get quite as much international coverage as the Formula One… yet. But, over 5,000 spectators are expected to gather for the occasion, which will involve around 2,000 hotel staff from the island competing in the event, organised by the Thai Hotel Association of Samui (THA). So what’s the concept behind the Soap Box Derby? The idea is to bring all the hotel staff on the island together to celebrate the end of another successful year in tourism. The race and accompanying festivities replace a previous event which was a dinner held annually solely for the general managers of the hotels. Now, all staff are able to participate and let their hair down.
64 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 65
The main event involves a ten-hour soap box relay race around a two kilometre track circumnavigating Chaweng Lake. Participants will race in teams representing their hotel or business, and teams can have as many as 30 members, which allows staff to come down to the race in shifts, so that hotels can still operate as normal for the day. Not only does the race bring as many of the hotels together as possible, but also departments within each hotel, as all are encouraged to participate. The engineering departments will be involved in constructing the structure of the soap box, and other departments will be in charge of aspects such as decorating the soap box or designing costumes. Managing Director of Zazen, Alexander Andries, who’s closely involved in putting the event together, hopes that hotels will get as creative as possible to make the race more interesting for spectators too. But he also hopes that everyone will have fun and take the race as it’s intended – a fun event for all to enjoy. It’s not about winning but about a day to relax and enjoy the festivities and have a good laugh too. At midday on Saturday 14th December the race will begin, and last a gruelling ten hours, whereby teams will try to do as many laps as possible around the circuit. Participants will need to test the durability of their vehicles prior to the event to ensure they don’t come apart before the final whistle at 10:00 pm. There will however be pit lanes where minor repairs can be done during the race, and this is also the only area where teammates can change places in the peddling seat if they need to rest weary muscles. Of course, the beer tent is in easy walking distance of the pit stops too in case riders need ‘refuelling’… Never seen a soap box derby before? Well, basically two bicycles are welded together to form a platform in the middle, making a framework for the ‘box’. The only rule of the race as far as vehicle construction is concerned, is only that the soap box must be made from two bicycles and must have a minimum of three wheels – the rest is up to the engineer and designers of each team. There’s a fine line between functionality and aesthetics though, as prizes are granted for both speed (how many laps in ten hours) and also for awards such as ‘most beautiful soap box’, and ‘most original soap box’. And this is where hotels, beer suppliers and other companies competing can bring across not only brand awareness, but also show the fun side of their company. Create a soap box that’s fast, and you may have to cut back on a fancy shape and design; one that’s big, bold and eye-catching, and you may compromise on speed, so careful planning is 66 l www.samuiholiday.com
involved. Team members need to be dressed up in the theme representing their soap box, and the only limit regarding the size or concept of the vehicle, is the team’s imagination. But win or lose, the idea is to have a fun and memorable day, and every team member who crosses the finish line will also receive a commemorative medal. The event organisers are expecting around 30 teams to partake in the event, so there’ll be plenty of antics for spectators to watch, as competitors in colourful and creative soap boxes battle it out for the title of ‘Koh Samui Soap Box Derby 2013 Champions’. But the fun isn’t limited to watching the race. The ‘Paddocks’ demarcate the food and beverage area, with the beer festival tents and terraces as well as Thai Hotels Association food stalls. Beer suppliers will use the opportunity to market their brands, both local and imported, creating a true German-style beer festival atmosphere. The food stands will be represented by not only the hotels competing in the race, but others too – a great way to sample cuisine from the various resorts around the island. Add to this, bars, a live-music stage, and DJs and you have a fun-filled day to remember. At 7:00 pm, ‘Miss Pit Stop’ will be crowned, so teams need to enter their most attractive female competitor for this tongue-in-cheek beauty title. Various concerts will be staged throughout the day from the start of the race at midday, and culminate into the closing ceremony followed by a blast of a party with live DJs at 11:00 pm. To show his support of the event, the Mayor of Koh Samui, Khun Ramnet Jaikwang, together with the president of the THA, the Bangkok Airways PR team and other sponsor representatives will be there to hand out trophies and awards to the winners. All profits from the event will go to the Samui Special Needs School. So if you’re after an entertaining day, make a note in your diary - Saturday14th December. Join in the fun and support a good cause.
Rosanne Turner
__________________________________________________ For further information, visit www.samuisoapboxderby.com.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Images produced are for advertisement purpose onlyâ&#x20AC;?
www.samuiholiday.com l 67
THE FUN CLUB Splash out with the pool parties at Chawengâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KC Beach Club!
68 l www.samuiholiday.com
Over the last year or so, our little island has sprouted quite a few ‘beach clubs’. This is really quite a trend. It’s set the style right across the board. And you’ll find that many of the more with-it resorts have taken a leaf out of their book. Although they might not have gone the whole nine yards, almost overnight certainly all the furnishings around the pool and on the beach have changed. Sun beds are out. Now it’s daybeds and beanbags, together with low lounging-tables and canopied pagodas to screen out the sun. More than a few places actually do have party sessions too, with a visiting DJ or live musicians. But the true ‘beach clubs’ work this way all the time. One or two are very smooth indeed. A couple seem to try very hard to get it all to work. But some are just plain fun – laid-back and unpretentious. And one that’s firmly in this category is KC Beach Club & Pool Villas, right in the heart of Chaweng.
www.samuiholiday.com l 69
This is one of the few places that has been designed in true beach club style – coming in off the road, the path bypasses the enclosed reception block and heads straight towards the party area around the pool. Visitors from outside (and there are often as many as there are residents; it’s a popular venue) can boogie on through without having to run the gauntlet of the front desk and lobby. Those who are staying here roam freely back and forth, as this is also where the access is to the elevator that runs to the rooms on the upper floors. There are 42 villas and rooms here, all of them kitted-out to a high standard. Everything is very smartly designed, with quality fittings throughout. This is all definitely new and purpose-built – there’s not a hint of an upgrade or renovation at all. The rooms are super and all come with mini bar, Jacuzzi, safe, and a big flat screen TV. The larger layouts are more like an apartment than a hotel room and are just the thing for families with children. All the accommodation sits in a neat U-shaped block, cleanly designed and purposeful, right at the reception end of the resort, and with the ground-floor rooms opening out directly onto their own communal pool. But it’s not until you wander in at the weekend that you’ll really latch-on to what I meant by ‘fun’. The beach-end of the resort is planned around a free-form pool with the restaurant at one side of it (and more on this in a moment) and bar on the other. The fringe area between the restaurant/bar and the pool is a cheery mêlée of giant parasols, daybeds, sunbeds and informal tables and chairs. At the far end, and back-dropped by the sea and the sky, is an elevated platform highlighting the DJ, in front of which several young ladies with high shoes and the teensiest of bikinis are wiggling about happily. The pool is full. People are cooling off, dipping in and out every ten minutes or so. There are several floating islands – and this is where the kids seem to gather. This isn’t a place for 70 l www.samuiholiday.com
toddlers. But if you’re heading towards your teens – just how cool is this place for a holiday? And the overall feeling is one of complete and utter laid-back enjoyment. Nobody’s frantic or out of it. And there’s nobody who’s just so cool that they’re sitting there in a white suit, not even glancing your way unless you have ‘superstar’ stamped across your forehead. The resident Thai staff are just beaming with pleasure. The bodies bobbing chest-high in the pool drift around to nod and chat to the others: although it has to be said this is not the spot for an intense and meaningful conversation – the sounds are bordering on club level. And the music is great too, and this is important. It’s several paces up from ‘lounge’. But it’s not mindless electro-thrash, either. It’s club music with a beat that you can dance to rather than ‘dance’ music. Overall, everything’s perfectly pitched for a laid-back daytime beach club session on a hot and sunny beach in the tropics. This happens every Saturday and Sunday, although there’s still a similar vibe during the week. “We have these pool parties at weekends,” said Nathika Saetia – ‘Cherry’ for short – the personal assistant to the group general manager and operations manager, “and they’re really popular. Frequently we’ll feature international DJs, live music with drumming, or a saxophonist. It’s very much a daytime thing and winds down as the sun begins to set. And that’s when people start coming in to the restaurant.” The restaurant is ‘Luciano’ and has a great selection of Italian, International and Thai dishes. Everything’s there that you’d expect: starters, soups, mains, pasta, pizza and steak and seafood dishes. But unlike most, this is an all-day offering and you can go for ribs or a steak for lunch if you want. And the sandwiches are
...living by the sea... Ease yourself to the sound of gently lapping waves and enjoy the breath-taking sea views. Savor Mediterranean bistro culinary delights & modern Thai specialties, for a unique beachfront dining experience.
Peace Resort 178, Moo 1, Bophut Beach Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Thailand Tel: +66 77 425357 | Fax: +66 77 425343 www.peaceresort.com | seawrap@peaceresort.com
Le Jaroen “A Secret World”
Probably the most enchanting restaurant on the island for an unforgettable romantic evening. Induldge your senses with an exquisite 5 course Chef’s Signature Menu or 4 course Thai Degustation Menu.
a definite cut above the usual, as in the ‘Reuben sandwich: grilled beef, gruyere cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye’, for example. Then there are the specials. Probably the ‘Romantic Dining on the Beach’ tops the list here – although that’s on permanent offer. But every day there’s a one-off ‘chef’s special’ on the chalkboard. The happy hour’s impressive too, with every item (except wines) coming at 2-for-1 between 7:00 and 11:00 pm. But watch out for the Tuesday happenings. This is the night when there’s a different sort of event on every week. It might be a Thai feature, Italian, or even Latino. Or an event in The Lobby Bar – where they already have a fab ‘Back to Basics’ evening, with music from the 70s and 80s. “Keep an eye on our Facebook page,” enthused Cherry. “We have everything listed there and it’s always up to date. Plus it’ll give you a good idea of what the place is all about.” Thanks Cherry. But we already know that, don’t we? It’s the KC Beach Club. And they’ve no plans to rename it to ‘The Fun Club’ – even though that might well be a better title!
Rob De Wet
_______________________________________________________ For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7791 5155. www.kcbeachclub.com
S ECRET R E T R E AT S
Tel +66 (0)77 962 198 info@thescenthotel.com www.thescenthotel.com The Scent Hotel 58/1 Moo 4 Bangrak Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320, Thailand
www.samuiholiday.com l 71
GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT Samui Shooting Sports offers a whole range of explosive fun!
72 l www.samuiholiday.com
Just about everyone I’ve spoken to about this has mixed feelings. Some can’t abide it. Others shrug and can take it or leave it. Many seem to like it, although many can’t quite see the point. It also depends where you come from. America has a deeply ingrained gun culture, and members of both genders take this all very seriously. Not right throughout the country, of course, and not everyone. But for a variety of reasons, many people think it worthwhile to be familiar with a handgun, at least. And thus regular trips to a shooting range are in order, several times a year, to keep in touch. But this is Samui. It’s a holiday island with a resident base of maybe 60,000 locals, and a million short-stay foreign visitors a year passing through. Gun laws in Thailand are particularly strict, with extensive paperwork needed to be even able to possess a gun. And then it’s almost impossible to (legally) get one if you’re not both a Thai national and a homeowner. And then, finally, having spent months getting this all sorted, the gun permit applies solely for protection in the home. Woe betide any proud new owner who fancies taking his latest shiny possession down the pub to show his mates – if he’s copped on a spot check, that is. The only time you’re allowed to take a gun out of the house is if you’re on the way to a shooting range and have made a verifiable prior appointment. (Carry permits are available but are even harder to obtain). And that’s just the thin end of the wedge. Unlike America, and several countries in Europe, even basic pistols here are expensive. Shooting is a rich-man’s pastime all right, with what costs three or four hundred dollars in the States
selling here for a couple of thousand - and that’s second-hand. The only way the vast majority of Thai men ever get to grips with a gun is during their period of National Service. Or if they’re in the police force. So what’s the point of a shooting range on Samui? In a word, fun! It falls into that category of ‘action activities’ where you’ll find kayaking, off-road quad bikes, or the canopy adventures where you glide from treetop to treetop on zip-lines. After a couple of weeks of sea, sun and shopping, even the sturdiest of pool-potatoes grows restless. But herein lies a difference. I dare say that there’s a certain amount of youthful vigour and fitness required for most of these other activities. Well, the organisers might disagree, but I’ll bet you won’t see too many pensioners flitting skywards from tree to tree or surging about in canoes. Whereas, if you can walk, or even propel yourself in a wheelchair, then you can shoot (though you might be advised to put the brakes on, else the recoil blows you and your chair back out onto the street). Street? Yes. If you’re lucky and miss the traffic as you surge backwards, then you’ll be able to paddle your wheelchair around Makro and do some shopping: Samui Shooting Sports is well signposted and is just across the road. There’s no need to make an appointment, just turn up. The buildings are single storey, low and modern, pleasantly fitted out with seats and loungers in the reception area, and with an impressive display of firearms of all sorts behind a secure wall of glass. It’s all very confidence inspiring and safety-conscious.
www.samuiholiday.com l 73
I’m told that the vast majority of fun-seekers who come here have never fired a shot before. In which case the basic approach will be as follows. There will be one older ‘instructor’, together with a couple of assistants hovering around to make sure that you don’t inadvertently begin waving a loaded weapon about. (I’m also told that nine out of ten folks coming here opt for a semi-automatic handgun: it’s not only the cheapest but it’s also what you see the FBI agents using on TV. Think ‘Glock’ or ‘SIG’.) The instructor lays the gun down on the table, removes the magazine, and proceeds to load it with cartridges. He then, still with authority but without saying much, cocks the slide, loading a bullet into the chamber, and strikes a pose. Oh – sorry, that’s ballet. He adopts a macho two-handed, bent-knee stance, as per good FBI agents everywhere. Then he fires all nine rounds at a half-aman-sized target about 30 feet away. The rear part of the range is in the open and well-padded with old truck tyres, plus there’s a high earth wall as a backdrop. It seems to work well as there has yet to be reports of shoppers across the road being peppered by ricochets. And then he quietly reloads the gun and hands it to you, with an obliging chap at your elbow to help you hold it right. The targets are only 30 feet away. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. If you’ve ever used an ‘airsoft’ gun or gone ‘skirmishing’, forget it. Even a powerful air rifle has nothing like the recoil of a real firearm. The first shot kicks your arms back and high. It’s quite a shock and it’s difficult to learn how to control. Another thing I was told is that, out of a full magazine of nine shots, very few ‘newbies’ mange to hit ‘a man’ more than twice from just this short distance away. As said already, shooting in Thailand is not for the ordinary person; guns are expensive and ammunition, too. Thus the way it’s priced here is per shot. At the cheapest end of the scale you’ll be paying around 80 baht per bullet. There’s a wide selection of different guns to sample here, from revolvers to sniper rifles to shotguns, and the price of the ammo for each of them (and thus the cost of your session) increases progressively. It’s really good fun going with a group of friends, and it’s quite compelling to have another go and do it better next time around! You’ll be able to give it your best shot, as much time as you want, seven days a week, between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm.
Rob De Wet
________________________________________ For more information, telephone 0 7725 6222.
74 l www.samuiholiday.com
Fine gold and silver jewelry manufacturer with diamonds, precious stones (ruby, sapphire, emerald, etc.) semi-precious stones (blue topaz, amethyst, tsavolite, aquamarine, etc.) and pearls (cultured and South Sea pearls - Tahitian pearls) Tailor-made with modern designs. We also offer professional wood carvings, paintings and local souvenirs. Most competitive prices and best quality on Samui. Open for more than 25 years, we are the largest retailer and producer on the island. All our pieces come with certificate of authenticity.
Доступные цены и лучшее качество на Самуи. Более 25 лет мы являемся крупнейшими производителям, занимаемся розничной торговлей на острове. Все наши изделия имеют сертификат подлинности
Samui Lapidary, Maenam, Koh Samui Free transport service. Open daily 09.00 - 18.00. Tel: 0 7724 7845-6 Email: samuilapidary@hotmail.com www.samuilapidary.com Осуществляем бесплатный трансфер ежедневно с 9.30 до 18.00.
www.samuiholiday.com l 75
ABSOLUTELY! Absolute Sanctuary offers a new yoga class that not only tones and strengthens, but keeps you fit too.
Lithe and cat-like, she paces in front of the group, keeping a watchful eye on their postures and movements as she gives instruction over a microphone headset. She smiles and manages to look elegant, even while performing near-impossible poses in the bright studio, with its inspiring jungle view. This is Jana Brauer, full-time yoga instructor at Absolute Sanctuary, a Moroccan-inspired detox and yoga resort in Choeng Mon, part of the Absolute Yoga group. Hailing from Berlin, Germany, Jana originally encountered Absolute Yoga when she came to Thailand to do a yoga instructor course with the group. Her love of yoga came about after it was the only successful cure to her long term back pain. She started her training with Absolute Yoga’s
78 l www.samuiholiday.com
Hot Teacher Training Program in 2007, and continued her training under various highly regarded teachers. She started working for the group, moving to Absolute Sanctuary when it opened in April 2009. Jana’s approach to teaching is a perfect combination of gentle and relaxed, yet disciplined when required. She encourages and motivates her students to try just that bit harder to achieve their goals – and she’s testament that regular yoga produces results with a toned, healthy body. Jana is aware that at a retreat, she’ll have students of various levels in her class, and she manages to cater to each one’s needs, not allowing beginner students to hinder the progress of those more advanced, yet allowing each to progress at their own pace.
Absolute Sanctuary forms part of the Absolute Yoga family – the largest yoga group in Thailand. The group also boasts seven studios in Bangkok, and are expanding globally, with one in Amsterdam, and one on the cards shortly for South Africa. As a pioneer on the Bangkok yoga scene, Absolute Yoga recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The studios are known for their variety of yoga classes and international team of well-trained instructors. So what is this new style of yoga offered by Absolute Yoga? Well, Absolute FIT is fun yet challenging, and focuses on the remarkable fitness aspect of yoga to help tone the body. They’ve taken the traditional yoga asanas (that’s poses for those not in the know) and organised them according to modern principles of anatomy. It’s a yoga series that raises your heart rate giving you a cardio workout similar to circuit training at the gym, but still focuses on the basic fundamentals of yoga such as core strengthening, back strengthening, hip openers, balance and upper arm strength. With Absolute FIT, this leading yoga studio hopes that more people will be inspired to practice yoga and reap its benefits. As Benjaporn Karoonkornsakul, the founder of Absolute Yoga, explains, “People still have the misconception that yoga is boring or slow and unable to tone the body or help one lose weight. With Absolute FIT we aim to erase this misconception.” It’s no wonder that Executive Director, Claire Bostock-Huang, selected Jana to lead the group’s new Absolute FIT class at the Samui studio. And Claire explains the anagram FIT: (F) fun classes, (I) invigorating experience and (T) toned body. Jana ensures that students get a total body workout and burn calories by boosting their heart rate and also raising their metabolic rate.
www.samuiholiday.com l 79
80 l www.samuiholiday.com
“And you will break into a sweat”, promises Jana. In fact, she likes to see her students drenched in perspiration, assisting with the detoxifying process, and so the studio is kept warm (not that it’s hard in the tropics). For Absolute FIT yoga, postures are linked seamlessly and continuously (well, that’s the goal) to work up a sweat, tone the body and burn calories. These postures have been carefully selected to target various parts of the body, such as warrior lunges for the buttocks and thighs, plank pose for the arms, and boat pose for the abdominals. The exercises are repeated in sequence to ensure muscles are worked. “And there are no rest breaks”, says Jana with a grin, but she does encourage students to drink plenty of water during the class, to stay hydrated as a lot of water is lost in perspiration. Jana says that the Absolute FIT classes are suitable for all levels from beginner to advanced, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the benefits. She suggests that someone who’s never done yoga before first try their ‘Intro to Yoga’ class to get an understanding of the postures and poses, and during the Absolute FIT class, beginners should stay towards the back of the class where they can observe the more advanced students. With mirrors on three walls, everyone can see the instructor, and she also moves around and assists as needed. Yoga is perfect for people of all shapes, sizes and age, and Absolute Sanctuary can advise on the classes best suited to your strength and ability. The studio is open to those not staying at the retreat too, and in fact there’s a special offer to Samui residents and expats. New members who would like to experience the studio before committing to a membership can enjoy an introductory price of 1,200 baht for unlimited yoga for one week, allowing you to try as many of the classes on offer as you like. Absolute Sanctuary boasts three wood-floored, spacious and naturally-lit yoga studios, with most classes taking place in the Jungle Studio, which has a 50-mat capacity. As the name suggests, its windows look out to the jungle on one side, and mirrors on the other three walls reflect the foliage. Locker rooms with showers are available for students, and mats and towels are provided too. The Pool Studio offers a 25-mat capacity and overlooks the retreat’s stunning pool, while the Ocean Studio of the same size, offers stunning panoramic sea views. Blocks and straps are provided as needed, and all classes are led by internationally-trained teachers who are both inspiring and friendly.
The Farmer Restaurant & Bar is the only restaurant on Samui offering a unique natural ambience, set amid paddy fields and green meadows. It is perfect for a relaxed lunch, or dinner under the twinkling stars. Visit The Farmer and experience the real meaning of “Back to Nature” whilst enjoying the best of local Thai, Western seafood dishes.
Farmer’s Duck Voted Samui’s No.1 Tasty Duck
Exclusive Lunch Promotion at The Farmer 12:00-15:00 daily
Pizza Margherita, 1 scoop ice cream, 1 bottle of water. 250 Baht Farmer’s Duck. Crispy fried duck served with herb sauce & rice gourd soup, fresh tropical fruit, 1 bottle of water. 299 Baht
The Farmer Restaurant & Bar Maenam, Koh Samui Tel: 077 447 222, 077 247 979, 0 830 922 632 email: info@thefarmerrestaurantsamui.com www.thefarmerrestaurantsamui.com
TOP TEN 2011 www.tripadvisor.com
Free transfer for dinner guests - Nathon - Maenam - Bophut. Other areas 300 Baht return. Для гостей из районов Nathon - Maenam Bophut - трансфер бесплатный. Гостям из других районов острова мы возвращаем 300 батт от стоимости такси. www.samuiholiday.com l 81
Aside from the Absolute FIT classes, Absolute Sanctuary offers a variety of up to 20 yoga classes per week, including Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Yin, Detox, Restorative, Ashtanga, Hatha, Yoga Core and Hot Flow. Workshops and teacher-training courses are also offered and hosted by the world’s best yoga gurus. It’s worth popping in to Absolute Sanctuary, even if it’s just to try the delicious and healthy menu at the Love Kitchen. In fact, why not make a day of it and pamper yourself with a spa package too, or sign up for the 82 l www.samuiholiday.com
introductory special offer. You never know, it may just be the turning point you need to make a serious change in your health or fitness routine.
Rosanne Turner
_________________________________________ For further information, telephone 0 7760 1190. www.absolutesanctuary.com
84 l www.samuiholiday.com
NOT PASSING BY Why The Cliff makes people want to stop and go inside!. A year or so back, one of the bigger tour operators held a survey. Amongst other things, he wanted to get some idea of where people went when they left their resorts. How many went on daytrips, what sort of trip, whether it was an organised trip or if a rented bike or car was used – this kind of thing. Quite a lot of interesting information emerged. One thing of note was that just about every visitor went to Fisherman’s Village at least once during their stay. That aside (and more importantly!), 70% of our visitors rented a vehicle of some sort. And every single one of these drove over the hilly road between Chaweng and Lamai at least once. Taken by itself you might just be tempted to say “so what?” Well . . . firstly it indicates that 70% of our readers – you! – will be travelling on this road. Whichever direction you choose to cruise around to
explore, you’ll pass this way either going, or on the way back. On your travels, you’re going to pass many interesting places, the majority of which you’ll sail right past. But there’s one place that people just seem to be drawn to. And that’s The Cliff Bar & Grill, just outside Lamai. The main feature of this road is that it forms a natural viewpoint. People tend to stop somewhere along here anyway, for a photo-break and even a snack – there are enough eateries here, and one or two of them are excellent. Which brings us back to The Cliff again, as this is one that is most definitely in this category. And, if you need any convincing of this, let’s begin with the ‘Thailand Tatler’s Best Restaurant’ awards, which The Cliff has earned for a whole string of consecutive years in a row.
www.samuiholiday.com l 85
The Cliff was established in 2004, owned by Bradley Munns, with his general manager being Lionel Helena. Back then, the aim was very much to engage a worldclass chef, and to prepare a menu of comparable quality. This they did, with the appointment of Sergio Martelli. Most senior restaurant staff on Samui – the managers and the chefs – regularly change their employers as they move on up the career ladder. But it speaks volumes that both Lionel and Sergio have been working here since day one. Another appealing factor here is that there’s lots of time to spot the restaurant (most places on this strip you’ll
86 l www.samuiholiday.com
zip past without even noticing) and then lots of space to drift in and park. The building itself is attractive, with acres of wood and stone and glass. As you enter, you’ll just have to pause – it’s a lot bigger than it seems from the road! And initially you won’t be able to see that pride of place goes to the dining terrace that’s perched up high above the sea (and you’ll most certainly need to book if you want a seat here). But you’ll instantly be aware of the co-ordinated Mediterranean theme, with the terrazzo flooring and the whitewashed walls with their Spanish and Portuguese posters and prints. There’s also another dining area right at the front, plus a very cosy lounge and bar to one side.
As you might expect, given its location, this is an all-day restaurant. But the most interesting gastronomic elements don’t kick-in until midday. That’s when the lunch menu opens. Most of the resort-based eateries keep a very low profile daytime menu – mostly it’s based on snacks and salads around the pool. But The Cliff is one of the few restaurants where you can opt for something more substantial too, and more than a few of the daytime menu items are also featured on the excellent evening dinner menu. The other aspect, which is equally enticing, is the tapas offerings. And there’s a whole selection of delicious variations on a theme, perfect if you don’t fancy a big meal but are up for something a little more piquant than the usual. First impressions on looking through the dinner menu are that there’s not so many sections. But there’s a skill to keeping things seemingly simply while also loading each plate with surprises. There’s a seductive assortment of appetisers, including such goodies as Curried Prawns Goa-style or Australian Beef Carpaccio di Manzo. The ‘mains’ section is based around imported meat from Australia and New Zealand, together with seafood. The meat is never frozen – it’s imported chilled. The oysters and the lobsters are live, and customers are invited to select their own from the appropriate tank. And, of course, there is a full section of Thai dishes. But there are also two rather special offerings that you should be aware of. One is that the seafood is available in ‘sets’. There are several options here, culminating in the heady pinnacle of ‘Zarzuele De Marisco’ – a seafood extravaganza with risotto and salad for two people, which might not leave you room for dessert; a shame, as they are all super, too. And then there’s the ‘Chef’s Specials’. Every few days or so, Chef Sergio puts up a chalkboard with three Mediterranean-style offerings which are not on the menu, according to his creative whimsy of the moment. These are always alluring and very much worth looking out for.
www.samuiholiday.com l 87
Are you one of that 70%? Those folks who’ll be taking the high road over the cliffs? Most probably. Even if you’re not, then you’ve got more than enough tempting culinary info here to make it worth a special trip anyway. All in all, it’s not hard to see why The Cliff Bar & Grill makes people want to stop and go inside!
Rob De Wet
_______________________________________________________ For reservations and further information, telephone 0 7744 8508. www.thecliffsamui.com
88 l www.samuiholiday.com
SAMUI
SAKYAN
Laung Por Yid Wat Nong Jok
Laung Pu Si Tha Ni yo
Ajarn Panthep
Sacred, spiritual tattoos, or 'sak yant' by Ajarn Panthep, who has studied the scripts as well as the art of sak yant for more than 20 years at various temples throughout Thailand. His teachings, along with the sak yant, will help to balance your four elements of earth, wind, fire and water, and therefore lead a more balanced life. It also opens up the body for good luck and happiness, and offers protection. Maenam Bophut
Samui Sakyan
146/43 Moo 4 Thongtakien bay, Maret Koh Samui Suratthani 84310 Thailand www.samuisakyan.com, www.spiritbuddha.com Email: samlek1012@windowlive.com, sam-1012@hotmail.co.th Tel: 0 86 9437464, 0 811 739 232
Nathon
Koh Samui
Chaweng Samui Yacht Club
Samui Sakyan
To Lamai
Lamai
TO THE MAX Max Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irish diner elevates pub grub to a whole new level!
90 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 91
Thailand’s got a lot going for it. The friendly smiling people, the climate, the modest cost of living and the terrific food – and that’s just for starters. If this is the first time you’ve come here, then just discovering the real taste of Thai food is a whole adventure by itself. It’s nothing like tuned-down stuff you’re probably used to back home. But, whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned Thai traveller, there are often times when all you need is a sandwich. Or a really nice homemade burger. Or to maybe catch the football on a Saturday night. Or the Formula One. Or all of these things combined. And that’s where the so-called ‘sports pubs’ come into the picture. Tropical Murphy’s seems to have been around forever. It first came into being in 2001, in fact. And it not only rapidly became one of the most-favoured of all Samui’s pubs, but it gained (and has continued to maintain) a reputation for some of the best plates of food that you can get anywhere. Big portions. Excellent and (more to the point) consistent quality – for example, if you return for the sausage and mash, then the onion gravy will be precisely and exactly the same wonderful composition and taste as it was the first time. For a long time Tropical Murphy’s has been an ‘institution’ in its own right. But now something even better has appeared!
92 l www.samuiholiday.com
Fine Beach & Hillside Dining at Samui's Newest Venue Quality Thai, Seafood & International Dishes The Ultimate Samui Dining Experience!
It’s in Nathon. It’s particularly easy to find. And the name of this exalted establishment is . . . Max Murphy’s. If you might think there might be a connection between the two, then you’d be dead right! The original Murphy’s was the inspiration of owner and Managing Director, Paul Watson. And for a while now, he’s wanted to adventure outwards and more than a little upwards. “In Europe I suppose you might call it a ‘gastro pub’,” he explained, “but I don’t really care for that term (although I must thank my son, Max, for the new name!). I think I’d rather just say that we are serving ‘modern pub grub’, leave it at that, and let the quality of our food speak for itself.” Well, having spent an evening at Max Murphy’s, I think it will be more than that. My reckoning is that word of mouth will spread the message at not far short of the speed of light.
The Barge Nora Buri's Signature Restaurant Chaweng North For Reservation Tel: 0 7791 3555 E-mail: thebarge@noraburiresort.com www.noraburiresort.com
Coming into Nathon, from the direction of Chaweng, you’ll quickly see the police station on the left, with the imposing government building set back from the road next to it. Directly opposite is a side road that runs down to the beachfront. Max Murphy’s is the first building on the right, as you look towards the sea. (A tip: if you’re going after 5:00 pm then simply park outside the government offices, in their car park. It holds 50 cars, plus you then won’t have to trek all around the one-way system when you leave.) www.samuiholiday.com l 93
It’s all in the detail. No, not the devil – but in this case the innumerable small touches everywhere that elevate Max Murphy’s several notches above its rivals. (And that particularly includes the quality and presentation of the fare, which I’ll get to in a moment.) The floor is immaculately flagged with quarry slate tiles. The wood cladding at the bar and in the half-height divider is understated, plain hardwood. The same wood is used for the ‘settles’ which run along the brick wall to the left; these are engraved with the name of the pub at regular intervals. The glassed top-half of the partition is etched with a Celtic border on each of its panels. There are fascinating old prints and photos on the walls. The wallmounted jukebox is at a state-of-the-art HP Touchsmart PC with a 21-inch touchscreen. And the toilets are the finest I’ve seen outside of a 5-star hotel – gleaming marble and glass, with freestanding pedestal washbasins. There are five big flat screen TVs downstairs, and every sport known to man is broadcast. Upstairs is an unexpected delight: a warm and cosy wood-floored room with three more TVs, an immaculately new nine-foot Brunswick pool table and an open balcony. The kitchen is hidden away up here, too, where chef-guru Neil Mann – born and bred in Bangor, Northern Ireland (as was Paul Watson himself) – evolves his ever-enticing cuisine. And talking of which . . .
94 l www.samuiholiday.com
The menu is sectioned into Western and Thai offerings. There are not a huge number of main (Western) courses. But even so, I found myself completely lost and unable to decide: they all sounded equally scrumptious. ‘Wagu burger, pickle, lettuce, fat fries and spiced ketchup’. (The ketchup is hand-made.) ‘Irish lamb stew, pickled red cabbage and fresh-made bread’. The presentation on the plate is of a fine-dining standard, with wooden boards as platters and a layout that’s straight from the royal court. The Thai offerings are created with a similar twist. Forget the usual red snapper – how about, for example, ‘whole bream with ginger, garlic and lemongrass’? The entire menu changes every six weeks, but favourites are always available. There’s a chalkboard with daily specials. There’s a vegetarian selection. Plus the desserts are hand-made and totally out of this world. Additionally, the breakfasts are exceptional – particularly the ‘toasted muesli with honey, yoghurt and caramelised banana’. And then there are the Sunday lunches – four courses with a trio of meats for 495 baht (or take the main course only for just 295 baht). The draft beers: Guinness, Kilkenny, Hoegaarden, Leo, Singha and Tiger. The weekly pool competitions, just for fun. The regular pub quizzes that bring folks from far and wide. And, if you’re here in time to catch it, the Christmas menu. There will be
Put the bounce back in your step and a smile on your face at Breeze spa Here at Breeze spa, we believe that happiness is one of the key foundations for wellness- and that is what our treatments are all about. Whether you’re a lifelong spa devotee, a newcomer to wellness or just someone looking to recharge or unwind, we look forward to showing you how fun it is to feel good!
20% discount on spa packages. Terms and conditions apply
Amari Palm Reef Koh Samui Chaweng Beach, Samui 84320 T +66 (0) 7742 2015-19 F +66 (0) 7742 2394 E palmreef@breeze-spa.com W www.breeze-spa.com
HOT PROPERTY
2 exciting new villa developments
a leisurely three sittings on the 25th, at 1:00, 4:00 and 7:00 pm, and it will be just as special as everything else here. But you had better make your reservation now! Oh. Just to top it off, I also have to tell you that the most expensive item on the menu is just 260 baht. I bet you got the impression that all of this was coming at a price! Well, it isn’t. Once again, Paul’s pitched it exactly right. There’s nothing else like it anywhere on the island – and it really is taking pub grub “to the max”!
Rob De Wet
________________________________________ For Christmas reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 0200.
Award-winning architect Prime location, 5 mins to the beach Panoramic sea views Excellent investment opportunity Prices from THB 15.2M Full rental & villa management programme
www.theridgesamui.com
www.cascadessamui.com
Tel: 0831 079 684 / 0856 920 550 www.samuiholiday.com l 95
ANANTARA IS BACK! This popular resort has been closed for renovations, but it’s open again and looking better than ever. There’s a saying that goes, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. So it was a big decision to close a resort that was working well and had a high occupancy rate. But with a general manager who has vision, such as Manish Jha, the potential to make Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa even better was an obvious choice. So the 106 room hotel closed in April this year, and reopens on 16th November with some interesting additions and improvements. Anantara caters to both the family and honeymoon market. With this in mind, a new Kids’ Club has been built, with plenty to do both indoors and outdoors to keep little ones entertained while mum and dad relax. Another novel idea that’s sure to be popular is the hotel’s new ‘Hospitality Room’. Samui has many international flights that arrive early in the day, yet hotel check-in is usually only available from 2:00 pm. Now while Anantara will usually let a guest check in early when the room is available, with a high occupancy this isn’t always possible, as staff need to wait for guests to check out and clean the room. This is where the Hospitality Room comes into play – it’s set up with a bathroom with shower, a place to store luggage and a comfortable lounge area with TV and DVDs so guests can at least relax and unwind while waiting for their room to be ready.
96 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 97
Of course, a great way to recover from jetlag would be to make use of the resort’s high-end spa. The Anantara Spa received ‘Best Luxury Resort Spa Country Finalist 2013’ at the World Luxury Spa Awards. With highly trained staff and a luxurious setting, it’s easy to see why. The gardens are beautifully designed and manicured throughout the resort, but the area surrounding the spa has a magical forest feel to it. And with so much effort put into creating the landscape, management ensured that all contractors respected the gardens during construction and they continued to be lovingly tended by the grounds keepers during this period. The renovations also include several function rooms, including a ballroom – for seminars, banquets and weddings of up to 200 people. There’s also a library with floor-to-ceiling dark wood shelving and Moroccan-inspired chandeliers, an ideal place for afternoon tea. The Eclipse Bar has been extended and makes a sophisticated yet casual setting to watch a sporting event on the big screen TV, and enjoy a cocktail or two. 98 l www.samuiholiday.com
KAYAKING Explore the caves and beaches of the Angthong National Marine Park Offices located behind Bondi Pub in central Chaweng and on Chaweng Lake Road opposite Lake View For reservations please call 0 7730 0615 or 0 878 866 097
The freeform beachfront swimming pool is worthy of a mention, and is a feature of the view from the restaurant. With islands holding palm trees in the centre of the pool, to man-size monkey statues sprouting water into the pool, a swim-up bar, alcoves with massage jets and plentiful poolloungers both in the sun and shade, this is an eye-catching and fun-filled pool area. A new sushi bar and deck have also been added alongside the pool. Manish felt that the resort’s beach and poolside restaurant, Full Moon, needed a fresh approach too. Previously known for its delicious Italianinfluenced cuisine, it has already reopened prior to the hotel, and is now primarily a char-grill kitchen, with Executive Chef, Bernhard Koll at the helm. There’s a strong focus on tableside cooking – think crispy Caesar salads tossed at your table, or the thrill of a flambéed dessert being finished off before your eyes. But it’s the meat and seafood grill which takes centre stage at this elegant alfresco dining venue. An international fusion menu features freshly caught seafood and melt-in-the-mouth imported meats, all grilled to perfection. Personalise your meat or seafood with a choice of baked,
www.bluestars.info
www.samuiholiday.com l 99
roasted, skinned or mashed potato, steamed rice, and Barolo, mushroom, green pepper corn, béarnaise or white wine sauce. All beef prime cuts and grill items are served with a small salad and a selection of vegetables. Seafood, chicken and meat all feature on the tandoori menu where skewers packed with ingredients are baked in the charcoal-fired tandoori oven. Starting with seafood, try ‘The Only One’ – a 400g seafood spear with rock lobster, scallops, tiger prawn, tuna and vegetables. Should you prefer chicken, try ‘The Hot One’ – a wasabi marinated chicken wing spear. And for meat lovers, there’s ‘The Ultimate One’, consisting of 400 grams of Wagyu beef, Kurobuta pork, veal and vegetables, all baked on a spear in the oven. But it’s not all just a carnivore’s delight, and you can find a choice of salads, soups, pastas and risottos too. To complement the delicious menu is an extensive wine list, and a resident wine guru will assist you in choosing the best wine for the flavours of the dishes. If you prefer cocktails, let Full Moon’s mixologist create a treat for you. But it’s the little things that make Full Moon stand out from the crowd. Once you’ve selected your dishes, the serving staff bring a selection of salts that will best bring out the flavour of the dish – choose from black volcanic, red clay, or pink Himalayan salt, to name just a few. And it doesn’t stop there. No, next you choose your weapon of choice – as a display box is opened before you and a selection of steak knives is presented. And should you forget your reading glasses, don’t despair as again a display box offers you a choice of strengths so you can browse the menu with ease. While Chef Bernhard ensures the kitchen produces outstanding dishes, F&B Manager, Jacek Orzechowski, makes sure that the front of house service matches the high standard of the kitchen. Together they’re a winning duo that ensures Full Moon is a top contender on Samui’s fine-dining scene. Whether you’re an old fan of Anantara Bophut and curious to see the changes, or new to the area, pop in to Full Moon for a meal, or a cocktail and see why everyone’s waiting in anticipation for the grand re-opening of this prominent player.
Rosanne Turner __________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 8300-9. www.samui.anantara.com
100 l www.samuiholiday.com
2 Sp dis 0% a cou tr ea nt tm en ts on
Our Siam Ten Senses Treatment focuses on the ten main senses in human body. Restoring body systems and improving the balance.
Green Resort Green Spa Detoxifying and Slimming Program Healthy Thai Restaurant Natural Wing Health Spa & Resort 11/5 Moo 6, Maenam, Koh Samui, Thailand Tel: 0 7760 2111, 0 7760 2112 Fax: 0 7744 7243 Mobile: 0 819 682 796 Email: info@naturalwing.com, www.naturalwing.com
If you are looking for something wonderful and different, Zazen restaurant is the place for you to discover. Their master chef emphasises the use of healthy organic ingredients while infusing dining participation. Zazen is truly one of the most romantic and serene beachside dining restaurants on the island. Every night this charming establishment lights up over 100 candles to set the ambiance for you to experience. Tel: 0 7742 5085
Email: info@samuizazen.com
Website: www.samuizazen.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 101
102 l www.samuiholiday.com
A
MAN ON A MISSION
There’s no stopping Khun Virach Pongchababnapa when it comes to new projects on Samui. At an age when most people consider retirement, Khun Virach is just getting started. This bubbly, dynamic man is eager to tell his story to anyone who’ll listen. But that’s okay – as in this case, his is an interesting tale to tell. It’s easy to stay captivated as he chats about not only his past and heritage, but also his many ventures. Khun Virach is passionate about Samui, as well as the island’s strong Chinese history – he was born on the island, his father Hainan-Chinese, and his mother Thai. With this in mind, he was recently the driving force behind the construction of the Guan Yu shrine in Hua Thanon – noticeable from the road by the ominous head of Guan Yu protruding from the building’s dramatic architecture. (Guan Yu was a warrior during the late Eastern Han Dynasty of China, and has been given god-like status over the centuries, playing a big part in Chinese culture). Khun Virach has made it his mission to build awareness of the Hainan-Chinese heritage on the island, feeling that Samui’s youth has lost sight of their history, and he wants them to learn about and be proud of their roots. So heading the committee, he gathered donations and constructed this shrine to Guan Yu. He hopes that it will be the centre of the Chinese community on Samui, and there are plans in the making to offer Mandarin lessons.
www.samuiholiday.com l 103
He feels strongly about keeping a record of heritage, and the shrine’s walls are adorned with old photos of Samui residents who have Chinese lineage. In keeping with this objective, the shrine encourages families of Chinese or mixed Thai-Chinese decent, to come into the complex, and add information about their family tree to the records. This will be done in the way of written information, portraits, video and even audio, so future generations will be able to hear their great-grandmother’s voice – quite a noble project. Land behind the shrine has been secured, and future projects include an attractive building to house a ‘Chinatown’ with restaurants, shops and Chinese medical practitioners. But Khun Virach’s business ventures are equally as impressive as his personal ones. After graduating university having studied agricultural science, he worked for a fertiliser company for a while, before the island of his birth beckoned him home. On his return, he noticed the island’s tourism was developing, and using one rai of land, which was part of his inheritance, he started his empire with a small bungalow resort. He slowly bought up the surrounding land, ending up with six rai where the Pavilion Samui Boutique Resort now lies along central Lamai beach. 104 l www.samuiholiday.com
Samui Discover authentic Indian Cuisine
Noori India Restaurant - Chaweng Center Chaweng Beach Road, opp. Chaweng Buri Noori India Restaurant - Chaweng South at Chaweng Cove Resort Noori India Cooking Center - Chaweng South Soi Colibri, opp. Centara Grand Beach Resort For reservation (English) - 0 867 407 873 or 0 7741 3108 For reservation (Thai) - 0 813 960 283 E-mail: nooriindia_samui@yahoo.com www.nooriindiasamui.com
NiCoL B by Nikky Noodles
The Pavilion is built and furnished in contemporary Thai style. It’s elegant and tasteful, and Khun Virach is very much involved when it comes to the design and styling of his projects. With its prime beachfront location, the Pavilion offers guests a choice of rooms, suites and villas, as well as five recently added villas known as Pavilion Residence Suites. These two-and-three bedroom residences are dramatic, bold and at the height of interior fashion. Khun Virach has also included everything to keep a tech-junkie happy, such as a large Apple Mac computer in each residence, as well as iPod dock, entertainment system and automated blinds and screens that change the dynamics of the villa by opening it up to the elements or screening from passers-by on the beach. These new additions to the Pavilion most certainly appeal to the discerning traveller. And in order to keep his investments under his watchful eye, all Khun Virach’s projects are located near the Pavilion. Across the road you’ll find the ‘i-do’ cooking school, where visitors can learn to cook the top ten Thai dishes in a well-equipped kitchen run by professional staff. And right next door, is the latest venture, The Palate restaurant. In keeping with Khun Virach’s fresh ideas when it comes to décor and style, this eatery is bold, bright and eye-catching. But it’s not only the décor that’s great, the food is too. Here, you’ll find mostly seafood – as fresh as it gets from the Hua Thanon market down the road, as well as Thai and Italian cuisine.
LONDON
SHE FINDS COLOR IN THE DARKEST PLACES S H E F I N D S B E A U T Y I N T H E S A D D E S T O F FA C E S
ACCESSORIES & FASHION DESIGN STUDIO K O H S A M U I B R A N C H , F I S H E R M A N S V I L L A G E , B O P H U T, S A M U I M O B I L E: 0 8 4 7 7 1 6 9 4 8 , FA C E B O O K: N I K KY N O O D L E S EMAIL: NIKKYNOODLESDESIGNS@GMAIL.COM
www.samuiholiday.com l 105
106 l www.samuiholiday.com
The restaurant where every evening becomes a memorable occasion.
For reservations please contact: Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa, Koh Samui Tel: +66 (0) 77 428 300 Email: bophutsamui@anantara.com Skype: bophutsamui
Khun Virach is a family man and believes that education is key. As a successful businessman, he’s fortunate enough to be able to educate his three sons well. The eldest attends university in Melbourne, Australia, and the other two study at an international school in Bangkok. Khun Virach’s wife is kept equally busy with her project, Classic Gems, opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort in Chaweng.
SCL International School
International Education from Pre-school to Secondary Educating the Mind Nurturing the Soul
Small classes Individual education plans Fully qualified teachers A family atmosphere
With these qualities, it’s not hard to see why the children at SCL are achieving so much A warm welcome is extended to anyone who wishes to visit the school
And as if the hotel, the cooking school, the restaurant, a jewellery store, a shrine and a family are not enough to look after, Khun Virach has a new project up his sleeve planned for 2014. It’s called ‘The Samui Container’. He’ll be constructing a wine bar out of used shipping containers on the seafront, next to the Pavilion. Here, guests will be able to enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail, while listening to jazz music in a relaxed beachfront environment. And there’ll be a swimming pool, making it an ideal venue for those staying at a resort lacking a pool. Well, we can’t wait to visit The Samui Container. And it’s unlikely Khun Virach’s vision of new projects will stop there, as this longtime Samui resident makes his mark on the island – in a good way.
Rosanne Turner
SCL International School
206/26 Moo 4 Maret, Lamai, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84310, Thailand Phone: 0 7741 8789 Mobile: 0 810 910 714 Email: emma@sclinternationalschool.com www.sclinternationalschool.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 107
WELL-HIDDEN GEM 9Gems Lounge Restaurant may be a little off the proverbial beaten track, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well worth the effort to find it.
108 l www.samuiholiday.com
On Samui you’ll find quaint little beach bars, hotel restaurants, local Thai hangouts as well as fine-dining establishments. Some are well-known, others you’ll need an ear to the ground on the local scene to hear about. But hot on the lips of those in the know is 9Gems Lounge Restaurant. It’s most certainly not an establishment that caters to the masses, and that’s not their goal. Rather, co-owner Khun Sathit Muangprom has created a lounge-cum-restaurant that could happily entertain movie stars. Khun Sathit believes that word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising as it means happy guests are recommending the establishment to others. And he’s right, as word on the high street is that 9Gems is the place to go for something special and unique. They say that first impressions count, and in this case, it’s true. It’s hard not to be impressed by the interior and design, as there’s nothing quite like it on Samui. There are areas that are opulent, and areas where the appeal is in the simplicity of the minimalistic design. Khun Sathit has a flair for style. He’s flamboyant, and comfortable with his own unique look – which is mirrored in the restaurant’s interior. He appreciates that just because a piece is functional, doesn’t mean it can’t be beautiful too, so no expense has been spared in the furnishings and fittings. You’ll see Philippe Starck chairs, chandeliers, oversized silver candlesticks and other collectibles all sourced as if for his own home – which 9Gems is too!
www.samuiholiday.com l 109
Khun Sathit has his own apartment on the second floor. “It’s like having a private dinner party at home each night,” he says. And this is how guests will experience 9Gems too, as he personally looks after each table, making them feel welcome and at home as if hosting a dinner party. There’ll never be more than 30 guests on a night, as he wants each to feel special and unique. This is not about pushing numbers through, and they won’t ‘turn tables’ and have a second sitting. Guests are encouraged to linger longer over other drink or after dinner coffee. He’s very particular about service, and personally does training sessions with all staff – many of whom are family members.
110 l www.samuiholiday.com
The restaurant and villa are designed to international standards, and would quite easily slot into an exclusive Hollywood neighbourhood, not only with its look but also with its menu and clientele. Guests can choose from several areas to enjoy. Tables are set out alongside the pool, as well as chill beds to recline and enjoy the extensive cocktail list. Go up a flight of stairs, and the already breath-taking view gets even better. Here again, there’s a champagne deck with tables and reclining areas. But those that want something truly special can book the private dining table on the very top floor, accessed via a spiral staircase – not ideal for those that suffer from vertigo! Here you feel as though you can touch the stars as you sit way above the Samui skyline and look down on the everyday-folk below. If you feel like splashing out on a special occasion, this is the place to do it. The lounge opens at 4:00 pm, and it’s a good idea to arrive before sunset to witness Samui’s changing colours, as 9Gems offers phenomenal views in all directions. But not only do the colours change as the sun sets, but the chill areas come to life too. No expense has been spared when it comes to the lighting of the restaurant and outdoor areas, and as you look, the lights are constantly changing around the infinity pool, hidden under balustrades, highlighting steps and focused on the trees.
www.samuiholiday.com l 111
If you’re looking for somewhere intimate and relaxed for New Year’s Eve, Khun Sathit will be hosting a five-course set menu. The meal will start with rock-lobster bisque, followed by French fois gras. Then heading back to a local dish, guests will enjoy barramundi fish grilled with chilli and lime. Beef tenderloin forms the next course, and of course there’ll be one of 9Gems’ famous desserts. Shortly before the New Year arrives, there’ll be a performance of traditional Thai dancing. After that, a festive mix of dance music will be played through the sound system, both indoors and around the pool. See 2014 in with sparkling rosé and a prime view of Chaweng’s fireworks going off at midnight. Those planning to head to the beach for New Year’s Eve, may wish to start their evening at 9Gems to enjoy the spectacular sunset views first. On both New Year’s Eve and Christmas night, Khun Sathit is offering complimentary tapas with early evening cocktails. And if you’re after a truly special New Year’s Eve, make a night of it by booking the exclusive 9Gems’ two-bedroom villa. The rooms are beautifully furnished, with the added bonus of a personal butler to make you feel even more like a superstar for the night. The cellar selection is vast at 9Gems, as is the choice of cocktails, ranging from classic to elaborate concoctions. The food menu is fusion, leaning towards Mediterranean, with a dinner menu as well as a lighter tapas menu. The gnocchi is exceptionally good, as is the risotto. And you’ll do yourself an injustice if you don’t try the macaroons – they have their own fan group (which we’re members of). The venue can be hired for private functions, making an ideal intimate location for a special event, or individual areas can also be hired for smaller parties, such as the lounge, or the rooftop. So if you’re looking for a hip and happening place to enjoy great food and cocktails in a swish setting while listening to some chill-out tunes, then 9Gems is the place to go.
Rosanne Turner
_____________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7725 6125. www.9gemssamui.com
112 l www.samuiholiday.com
ENJOY THE VIEW
Bea
ch A
●
FEEL THE QUALITY
●
LIVE THE LIFESTYLE
cce
ss Pu
bli
cR
oad
PLOT 1 (=SOLD)
2
PLOT 5
PL OT
PLOT 6
(=RESERVED)
PLOT 3
T4
Under Construction (=RESERVED)
B Aceach ces s
PLO
T 16
5 T1 PLO
3 T1
14 PL OT
OT 12 PL
Sea
PLO
OT 11
9
10
PL
PL
OT
RE
OT
8 ) OT VED PL SER
(=
PL
E
PLO
7 OT ED) PL SERV
(=R
EXCLUSIVE BEACHFRONT AND SEA VIEW LAND, TOTALLY 16 PLOTS, 11 PLOTS REMAINING FOR SALE
19 SEA VIEW PLOTS FOR SALE (11 SOLD), 5 BEDROOM VILLA & SEPARATE GUEST VILLA FOR RENT OR SALE
PLOT 3
PLOT 2
PLOT 1
Completed Villa
o
LUXURIOUS 6 BEDROOM MAIN VILLA WITH 360 SEAVIEWS AND SEPARATE GUEST VILLA FOR RENT OR SALE & 1 PLOT FOR SALE SAMUI ROYAL HOLDINGS
Plai Laem Soi 8, Choeng Mon Beach, Koh Samui, Thailand Contact: Mr. Yo Tel: 081 537 3088 sales@naraikiri.com, yochaweng@hotmail.com www.naraikiri.com, www.samui-ultimate-samui.com
SKYLINE RESIDENCES
NARAI KIRI RESIDENCES
KOH SAMUI
A BIT OF RAIN NEVER HURT ANYONE A few tips to survive the rainy season on Samui. We’ve all heard the word ‘monsoon’. I remember learning about it in school, and all I can remember about it was that at some point during the year, it rained a lot in India. I didn’t realise that the monsoon season actually affected quite a large area of the world. What exactly does the word mean anyway? A common misconception is that it means ‘big rain’ but in fact it means ‘wind’. The word monsoon comes from the Arabic word ‘mausim, which means season and today, the word ‘monsoon’ is the term used for the change in wind direction that brings a change in the seasons. The official dictionary definition is as follows: a seasonal prevailing wind in the region of South and Southeast Asia, blowing from the southwest between May and September and bringing rain (the wet monsoon), or from the northeast between October and April (the dry monsoon). In Asia, the monsoons are classified into a few sub-systems. The South Asia Monsoon affects the Indian subcontinent (must have been the one I learned about at school) and the East Asian Monsoon which affects
114 l www.samuiholiday.com
southern China, Korea and parts of Japan. In Thailand alone, there is a ‘Southwest Monsoon’ and a ‘Northeast Monsoon’ so the severity of the monsoon you experience will be dictated by where in Thailand you are. But we are all on Samui so how does it affect us here? Being on the west coast, islands like Koh Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Tao are at the mercy of the Northeast Monsoon which, as it blows across the Gulf of Thailand, picks up moisture and dumps it on residents and non-suspecting holiday-makers anywhere between November and January, which is known, for obvious reasons, as the rainy season. But unlike the constant drizzle you might experience in somewhere like Europe, in Thailand after the heavens have opened and dumped a bucket of water directly over the top of you on your bike on the way to work, half an hour later the rain will stop and the sun will come out … well, most of the time. But as long as you have an umbrella, you’ll be okay, right? Well, not exactly …
www.samuiholiday.com l 115
Rain itself can cause massive problems on a small island. With only one ‘major’ road around the island, you might find yourself having to swim across the normal back roads that you’re used to. Torrential rain will make it very hard to see where you’re going and will cause sand and other debris to be washed onto the road, so always take extra care when riding after rain. Laundries might be delayed getting clothes dried, people won’t be able to get to work or school due to roads being cut off, and general chaos will ensue. Make sure you always carry a plastic poncho with you (available from most 7-11s) as well as a small plastic bag to protect your mobile phone, camera, purse or handbag. Watch where you park your bike or car as various modes of transport have been known to, well, get swept away. Now would not be the time to park your bike at the bottom of a hill. Living on an island has its disadvantages, one being the fact that there is limited power. If something goes wrong with the power link to the mainland, as it did back in December 2012, everything on the island (except those with generators) loses power. This means no TV, no fridge, no microwave, no stove, no air conditioner, no fan, no gasoline (electric pumps) and the inability to charge your phone or laptop (so no watching movies, Skyping family or reading your Kindle to pass the time). Stock up on candles, mosquito coils (your windows will need to be open now that your fan and air conditioner aren’t working), batteries for your battery-powered LED lanterns and dust off that pack of cards and get out those board games…
116 l www.samuiholiday.com
The lack of power brings us to the next challenge … limited water. Many places on Samui work use water pumps (like my apartment for instance) and this means that when power is lost, the water pumps are unable to pump water into your residence. Hmm, hot sticky weather and no water isn’t really a match made in heaven. And you can only ‘bathe’ in the sea so many times before you feel you need to take a shower anyway. This problem is solved by stocking up on baby-wipes and buying as much water as you can (for drinking, washing yourself, and washing your clothes). I’ve considered buying a huge container to catch the rain which always seems to pour off my roof onto my balcony after heavy rain - might be useful for flushing the toilets and washing dishes (and taking emergency showers) … Our rainy season can be viewed as something negative but it can also allow us to spend quality time with our family or friends, get lost in a book, play some board games, playing cards (though strictly not for money!!), look at the stars, walk on the beach or brush up on our Thai. There is no need for your time to be wasted or lost when the rain stops life as we know it. It just gives us an opportunity to rediscover other parts of our life. And as Annie sang, ‘The sun’ll come out … tomorrow’.
Colleen Setchell
Fine Beachfront Dining serving Thai, Seafood & International Cuisine. Chaweng Beach Road Chaweng North Tel: 0 7742 9400 Fax: 0 7742 9498 E-mail: reservation@norabeachresort.com www.norabeachresort.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 117
BEACH BLISS
The Sea tailor-makes beach weddings to suit every brideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s whim. Samui is fast becoming known as a top beach wedding venue, with almost year-round good weather and perfect beach locations. Many brides-to-be dream of a faraway beach wedding. But in reality, many find it too difficult to organise from a distance. And with competition rife on the island when it comes to wedding venues and planners, The Sea Samui have their own in-house wedding co-ordinator, keeping communication with the bride and groom direct, eliminating the chance of errors and miscommunication.
118 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 119
With The Sea being situated on a quiet section of Bang Po Beach along the north coast, couples will have few other tourists to disturb their ceremony on the beach. With no other resort along this stretch for a few hundred metres, they’re also able to use the beach as a stage for the wide selection of entertainment that the wedding co-ordinator can arrange. And the choice of entertainment is only limited by imagination and budget, with suggestions ranging from traditional to bizarre, and from romantic to magical. Think not only fireworks and lucky lanterns, but even laser shows. There’s a plethora of music and dance options from classical Thai musicians and dancers to dance bands, singers and cabaret shows. Performers such as magicians, jugglers, body painters, imitators and even ventriloquists can also add to the entertainment. And of course, the other plus factor about being along the north coast is the fact that the sunsets are spectacular with the Angthong National Marine Park as well as Koh Pha-Ngan forming silhouettes in the background.
120 l www.samuiholiday.com
And just as the entertainment is tailor-made to the bride (and groom’s) wishes, so is the food. The Sea is lucky enough to have a chef that has worked in Moroccan kitchens, so his repertoire extends beyond exotic Thai food to exotic North African cuisine, as well as Western dishes. Although the weddings are custom designed, brides can choose from two packages as a base from which to start. The couple can decide between the Western influenced ‘Sea Breeze Wedding Package’ and the ‘Thai Wedding Package’. No matter which option is chosen, the wedding co-ordinator is there every step of the way to ensure all runs smoothly, even down to meeting the couple at the airport on arrival. The one thing out of their control is the weather – but even that’s taken care of by the way of a huge marquee, available as a backup in the event that the tropical weather doesn’t play along nicely.
Accommodating guests for weddings abroad can often prove problematic, as with a big group, they often don’t feel comfortable mingling with other hotel guests. At The Sea, it’s easy to find private spaces for the wedding party to gather. Six three-bedroom villas make the ideal arrangement for groups and families. The two beachfront villas have direct access to the beach, and each villa has a private pool too. The villas are equipped with more than your average holiday accommodation, and each has a fully-equipped kitchen where the chef can prepare delicious meals, should the wedding party want privacy away from other hotel guests. Aside from the villas, The Sea also offers apartment suites, so there’s more than enough accommodation onsite for an intimate wedding. One quaint addition to the wedding packages at The Sea is the planting of a young coconut palm on the beach by the bridal couple. The idea being that as their love continues to grow, so will the palm, and hopefully when they return for holidays, they’ll be able to enjoy the shade of ‘their’ palm tree. www.samuiholiday.com l 121
Included in the packages is a leisurely in-villa breakfast the morning after the ceremony and reception, so that the couple can recover before catching up with their guests again. Later that afternoon, they can enjoy a couple’s spa treatment either in the spa or in their villa. Then refreshed and ready to socialise with their guests again, a barbecue in the villa can be arranged for guests that are still around after the main event. Being on the beach and with a name like The Sea, there’s a strong focus on beach living with these wedding packages. Seafood features strongly on the suggested barbecues and buffets, and the ceremony itself makes the most of the location. The nuptials take place on the pristine beach under a sala decorated with flowers, flowing fabric and of course, shells, in keeping with the beach theme. And with the spectacular Gulf of Thailand as a backdrop, there’s little need for fussy decorations to distract from the setting. Adding to the already spectacular location, the tables are beautifully laid out and the swimming pool area ‘dressed’ for the occasion. 122 l www.samuiholiday.com
For anyone that wants to include a little local culture in their wedding ceremony, the Thai Wedding Package is a fantastic way to create a memorable wedding for not only the couple, but also the guests. The Thai wedding ceremony is beautiful – both to watch, as well as from a spiritual aspect. Traditionally, this ceremony, led by monks, takes place in the morning, as the monks need to be back at the temple by noon. Couples will usually celebrate the event with the reception later in the day, continuing into the evening. So if you’ve always dreamed of an exotic beach wedding, but it just seemed like a far-fetched dream, contact The Sea, and you may just find that your dream is closer to reality than you imagined…
Rosanne Turner
______________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7796 0567. www.theseasamui.com
Big Buddha Café The signs say ‘Free Sunset at BBC’ and ‘Best Sunset on Samui’. Although no single restaurant has actually had the audacity to charge for viewing one before, there can’t be many places on the island better than BBC Restaurant where you can enjoy a sunset in such comfortable surroundings whilst eating such good food. And if there was such a place that you would ever consider paying to watch a sunset from, it would be there.
The menu’s extensive, to say the least. The fare’s both Thai and International, including favourites from both cuisines. For mains, there’s a large selection of tasty snacks, salads, tried and tested favourites of both Thai and International cuisine and a special Italian food section, including some great pizza and lasagna dishes. And if you’re a fish lover, then you’ll certainly enjoy the salmon steak with basil sauce and side salad.
It’s located right next to the Big Buddha temple complex in Bangrak. The causeway to the temple starts virtually from the restaurant and from parts of the deck you can see the ornate archway itself. And the restaurant’s a prime spot for seeing the landmark statue of Big Buddha itself, floodlit at night, which is just a couple of hundred metres away.
Whatever you order, don’t forget desserts. BBC Restaurant has a select range of them and they’re hard to resist (even if you have just got through a massive main course!). Order the chocolate mousse and it arrives as a mini-mountain topped with whipped cream. Also highly popular is the apple pie (just like mum used to make) with custard or ice-cream.
BBC Restaurant has become an institution in itself and after extensive refurbishment it’s back again. It’s bigger, better and has more choice of seating than before. And it’s one of those very versatile places that offers somewhere perfect to sit for everyone. If you’re on your own with a loved one, you’ll find sitting at one of the beachside tables for two highly romantic. And if you’ve come with your family or a group of friends, you’ll have many options, too, including sitting on the expansive decking at one of the large tables.
The wine list has been expanded to offer a more broad range of southern hemisphere wines. The owners are a Thai - New Zealand family who enjoy the quality of southern wines and meats, as well as using the best that Thailand has to offer.
Meanwhile, on another outside deck, close to the spreading branches of a tamarind tree, there’s a generous-sized patio; again ideal for groups, and for those magnificent views across the sea. And, incidentally, if you’re getting married, BBC’s also an ideal place to hold your reception, not just for the setting, but also for the excellent catering.
BBC is open every day from 9am to late (generally the kitchen is open until 10pm, with a bar snack-menu available after 10pm until closing). For information and reservations, contact: Telephone: 0 7742 5089 or visit their website: www.bbcrestaurant.com
PRANA
GETS MEATY Nadimos Lebanese restaurant has arrived on Samui. Samui is known for its fine dining, and you can find cuisines from around the world. French, German, English, American, Italian and Russian restaurants are dotted around the island but now you can taste delicious, and truly authentic, Lebanese food. Prana Beach Villas on the beachfront in Bangrak, were previously well known for their vegetarian restaurant, Amala. But now it has flung off its vegetarian skin and teamed up with the leading name in Lebanese food in Bangkok, Nadimos. Already a well-established name, Nadimos has a world-class reputation which has even taken it to India, to cater for a wedding with nearly 5,000 guests. Clearly they are doing something right.
124 l www.samuiholiday.com
Nadimos already have two restaurants in Bangkok (with a further three under construction), which are frequented by people from all walks of life. The owner, Richard Al Ghoul, is a warm host and is known for going out of his way to welcome patrons, and always makes sure that everyone leaves with a new (or renewed) love of Lebanese food. Nadimos reviews on TripAdvisor are impressive, and time and time again phrases like ‘the food was excellent’, ‘...the best Lebanese food…’, and ‘best restaurant’ keep popping up. We could write a whole article just on the adjectives used to describe the food tasty, fresh, authentic, healthy, great, delicious, flavourful, absolutely wonderful and even divine are just a few.
www.samuiholiday.com l 125
Their restaurants have been featured on various television programs too. You can watch their chefs preparing some of their dishes on ‘Spices of Thailand’ and ‘Tastes of the World’. They believe in transparency and their kitchens are all open plan so anyone can watch exactly how the food is prepared. In Lebanese cuisine, whole grains, fruits, fresh vegetables, fish, lamb and chicken form a staple part of the diet. Typical seasonings include garlic and olive oil along with sesame oil, lemon juice and herbs. Most foods are grilled or baked and freshness of ingredients is essential. The traditional Lebanese menu consists of 120 different dishes so there’ll certainly be something there to cater for everyone’s tastes. Lebanese pita bread is served with most dishes and is often used to scoop the food up like a
Your One Stop Chill Spot
www.impiana.com 91/2-3 Moo 3, Chaweng Noi Beach, Koh Samui, Suratthani 84320 Thailand Tel: 66 (0) 77 448994
ď Ź
Fax: 66 (0) 77 448999
ď Ź
Email: info.kohsamui@impiana.com
fork. Desserts usually consist of fresh fruits but you will see other treats such as baklava. We were lucky enough to try some of the food on offer at Nadimos at Prana Beach Villas in Bangrak. I was surprised at how varied the menu was and as a meat-eater was rejoicing silently at the number of times grilled lamb and chicken appeared on the menu. The owner, Richard, generously gave us an evening of his time, which is limited since he regularly travels between the restaurants in Bangkok and now this one on Samui. Being Lebanese, he is obviously passionate about the authenticity of the food served, so most of the ingredients are imported from Lebanon and then prepared by his Lebanese chefs, Executive Chef, Noor Safwan and Chef Bassam Abamorra.
Enjoy the beauty of the underwater world the easy way. Seawalking is the newest and most innovative attraction to hit Koh Samui. It is the safest underwater adventure and fun for all the family Just stroll along the seabed in 10 feet of crystal clear water and observe the sea life as it swims around you. You need no lessons or swimming ability. For more information contact Tel: 0901 650411 www.underseawalking.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 127
We sipped an iced mint shake (but there is Lebanese wine on offer too) while we ordered a large selection of dishes to enable Richard to explain the variety of tastes and flavours that Lebanese food has to offer. I have never eaten Lebanese food and was pleasantly surprised. The food is light, tasty, easy to digest and completely delicious. From the first mouthful I took of my freshly baked pita bread with tabbouleh (chopped parsley, crushed wheat, tomatoes with lemon juice), the baba ghanoush (smoked grilled eggplant dip), the mohammara (crushed walnut and paprika dip), and the smoothest hummus (mashed chickpeas with sesame paste) that I think I have ever tasted, I was won over … and we hadn’t even got to the grilled meat yet. Little bowls of Nadimos homemade chilli sauce and sesame seed sauce (tahina) appear on the table. Richard showed me how to select a bit of salad, a bit of meat, a drizzle of tahina and a dash of chilli sauce and place in a piece of pita bread. The flavours I experienced were fresh, savoury and spicy, the textures chewy, smooth and crunchy. My taste buds weren’t quite sure what was happening … but they were happy. A special salad arrived and I was told it was called ‘Richard’s Salad’ - a fresh green salad with thyme and homemade feta cheese. Why wasn’t I surprised? The man who has such a huge presence in this restaurant surely has to have a dish named after him. Next came my favourite part and what I’d been looking forward to - the meat. Lamb ras asfour (sliced sautéed lamb with cream and pine nuts); one of the nine different varieties of kebab, kebab ezmelli (tender, juicy minced lamb with dots of white cheese); grilled lamb chops (heavenly); and maanik (homemade mini sausages). If that wasn’t enough, a plate of deep-fried pastry rolls wrapped around white cheese and kiddeh (minced lamb with a crispy covering), and then still-warm falafels. 128 l www.samuiholiday.com
Welcome to Sa-ard’s Watersports Center on Koh Samui. Where everyday can be an aquatic adventure – above and below the crystal clear blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Join us and discover what r eally makes these islands so very special. Our brand new catamaran Fountaine Pajot Belize 43 “Kindred Spirit” can comfortably take 15 people on a day trip and sleep 6 people on over-night excursions.
Are you full yet? Because there’s still desserts to come. Nammoura (semolina cake), Creme caramel, the gorgeously velvet mouhallabieh (milk pudding) and the highly-addictive baklava. And when you think you can’t digest anymore, there is the famous Lebanese coffee and a chance to smoke a shisha (a traditional water pipe - flavours include melon, strawberry, mint and apple). If you are vegetarian and think you’ll miss Amala, there are plenty of vegetarian options on this menu to keep you happy too. So a very big welcome to Nadimos! The food is delicious, the staff friendly and attentive, the owner passionate about his business, the beachfront location is ideal and the prices are reasonable. There are so many reasons for you to visit Nadimos. Do it - you won’t be disappointed!
The starboard hull has a double stateroom with ensuite bathroom and living area. There are also two double state rooms in the port hull with a shared bathroom. You’ll also find a large galley and a living area with CD/DVD player and a 28 inch colour TV. All the cabins and living areas are fully air-conditioned. Sa-ard’s Watersports Center also offers Private Speedboat tours to the beaches and snorkeling destinations of the surrounding islands. Manager and Skipper is Sa-ard, one of Thailand’s most celebrated windsurfers. He took part in the Olympics 1984 in Los Angeles and 1992 in Barcelona, was a long time member of the Thai National Windsurfing Team, has been Asian Champion and 5 times Gold Medal Winner in the South East Asian Games. You simply could not be in better hands!
Colleen Setchell
______________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7724 6362 www.pranaresorts.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 129
WOO-HOO! Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty to cheer about at W Retreat this festive season.
130 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 131
You’d be hard pressed to find a more impressive location for sunset cocktails than Woobar at W Retreat, located on a pinnacle joining Bophut to Maenam. Having recently hosted the DJ Lab event, which sources and mentors young upand-coming DJs, W Retreat always has someone on hand to entertain guests at their bars, as well as during their extravagant beach barbecues. And a great way to make the most of the DJ’s vibes is to take advantage of the regular events, such as Tuesday’s ‘5:25’ promotion. Starting at, you guessed it, 5:25 pm, if you have five or more in your party, you get 25% off your drinks and snacks bill (excluding wine and champagne) at Woobar. And if Thursday is your chosen night to party, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm it’s ‘Mo-hee-toe Madness’, when you can enjoy as many mojitos as you like for 999 baht per person – now that sounds like a challenge if ever there was one. And on Fridays, you can celebrate ‘TGIF’ with ‘Iced Long Fridays’, when, from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm you can enjoy four variations of the long island iced tea at Woobar.
132 l www.samuiholiday.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 133
The resort’s already famous ‘Beach Bar-B-Q Reloaded’ which is served from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm daily, now has a dedicated beach kitchen and is open seven days a week. Tables are set out on the beach, and Director of Beverage and Food, Robert Conte, describes it as “fresh, modern, eclectic barbecue cuisine”. And if that’s piqued your curiosity, here’s a virtual taster of what to expect on the beach BBQ menu – it’s not a buffet, so order as you like: there’s Southern American style barbecue chicken, fancy burgers, grilled fresh fish and slow cooked lamb. Saturday afternoons are an elaborate affair, and aside from the ‘not so usual’ barbecue menu, you’ll find extra items such as ‘pig on a stick’ – a whole pig roasting over the coals, and ‘shrimp and crab boils’ – shellfish steaming in cast iron pots. Mouth watering yet? The Saturday extended ‘Beach Bar-B-Q Reloaded’ appeals to all senses, not just delicious flavours and nose-twitching aromas wafting from the grill. They have, of course, thrown a DJ into the mix too, so enjoy the tunes as you dig your toes into the sand and sample another famous cocktail and, well, contemplate just how good life on the beach is. And why not extend your afternoon to the ‘one-for-one martinis’ from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Saturdays, and 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm all other days. As the name suggests, you’ll get one free martini when you pay for one, so there’s not much point in leaving before sunset. Stick around for the spectacle, either on the beach, or head up – literally – to Woobar for cocktails by W Retreat’s mixologists. That’s not just a pretentious name for a barman. No, a barman merely pours drinks; a mixologist creates taste explosions and unique signature cocktails. With New Year’s Eve approaching, it’s time to start deciding on how you plan on welcoming in 2014. W Retreat is known to put on some of the island’s best parties, and this year, the night of 31st December will be no exception. Now while the actual theme of the New Year’s Eve party was still top secret at the time of going to press, Robert did reveal that the DJ scheduled to host the party is a former DJ Lab 2012 participant, DJ Gio, who hails from the land of ‘Gangnam Style’ - South Korea. Robert’s list of novel ideas for the resort extends to his latest ‘message in a bottle’ lunch. Now while Samui may no longer be a ‘deserted island’, there’s no reason you can’t play Robinson Crusoe for a day. If you’re lucky enough to have your own boat, or have chartered one for the day, make it even more memorable by cruising up to W Retreat’s beachside kitchen. Wave your arms and announce your arrival (or call ahead, but that’s not very ‘lost at sea style’). What happens next is rather fun. A waiter will fling you a bottle with a menu rolled up inside. The boat party, playing the part by looking suitably dishevelled, malnourished and in need of a drink or two, will complete their order on the form, roll it into the bottle and fling it back to the waiting … um waiter. When the order is ready, the waiter will use whatever means necessary, be it quad bike or jet-ski, to deliver the order to those eagerly waiting on the boat. Now doesn’t that sound like a fabulous way to enjoy lunch? Be careful of having too many of the resort’s famous cocktails or it will give new meaning to the term, ‘ship wrecked’! 134 l www.samuiholiday.com
W Retreat has not only Woobar and the new beach kitchen to enjoy a sophisticated yet casual drink or meal. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also Sip seaside lounge, where you can savour cocktails and tapas; the W Lounge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which turns the traditional lobby into a talking point, and the Tonic Bar, for a healthy alternative when you need to rejuvenate. For a more substantial meal, try Namu, a contemporary Japanese restaurant or The Kitchen Table for an all-round menu of both Thai and International cuisine, that includes gourmet pizzas and buffets. With so many indulgent options to choose from, be sure to add the trendsetting W Retreat to your list of festive season activities.
Rosanne Turner
_____________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7791 5999. www.whotels.com
This is the original health destination on Koh Samui offering only the best Vegetarian, Raw and Healthy Thai Food. Listed as one of the 50 best restaurants in the world. Over 17 years serving the freshest mouthwatering healthy food. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner. Daily @ both locations 7:00 am until 9:30 pm. Radiance is a part of The Spa Resorts.
www.samuiholiday.com l 135
136 l www.samuiholiday.com
THE PEOPLE’S KING His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand was born on Monday the 5th of December, 1927, at Mount Auburn Hospital, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, the youngest child of Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess Mahidol of Songkla. When he was just one year old, they returned to Thailand where his father took up an internship in a hospital in Chiang Mai. Prince Bhumibol was taken, along with his brother and sister, to Switzerland in 1933, and they were all placed in Swiss schools. Due to the sudden death of his older brother, King Ananda Mahidol, in Bangkok on the 9th of June, 1946, Prince Bhumibol was crowned King of Thailand (throne name King Rama IX) at just 19 years old. After his coronation, he returned to university and changed his major to Political Science and Law to prepare him for his rule. While he was studying in Paris, he met the daughter of Thailand’s ambassador to France, Khun Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kiriyakara, and on 28th April 1950, they were married in Bangkok.
They returned home to Thailand in the early 1950’s, and HM King Bhumibol spent the early years of his rule travelling throughout the provinces and rural areas, meeting with and talking to his people, learning about their needs and problems. Together with HM Queen Sirikit, he once walked more than 15 kilometres to visit a remote village, where they gave food and medicine to primitive hill people. His dedication to his people and his kingdom has seen him travel by helicopter, jeep and horse to all corners of Thailand. The King of Thailand is the head of state, head of the ruling Royal House of Chakri (founded by King Rama I) and head of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. All bills passed by the legislature require his royal assent to become law. He has the power to stop laws being passed by parliament, pardon convicted criminals, and approve or disapprove cabinet members. The 2007 Constitution of Thailand Chapter 2, Section 9 (The King and the Faiths) states: The King is a Buddhist and Defender of all Faiths. He is also the world’s longest reigning current monarch and the world’s longest serving head of state. The heir apparent to the Thai monarchy is the Crown Prince of Thailand, Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn.
www.samuiholiday.com l 137
The constitution maintains that the HM the King is “enthroned in a position of revered worship and shall not be violated.” Therefore it is illegal in Thailand to defame the monarchy in any way. This provision against defaming the monarchy is known in the West as the ‘lèsse majesté’ law. In June 2006, national celebrations were held in Thailand to mark the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit’s rule. Just days before the celebrations began, HM the King was presented with the UN’s first ever Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award by the United Nations SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan.
138 l www.samuiholiday.com
His Majesty made a public appearance on his 85th birthday on December 5th, 2012. Tens of thousands turned out in Bangkok to pay their respects, to wish him a happy birthday and get a chance to see him in person. He has a life-long interest in science as well as enjoying some hobbies, photography and jazz being the most popular. He has often been photographed carryingz his camera. He is able to play the clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, guitar, piano and organ. He enjoyed badminton and tennis in his younger years as well as rowing and working out with weights.
B Smart B Smart Sys. Co., LTD has been providing top level security solutions, lighting control systems, CCTV systems, access control, fire alarms and WiFi solutions since 1999. B Smart has quickly earned the reputation for being one of the most progressive and innovative system integrators in Thailand. Along with high quality products and a very knowledgeable work force, you can be confident that B Smart Sys. Co., LTD will meet and exceed your expectations.
Hotline: 0 815 631 685 Email: bsmartsys@gmail.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ตรงข้ามโรงแรมนภาใส แม่น้ำ�
Captain Kirk First floor restaurant in a central location on Chaweng Beach Road. Huge portions and reasonable prices make it a very popular choice. Highly recommended are both the Plate of Mixed Grill Seafood and the Australian Beef Tenderloin. Desserts are equally tasty and there’s a good selection of value-for-money wine to complete the dining experience.
Tel.: 0 812 705 376 Email: captainkirksamui@hotmail.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ชั้นสองของตึก ติดกับพิซซ่าฮัท
ถนนเลียบหาดเฉวง เฉวงเซ็นเตอร์
Villa Bianca RISTORANTE ”EXCLUSIVE” ITALIANO Tastefully designed, and located at the beach, Villa Bianca features lobster specialties, and other superb cuisine prepared by its own Italian Chef. Excellent wines and French champagne complement all dishes. A unique experience that leaves diners wishing to return for more. Villa Bianca is nestled in amongst the converted old Chinese shop-houses overlooking the water in Fisherman’s Village.
Tel.: 0 7724 5041 Email: curraglass@yahoo.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ที่ถนนหาดบ่อผุด
Asia Travel Asia Travel is the most popular travel agency on Koh Samui. Established 15 years ago, they are well known to provide updated travel information reasonably priced for all international and domestic needs. Their second to none consultancy service will help you with all aspects of long or short stay requirements such as visa, work permit or company registration and finances. Asia Travel is well known for their quality services as mentioned in The Lonely Planet. Tel.: 0 7723 6120, 0 7742 1342 Fax: 0 7742 1185 Email: asia_int@samart.co.th For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ที่ถนนหน้าทอน
Simply the best
Brite Smile Time Magazine quoted, “Militant communism, poverty, misery, illiteracy, misrule and a foundering sense of nationhood are the grim order of the Asian day. With one important exception: the lush and smiling realm of Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit, which spreads like a green meadow of stability, serenity and strength.”
The Original BriteSmile Centre from Hollywood’s Professional Teeth Whitening. . One Hour . One Visit . One Dazzling Smile Offering other new services: Painless dentistry, depigmentation with laser and dental implants, as well as a wide range of dental hygiene and care.
His kingdom will once again honour him this year on 5th December to celebrate his 86th birthday. It’s no wonder he has earned the title “The Great”.
Colleen Setchell
Bangkok Samui Dental Clinic Open daily from 9:oo - 20.00 Tel : 0 7742 9500 www.DentalSamui.com
Tel.: 0 7742 9500 Website: www.DentalSamui.com For Taxi: ร้านตั้งอยู่ในโรงพยาบาลกรุงเทพ
ถนนรอบเกาะ เฉวง
www.samuiholiday.com l 139
THREE INTO THREE
When it comes to dining, then Muang Samui has everything from fun to 5-star!
On more than one occasion in the past, I’ve termed a resort ‘grandiose’. Or, perhaps, ‘majestic’. ‘Imposing’ also springs to mind. But right now, I’ve more or less run out of words. Exactly what do you call a place that’s not only huge but also fabulously 5-star? But it’s more than this. Many top-end resorts are off the beaten track, or hidden away behind high walls. This one is right out on the main road. And the frontage is so broad that it takes a few moments to realise that it’s all a part of the same place – Muang Samui Villas & Suites. And it’s impossible to miss, sitting ‘majestically’ on the fringe of Choeng Mon Bay. If you’re not familiar with the area, this is the next accessible coastal bay as you head northwards away from Chaweng, and well before you come to the landmark of Big Buddha. It’s perfectly placed to draw custom from the myriad of resorts along the coast in Bangrak and Bophut, plus the Chaweng area, too – it’s only ten minutes or so from either direction. From outside there is no hint of the 14 Pool Villas, 32 Pool Suites and 32 Terrace Suites that are secreted within; but you’ll get a clue to all of this by the row of electric golf buggies sitting outside reception. Possibly the most impressive element is the sheer visual variation of everything here. There’s nothing that’s level, flat, dull or regimented. Rather, the entire site seems to burst up and down in layers and ripples, rising in terraces then levelling out onto terraced lawns and gardens, surrounded by a complexity of Thai-style steep roofs, all of different sizes and, again, all on different levels. That’s on the inside as you head towards the beach. But, if you’re coming here to dine, or simply to enjoy yourself, then everything you’ll need is right at the front.
140 l www.samuiholiday.com
As I’ve said, this is unique. Sometimes you have to run the gauntlet of the front desk and the grounds and then adventure about in the semi-dark to discover your selected eatery. But at Muang Samui it’s almost as if you’re about to enter some kind of dinnertainment complex. On the right is the broad swathe of steps that curve up and into the reception area. But this is also where, if you turn up on a Wednesday, you’ll see the bright lights of their ‘Floating Market’. Sebastian Godino, the resort’s Front Office Manager, described this to me as being “. . . as much fun as Walking Street with the stalls and craftsmen, but right next to some of the best pizza on the island!” He was of course referring to Ciccio Pizza. You see, right here, just a step away from the street and proudly out in full view, there are three of the best dining venues on Samui, all in a row. More or less in the middle of the frontage, there’s Ciccio. Marco Puglisi is the chef here. He’d spent his life in Italy as a pizza chef before getting itchy feet and taking a post in Malta. Two years on, he got the itch again and landed on Samui. He’s a traditionalist. Wood fired oven.
www.samuiholiday.com l 141
Thin and crispy bases that he makes every morning. And a range of handcrafted toppings that puts any other competitor whose name ends in ‘hut’ to shame. Plus, of course, there’s also a selection of cheerfully classical Italian dishes to pick from too. The wooden-decked dining area at the open-air rear is a treat, with an illuminated pond and fountain alongside. On the other side of this, you’ll find the two-floor open-sided landmark rotunda of Portofino – and a special mention of this in just a moment. And, raised up on a backdrop balcony terrace behind, there are the glowing lights of Royal Thai Taste. There are a thousand Thai eateries on Samui. There are far fewer quality Thai restaurants. But there are only a handful of Thai restaurants that offer Royal Thai Cuisine. This is a very specific genre, using secret recipes originally emanating from the kitchens of the Royal Palace. The dishes are different. The presentation is painstakingly perfect. And here, the chef is special, too. It’s a she – Khun Ajan Amintra Dinakara – and she was formerly appointed to serve members of the Thai Royal Family. It’s a delightfully and traditionally tranquil environment, way above the road and with greenery all around. A tinkling water-wall as a backdrop – all-in-all something very much to be tracked-down and sampled.
142 l www.samuiholiday.com
NEW SCHEDULE STARTS OCTOBER 1ST 2013
www.samuiholiday.com l 143
And then we come to Portofino. It’s the only completely circular building on the island and it’s on two floors. The open lower floor is a symphony of delicate and expansive décor, with the upper floor being less formal; witness its day-bed loungers and deep-pile velour upholstery. But what this restaurant generates - the ambiance and the fine-dining ethos - moves it up several notches into a class of its own. This is fine-dining Italian-style, with a menu you’ll linger over – it’s just so exquisite. All of this comes courtesy of one of the most enigmatic Italian chefs on Samui, if not anywhere. Chef Pasquale Procida has created his cuisine for a line-up of royalty and superstars which has little equal. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah,
144 l www.samuiholiday.com
Queen of Qatar. The English and Spanish football teams (not both at the same time!). Personal chef to Jennifer Lopez, Julio Iglesias, plus one French and one Italian president, – not to mention running 5-star restaurants in the Middle East, Brussels, Luxemburg and Canada. Oh – and Samui. If you’re not utterly stunned by this man’s menu, then you really need to head back fast to that place ending in ‘hut’. It looks like I’ve run out of superlatives. I’ve done ‘grandiose’ and ‘majestic’, plus ‘exquisite’ and a few others besides. Suffice it to say that, at Muang Samui Villas & Suites, there’s not only the Wednesday fun of the Floating Market but the food is totally fab, whether it’s a hand-crafted pizza, Thai Royal cuisine, or fine Italian
KHAO SOK
The Cliff and River Jungle Resort
Come and Relax with us at The Cliff and River Jungle Resort in magnificent Khao Sok. Enjoy the natural beauty and fresh air at this Scenic Riverside location. Sightseeing Info - Canoeing - International Restaurant Luxury Recreation Facilities - Elephant Trekking
wining and dining fit for a king. Or a queen, or a superstar – whatever. There are not many places where three super-chefs and three restaurants all go hand-in-hand on the same ‘palatial’ frontage!
for more information and reservation please call 0 872 718 787, 0 812 721 221, 0 7791 3050 Fax. 0 7791 3099 www.thecliffandriver.com
P. CHAWENG GUEST HOUSE
100 ISLANDS RESORT
Located at the end of Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort. Thai owned and managed, offering the beauty of Thai style architecture combined with European comforts.
The first boutique hotel in Suratthani. Reasonably priced with friendly service and a family atmosphere. Relax by the pool or ease your tensions at the luxurious spa.
Rob De Wet
_______________________________________________________ For reservations or further information, telephone 0 7742 8700. www.muangsamui.com
Recommended by Lonely Planet
Tel.: 0 7723 0684
Tel.: 0 7720 1150-8 www.samuiholiday.com l 145
PROPERTY CLASSIFIEDS Guesthouse for Sale - Chaweng
Villa for Rent/Sale - Yupa Villa 1
Guesthouse for sale with freehold land in Soi Green Mango. 5-storey building with 20 recently renovated rooms. Irish Pub and restaurant on ground floor with 4 pool tables and wide screen projector for sporting events. Chanote land title with limited company.
5 fully furnished bedrooms with air-con throughout. All bedrooms ensuite, one with jacuzzi. Living area fully furnished with TV and internet. Thai/Western kitchen. Swimming pool, remote control gate, security camera around house, safety box, parking area, garden.
Contact: 0 818 921 990 Email: info@mobydick-guesthouse.com
Tel: 0 818 917 912, 0 897 636 032 E-mail: cr@chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com www.chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com
House for Sale - Bang Por
Villa for Rent/Sale - Yupa Villa 2
Thai style house located in peaceful residental area of Bang Por. Family home with 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, spacious living room and kitchen area. Private swimming pool and large mature garden. Drive in garage and storage area under the house. Private sale by owner.
3 fully furnished bedrooms with air-con throughout. All bedrooms ensuite, one with jacuzzi. Living area fully furnished with TV and internet. Thai kitchen. Swimming pool, remote control gate, security camera around house, safety box, parking area, garden.
Price: 12,000,000 Baht Land title: Chanote Land: 1,000 m2 House: 200 m2
Tel: 0 818 917 912, 0 897 636 032 E-mail: cr@chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com www.chawengbayviewsamuiresort.com
Contact: 0 818 921 990 E-mail: tuulakohsamui@hotmail.com
Private real estate 180-Degree views
with
incredible
Shophouse for Rent - Chaweng
The actual view from this house is the picture above. This 4-bedroom house has been built according to European standards on 972 sqm. It is centrally located near Nathon and only 500 metres from the main road in a small, warm and tidy community. Priced very competitively, this house is ideal for couples or young families ready to live in paradise. Price: 8 Million THB only
2 unit shophouse for rent in Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Grand. 2 floors (each floor appx. 8 x 14 meters). Ground floor comprises of an unfurnished restaurant. 2nd floor comprises of 2 unfurnished rooms/apartments (no kitchen).
Tel: 0 819 709 632 Email: asiatravel_international@yahoo.com
Contact Khun Na: 0892914747 (English and Thai)
Price: 40.000 Baht / month, paid every 6 months in advance. (no deposit or key money).
Chaweng - Bar for Rent / Sale
Shophouse for Sale - Chaweng
Bar for rent in Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Samui Resort. Includes apartment on 1st floor with 2 ensuite bedrooms and seperate access. Price for rent : 29,000 Baht per month 3 months deposit No key money Price for sale: 4.9 million Baht
2 unit shophouse for sale in Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Grand. 3 floors (each floor appx. 8 x 14 meters). Ground floor comprises of an unfurnished restaurant. 2nd floor comprises of 2 unfurnished rooms/apartments (no kitchen). 3rd floor comprises of one large luxury apartment with jacuzzi, western kitchen etc. 3rd floor apartment has separate entrance.
Contact Khun Na: 0892914747 (English and Thai)
Price: 15,900,000 Baht Contact Khun Na: 0892914747 (English and Thai)
Chaweng - Shophouse for Sale Shophouse for sale in Soi Colibri, opposite Centara Samui Resort. Ground floor ideal for office space, retail shop or small bar/restaurant. Apartment on 1st floor with 2 ensuite bedrooms and seperate access. Price:
4 million Baht
Contact:
Graeme 0 860 193 166
Profitable Established Business for Sale 18 hole, concrete tracked, mini golf course. Member of the World Mini Golf Federation (one of only 2 in Thailand). 3020 m2 of land including 2 storey house with foreign ownership. 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 extra apartments. Sale includes well established, profitable Thai Limited Company. Location: Near Choeng Mon Price: 1,300,000 Euro Contact:
146 l www.samuiholiday.com
Jojo, 0 817 879 148 www.minigolfsamui.com
Samujana Villa 17
Aqua Samui
Combine nature and luxury at this spectacular, contemporary residence built right into the Samui hillside. Situated just ten minutes from the island's airport, Samujana 17 crowns a brand new development on Koh Samui's northwest coast and offers the ultimate in secluded luxury living. The award winning design features flat, planted roofs, open-plan living spaces with natural rock features and tropical landscaping.
A unique opportunity to own a private residence or a high end investment property on the idyllic island of Samui. Aqua was designed by award winning architect Gary Fell. The location of this exclusive boutique development could not be better nestled in the hillside looking over Chaweng Bay and along the east coast to Lamai. Prices start from: 8.9 million THB for a 2 Bedroom Villa 10.9 million THB for a 3 Bedroom Villa (Type A) 15.9 million THB for a 3 Bedroom Villa (Type B)
Price: US$1,800,000 Tel: 0 811 901 540 Email: narisa@punrai.com Website: www.punrai.com
Web : www.aquasamui.com Email: office@aquasamui.com Telephone: +66 (0) 77952288
LH0012: Bangmakham 2 Bedroom House Located in the up and coming area of Bang Makham. Two double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, infinity pool, high specification Kitchen and fittings throughout. Good off street parking and easy access to the beach, less than a kilometre away. Stunning sea & sunset views. Land area 1,120 sqm, Chanote Title. Priced to sell at 15.8m Thai Baht. Tel: Email: Website:
0 811 901 540 narisa@punrai.com www.punrai.com
Bophut - Whispering Palms Private Pool Villa House for rent/sale 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms with shower and bath tub. Living room with furniture, TV, DVD and UBC. Fully fitted kitchen. A/C throughout. ADSL, telephone line. Private swimming pool. 24 hour security & CCTV. Land size 440 sqm, floor size: 240 sqm. Locatied in Bophut (near Sunday Resort). Rent from 55,000 baht per month (yearly contract), sale 9.7 million baht.
Contact: Steve 081 452 5895, Pop 081 832 5895 Website: www.dsdsamui.com Email: info@dsdsamui.com
RH0015: Samujana Villa 19
Chaweng – Holiday Villa Houses for rent/sale
Located in the desirable Choeng Mon area overlooking Chaweng Bay & Koh Matlang is the up market Samujana Estate. Villa 19 has 4 double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, massive infinity edge swimming pool, great in door outdoor flow for dining and living, fully equipped Media room with Sono’s surround sound system indoors and out. Fully specified Kitchen, Jacuzzi, BBQ area, ample pool deck space and fully furnished. On-site staff, maid quarters. The estate has a doubles Tennis court, full CCTV and manned security patrols and only a stone’s throw to the beach. Just move in! Priced well at USD2.5m.
2 storey villas with 2/3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with shower and bath tub. Living room with furniture, TV & DVD, fully fitted kitchen. 4 A/C’s. ADSL, CCTV and 24 hour security. Landscaped garden with swimming pool, pavilion and waterfall. Private jacuzzi and whirlpool. Located in Chaweng (near Tesco Lotus). Rent from 25,000 baht per month (yearly contract), sale: 4.5 million baht. Contact: Steve 081 452 5895, Pop 081 832 5895 Website: www.dsdsamui.com Email: info@dsdsamui.com
Tel: 0 811 901 540 Email: narisa@punrai.com Website: www.punrai.com
Samujana Villa 11 A contemporary design home with 3/4 bedrooms, with stunning sea views across Koh Samui's east coast toward Chaweng Bay. Stylish & unique this beautiful villa is a highly specified build, residential project in the desirable Choeng Mon area, just 10 minutes from Chaweng. Sale US$1.5 million, rent from US$250 / night Tel: Email: Website:
0 811 901 540 narisa@punrai.com www.punrai.com
Bophut - Whispering Palms Resort Houses for rent/sale (2 BR) 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms with shower and bath tub. Living room with furniture, TV, DVD and cable. Fully fitted kitchen. 3 A/C's. ADSL, telephone line. Communal swimming pool, sauna and steam room. 24 hour security & CCTV. Located in Bophut (near Sunday Resort). Rent from 25,000 baht per month (yearly contract), sale: 4.2 million baht Contact: Steve 081 452 5895, Pop 081 832 5895 Website: www.dsdsamui.com Email: info@dsdsamui.com
Chaweng - Chaweng Pattana Townhouses for rent/sale
LH0013: Bangmakham 3 Bedroom House Bang Makham, less than a kilometre drive from beach & restaurants. Presentable 3 double bedroom, 2 en-suite bathrooms, 1 separate bathroom, large living, dining & kitchen, maids quarters, ample off street parking. Sea & sunset views. Ample room on 1,560 sqm site for renovations, pool etc to make this a very desirable property. Chanote Title. Priced to sell at 11.7m Thai Baht.
2 storey townhouses with 2 bedrooms and bathrooms. Living room with furniture, TV, DVD and cable. Fully fitted kitchen. 3 A/C’s. ADSL, telephone line. Landscaped garden with communal swimming pool and pavilion. 24 hour security. Located in Chaweng (near Tesco Lotus) Rent from 15,000 baht per month (yearly contract), sale: 2.2 million baht
Tel: 0 811 901 540 Email: narisa@punrai.com Website: www.punrai.com
Contact: Steve 081 452 5895, Pop 081 832 5895 Website: www.dsdsamui.com Email: info@dsdsamui.com
LH0015: Bang Por 1 Bedroom House Bang Por - 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom, living & dining room. Great sea view. Land size 140 Tarangwa. Chanote title. Price: 3 Million Baht
Tel: Email: Website:
0 811 901 540 narisa@punrai.com www.punrai.com
Bophut - Whispering Palms Resort Maenam - Baan Suan Neramit House for rent/sale 2 storey house with 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.Living room with furniture, TV, DVD and cable. Fully fitted kitchen. 5 A/C's. ADSL, telephone line. Landscaped garden with private swimming pool and pavilion. 24 hour security. Located in Maenam (opposite Maenam post office). Sale 5 million baht. Contact: Steve 081 452 5895, Pop 081 832 5895 Website: www.dsdsamui.com Email: info@dsdsamui.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 147
148 l www.samuiholiday.com
MONKEYS, LADYBOYS AND SCREAMING PEOPLE
Thai temples and their festivals might be more exciting than you think. There are currently over 40,000 Buddhist temples (or wats) in Thailand, and over 30,000 of these are currently in use. This goes some way to show their importance within the Thai Buddhist community. Most Thai temples consist of two parts: the Phuttha-wat, which is the area dedicated to Buddha, and the Sangha-wat which contains the actual living quarters of the monks who reside at the temple. Temples are holy places and when you visit them, etiquette requires that both men and women ensure their shoulders and knees are covered. Bear in mind that while you might be on holiday, this is a place of worship and needs to be treated with respect.
Temples and their associated grounds are often the focal point for many Thai festivals and fairs which can usually last a few days. Most coincide with Buddhist holidays (there are quite a few!) and others are created by the temple itself. When a fair is in full swing, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find stalls selling a multitude of different things which are edible, inedible and questionably edible. Shoes, roosters, clothing, fruit, plastic toys, dishes, jewellery, furniture, locally produced food, alcohol, knives, soft drinks, vegetables, posters, and even school supplies. You might even be forgiven for thinking this is a western funfair with bingo, shooting stuffed animals with BB guns, roulette and even ferris wheels, bumper cars or merry-go-rounds.
www.samuiholiday.com l 149
The food available is definitely worth a try. Barbecued chicken and pork, rice dishes, curries, noodles, noodle soups and even fried insects, will all be available for you to nibble on as you wander. Probably one of the most important festivals is that of Visakha Bucha. A Buddhist holy day, it marks the beginning of the Buddhist Era and celebrates not only the birth of Buddha, but also his enlightenment, his passing away and achieving his final release in the cycle of rebirth. Buddhists participate in traditional ceremonies at nearby temples in their villages, and make merit by bringing alms to the monks. For three days, it is prohibited to kill any animal or drink any intoxicating substances and all bars and entertainment venues will be closed. The temples are decorated with lanterns and flowers, incense will be burnt around the temple grounds and lengthy firework displays will continue for the duration of the festival. Some fairs are more unusual. The main event in Samut Prakan province is the Phra Samut Chedi temple fair. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an annual fair that attracts people from all over Thailand. The people of Samut Prakan pay respect to the temple by wrapping a new red cloth around the stupa (a dome-shaped 150 l www.samuiholiday.com
Largest pharmacy chain on Samui
structure erected as a Buddhist shrine). This huge red cloth is paraded through the streets by the local residents starting at the city hall. It completes a huge circular route and is then transported upriver ending at the temple itself. The cloth is then walked, clockwise, around the temple no less than three times and then the festivities begin - games, music, food, competitions, shows and entertainment - a little bit for everyone. The fair lasts for nine days and nights and is believed to not only be the largest fair in Thailand but also the longest running temple fair in Thailand, now in its 184th year.
ars 12 ye
Perhaps the strangest thing to be seen at a temple fair is a ladyboy beauty contest, fully supported by the local communities. The contest is officially opened after announcements and some Thai dancing and then the contestants are introduced, one by one. Beautiful makeup and traditional Thai outfits make this a very entertaining show. Another somewhat mystical temple festival is a weekend festival held at Wat Bang Phra in Nakon Pathom, west of Bangkok. This festival is known for magical tattoos which are said to protect people against danger. Not all Buddhists believe in the mystical powers of these seemingly sacred tattoos, known as Sak Yant. This festival is popular with Westerners who are enticed by the magical concept and the intricate tattoos. Whilst the festival does honour the standards of the Buddhist temple it is held at, the whole event is seen by believers as an opportunity to ‘recharge’ their tattoos. As you walk around, you’ll see people roaring, hissing and shrieking - all attempting to imitate the animals tattooed on their bodies - a very ‘different’ experience!
0 7741 3298-9 Email: moryapharmacy@hotmail.com www.moryasamui.com
www.samuiholiday.com l 151
By far one of the funniest festivals is the annual Monkey Buffet Festival, held in the Khmer temple in Lopburi province north of Bangkok. It doesn’t have any great spiritual significance; it was merely created by a local businessman, Yongyuth Kitwattananusont, to promote local tourism. Lopburi is perfectly located for an overnight or weekend trip from Bangkok or as a stopover on your way to Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai in the north. Starting in 1989, Kitwattananusont was able to get the Tourism Authority of Thailand behind him and launched the festival much to the appreciation of many, many monkeys. 152 l www.samuiholiday.com
Now, the festival attracts 1,000’s of tourists each year, and not only are the monkeys grateful but so are the local restaurants and hotels. Kitwattananusont tries each year to outdo the previous year and one year he even parachuted into the festival dressed as a monkey. For this year’s festival, to be held in November (the 25th to be exact), he is providing over 4,000 kilos of food. And don’t think this is just left on the floor for the furry, long tailed macaques to eat. It is lovingly laid out on tables, in true buffet style. Chefs spend hours preparing the food, which is completely vegetarian. Fruit salads, sticky white rice and even a Thai dessert made from egg yolk. These monkeys are treated with love and respect
Zico’s is an electric combination of colourful calypso, vibrant carnival rhythm and dance a unique party experience not to be missed! Every night is fiesta night at Zico’s. The beat goes on, and so does the dancing. Party down until the early hours at our spacious bar and lounge area with Brazilian influenced bargrooves. Tuck into a superb selection of all you can eat grilled seafood and meats, prepared just for you, complimented by Samui’s largest salad bar.
ZICO’S BRAZILIAN GRILL & BAR Discover a fantastic Churrascaria Service with 17 different meats while bumping to the beats of samba performed by 2 authentic professional dancers from Brazil.
Price 885THB net per person Price 440THB net per child (6- 12 years old) Finish your evening at the Zico’s Bar and listen to the greatest hits while sipping on a fresh and tasty Caipirinha. An unforgettable evening to enjoy with your friends and family!!!
Get 10% off our buffet with 1 free Caipirinha, signature cocktail LIVE from Brazil 100% LIVE
Everyday except Mondays From 20.00 - 22.00 hrs. Enjoy live Samba at the Zico’s restaurant & Bar performanced By 2 authentic Brazilian dancers from Sao Paulo. A true “Not to Miss “evening with your friends and family.
CHAWENG BEACH: OPPOSITE CENTARA GRAND BEACH RESORT SAMUI
T : 077 230 500 I E : zicos@chr.co.th I Facebook: Zico’s Grill’n Bar Open daily: Bar 17.00 - 01.00 hrs., Restaurant 18.00 - 23.00 hrs. W W W .CEN TA RA HO TELS RE S OR T S . C OM
(even if they are known to be mischievous at times) So while you are on Samui, make sure you check out your local Thai temple, there might be more to see there than Buddha statues.
Colleen Setchell www.samuiholiday.com l 153
Santib
Santiburi Beach Resort Golf & Spa
Rim Talay Restaurant at Santiburi Beach Resort, Golf & Spa
Premier Pool Villa at Bo Phut Resort & Spa
Sala Thai Restaurant at Bo Phut Resort and Spa
buri Resort
Bo Phut Resort & Spa
FEATURING THE OUTSTANDING 18 HOLE CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE FOR YOUR PLAYING PLEASURE, THE SANTIBURI GROUP WELCOMES YOU TO EXPERIENCE OUR FINE DINING AND THE HOSPITALITY OF TWO EXCEPTIONAL BEACH RESORT GOLF AND SPA.
12/12 Moo1, Maenam, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84330 Tel: +66 (0) 7742 5031-5 Fax: +66 (0) 7742 5040
12/12 Moo 1, Bo Phut, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84320 Tel: +66 (0) 7724 5777 Fax: +66 (0) 7724 5776
Sales Office: 245/7 Sukhumvit 31, Klongton Nua, Wattana, Bangkok 10110, Thailand Tel: +66 (0) 2260 2530-5 Fax: +66 (0) 2260 7570 E-mail: info@santiburi-samui-resort.com Website: www.santiburi.com